Page 53 of King of Fire and Flames

Why? Why did she have to be so stubborn?

Cracking my neck, I rose from the bed and downed three glasses of water. Then wasting no time, I got dressed and hurried to the smaller of Taln’s three taverns, where Raiden and Zaret preferred to drink.

I had to prepare them, warn them that my human was still hostile, disbelieving.

And about to run headfirst into disaster.

Chapter 16

Leaf

The next day, I sprang out of bed early and enjoyed my newfound freedom by exploring Taln’s rambling market district that wound down a grassy hillside beneath a slate-gray sky, the air thick with cooking smoke and spices.

I spent the morning inspecting wares laid out on market-stall tables, pestering hooded traders from the Ice Realm, blacksmiths, glassblowers, and bakers with questions, feigning interest in their magical trinkets and edible delights—enchanted blades, fire runes, amulets, potions, and health elixirs.

My aim was to learn everything I could about my newly acquired jewelry item, the repulsive mergelyn anklet, and get rid of the dust-damned thing as soon as possible.

Grizzled, long-haired warriors dressed in leathers and not much else wandered through the crowd, some buying weapons and others drinking ale from large tankards on roughly hewn tables set around the town mill.

I perched on a stool nearby, eavesdropping, before finally concluding their conversations about hunting tactics and best bedroom practices to make their partners scream were of little help to me. As soon as I finished my drink, I kept my hood low over my face and slipped past them.

At the very bottom of the market, I found twenty or so cages nestled in the walls of a shallow cave set into the hillside. They were filled with dragon-like creatures about the size of the cats that wandered the palace like royalty wearing bejeweled collars.

The caged dragons’ pathetic mewling tugged at my heartstrings, and despite how badly I longed to set them free, I couldn’t. I knew doing so would only get me confined to my tower again.

Or worse.

When my belly growled, I trekked back up the hill to the food stalls and used the gold feather Esen had given me this morning to buy a bowl of spiced soup and a sticky pastry for lunch. Blending in with the fae, I took a seat on a crowded table in front of a tavern and ate while watching Taln’s famous dragon riders take their second whirl through the sky since the sun had risen.

As I licked the last of the pastry’s honey from my fingers, I spied Raiden bartering with a trader. I slinked through rows of clothing hanging on long rails and watched him purchase a gold pendant with a single tear-shaped ruby, framed by shining black pearls. It was beautiful, the type of jewelry one gave to their beloved. And I smiled to myself, knowing exactly who Raiden had bought it for—Arrow’s golden Sayeeda.

A wave of sadness engulfed me. I missed Ari so much.

I’d give almost anything to have her here with me in this twisted court of lies, and I was certain Raiden felt the same way.

I followed Arrow’s dark-haired guard up and down black-walled streets and alleys until he came across the very person I had hoped to find—the human youth who’d arrived six days ago with the Storm Court retinue.

In the forest, Arrow had mentioned Zaret was here and advised me to seek him out. But could it really be Grendal’s son? It made no sense that a human who’d lived in a gold raiders’ camp would travel with the fae king who had proclaimed so often and so loudly to hate our species.

The males chatted amiably, Raiden laughing as he stroked his jacket pocket, where Ari’s pendant lay safely tucked, before he clapped the boy’s shoulder, and then continued alone up the hill toward the palace.

I wasted no time, ducking around groups of fae and stepping in front of the young man. “Hello,” I said, offering my hand in greeting. “It’s nice to finally meet another human in Taln.”

A gray hue washed over his dark skin. “Princess,” he stuttered, cutting me a deep bow, and ignoring my outstretched hand. In obvious discomfort, he flicked his gaze toward the market stalls, down to the ground, then finally back to my face. “How can I… uh… help you?”

“You could start by shaking my hand and telling me your name.”

Laughter rumbled in his chest as he recovered from his bout of shyness and took my hand. “Arrow warned me you were blunt,” he said drawing me through the crowd and toward one of the smaller fire gardens near the sea.

Fucking Arrow. Why was he the only thing anyone seemed to speak about and, worse, all I could think of? Self-disgust slid through my veins as I remembered the kiss we’d shared last night, the way I’d melted at his touch. In the space of three shakily drawn breaths, the walls around my broken heart had collapsed, and all I’d wanted was for him to call me his Aldara again. His only one.

And tell me that I was his and no other’s.

The loud cawing of gulls woke me from my daydream of soft, seeking lips and molten silver eyes as the birds circled directly above, mocking me with their cruel cries.

The boy cleared his throat. “I’m glad what they say about you is true. Perhaps you’ll forgive me if I speak in the same manner.”

I smiled. “I appreciate straightforwardness,” I admitted as I studied clear gray eyes framed by thick brows and dark hair that curled around the strong bones of his face. “I’m tired of the way fae forever talk around their secrets, rarely getting to the point. Speak boldly. It will be a refreshing change.”

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