Page 39 of King of Fire and Flames

“King Arrowyn,” said Esen in a flat greeting.

Staring at me, he said, “Get off the horse.”

Esen dug her fingers into my ribs. “Don’t move,” she told me, then to Arrow, “Why would I trust a traitor with her?”

“If I’m a traitor, then that makes three of us. Let her dismount, or get down and fight me, Esen. Choose now. I’m not feeling very patient.”

“Do as he says,” Esen whispered against my ear.

“I’m not interested in anything he has to say.”

“Don’t argue with me, Leaf. Just do it,” Arrow replied, his voice low and menacing.

My Aldara mark throbbed, and his gaze fixed on it, his nostrils flaring as if he could smell my fear and perhaps other… disappointing feelings.

The moment my boots hit the ground, he charged at me, grabbing my throat and pushing me against an external wall of the palace. “Stay out of this if you know what’s good for you,” he barked over his shoulder at Esen who’d leaped from the horse and followed close behind us.

“I can’t stop you, Arrow, but I can stand here and listen to every word you say, bearing witness.”

Arrow growled, his eyes boring into mine. He stroked the Aldara mark on my throat. “Good. It’s still active. Bakhur wants to hurt you, but he can’t because of my mark.”

“That’s your job alone, is it? To hurt me?”

He rolled his eyes. “We’ve had this conversation before. My answer hasn’t changed.”

“Actions speak louder than words,” I snarled back. “And yours, thus far, have been abhorrent.”

Grunting, he pushed me harder against the rough stones, his fingers flexing on my throat, tight but not causing pain yet. “And what about your actions?” he asked.

“Mine? What have I done that comes near to equaling your betrayal?”

“Oh, Leaf,” he said, his voice husky and breath caressing my cheek. “How your words wound me.”

Fire sizzled through my veins, setting every part of me alight. His touch infuriated and excited me. Made me want to scream and slap his perfect face until every speck of shame and self-disgust had left me.

How dare my body burn like it wanted him. Like it needed him. My flesh was weak, and my thoughts were no better. Chaos reigned in my mind as I stared at his lips, wondering how they’d feel against mine, a sick part of me willing to do anything to find out.

I shook my head and pushed against him, but he was as unyielding as a fucking mountain.

“If you have anything of importance to say,” Esen told him, “then for gold’s sake, hurry up.”

Arrow breathed out a curse, and Esen hissed, “Melaya’s coming. I can feel him through the mergelyn bracelet Azarn makes his soldiers wear.”

“Be careful,” Arrow whispered, then flicked out his wings, a dark shadow engulfing me before he rose up and disappeared in a gust of wind.

We scrambled and mounted Sable, and she bounced into a trot just as the twin fire mages rounded the corner, Melaya’s eyes blazing with their usual cheery aggression.

“Good evening, Melaya. Nukala,” I said in a pleasant tone to mess with them. “I hope you both enjoyed today’s entertainment.”

Sweeping past us in the direction of the fire gardens, Melaya said nothing, while his brother stared over his shoulder at me with curious black eyes.

“Can’t your brother speak?” I called out. Esen shushed me, but I ignored her and continued teasing the mages. “If he could, I’m sure he’d tell me it was quite an achievement to beat the Fire Queen.”

“Oh, Zali,” Esen admonished. “Will you ever learn to keep your mouth shut?”

Rubbing my chin, I pretended to consider her question. “No, I don’t think so. My parents raised me to stand up for myself, and it would be disrespectful to their memories to do otherwise.”

Esen chuckled, urging Sable into a canter.

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