Page 46 of King of Fire and Flames

But what would the Fire King do with me now?

Chapter 14

Leaf

The rain had finally stopped, and Arrow was gone. A long breath shuddered through my lips, my legs weak and shaking. I grabbed a low branch, swaying on my feet as my head spun. It was only exhaustion. Nothing more.

I didn’t care if the Storm King died, and if he did, then, great, I’d accomplished my goal, and only joy should make me swoon. But unfortunately, it was more than that.

Shame, regret, even sorrow coursed through my veins. Part of me couldn’t imagine living in any realm where Arrow didn’t exist. I had to face it—my mind was a conflicted mess.

Footsteps crunched over bracken and fallen leaves as more fae poured into the forest—Azarn and Estella first, Bakhur following close behind.

The queen’s eyes flashed at me, relaying a message I couldn’t interpret. Not in my current state of exhaustion. I could barely stand upright, let alone think straight. Perhaps she meant to reassure me that her husband would let me live. But surely there were better ways to achieve that… like with a secret visit to my tower, where we could hatch a plan to destroy him.

Azarn sidled up to me. “It appears you almost killed King Arrowyn, Princess,” he said, a touch of awe in his voice. A similar excitement glimmered in his son’s eyes. “Fortunately for you, he still lives. For now. But if he does dies from the injuries you caused, then your life is also forfeit.”

Estella shot an icy look at Azarn. “Husband, Arrowyn is much weakened and will die without attention from our healers.”

My chest constricted with a confusing mix of pain and triumph. “Will you allow him to die, King Azarn?” I asked.

He laughed. “Arrowyn Ramiel’s continued good health is still required. Come. We must announce your victory to my courtiers.”

“To kill a fae swiftly,” Estella whispered as we fell back a few paces and entered the arena together. “You must strike the heart dead center, deep enough to stop it from beating before their natural healing power repairs the damage. But I implore you not to try to use this tactic on Arrowyn. There is much to tell you when circumstances permit.”

I eyed the two enormous dragons crouched in the center of the arena. At least ten times the size of a tall fae, they huddled together, stretching their long necks and red-tipped wings, yellow eyes searching the crowd, perhaps for a tasty appetizer. Rancid-smelling smoke puffed from their nostrils, eddying through the air.

They were formidable beasts, and I hoped I never had cause to get too close to them.

“Is it wise to describe how best to kill your kind, Estella? Given the chance, I could use the tactic on you.”

“The last fae you should attempt to murder is your only friend in Taln.”

Meaning: Estella thought of herself as my ally.

Wasn’t she worried I might share the news with Azarn or her son to gain an advantage? And advising me not to harm Arrow; now that was stretching our burgeoning friendship. No one had the right to ask that of me.

The things he’d said in the forest spun through my mind, taunting me as my palms dampened and sweat broke out on my brow.

You must realize I never stopped loving you.

Did he realize I had trust issues? Major ones.

To believe his words, I’d have to accept that he told the truth while I held his life in my hands. That he’d never been my enemy. Had always tried to protect me. And that he cared for me above all else.

But it wasn’t possible. Evidence suggested the opposite was true.

The letters he’d written while we were separated after Quin’s death—two passionless missives over a three-week period. If he had truly cared and wanted to hide it from the Sun Realm, he could have visited me in secret. The man had wings, after all.

So many had hurt me. Davy in Coridon’s Underfloor cell. Grendal. Esen. The sailors on Captain Loligos’s ship. My own twin turned against me. Everyone betrayed me. I couldn’t let myself trust anyone again—perhaps except for Ari, Van, and Raiden’s mother, Ildri. Ever.

Estella drew me onto the dais where her stiff-backed family waited, and then Esen arrived carrying a velvet-wrapped parcel. She nodded at the queen and placed it on her open palm.

“Zali,” Estella said, projecting her voice for the entire court to hear. “Since you’ve triumphed in all three of King Azarn’s entertainments, soon you will become the daughter I have long wished for. From now on, your movements within our city will not be restricted.”

My pulse hammered, and I struggled to keep my expression blank. This was incredible news. Moving freely about the palace and grounds, it wouldn’t take long to discover the best escape route and—

“Zali?” said the queen. “Can you hear me?”

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