King of Fire and Flames (Courts of the Star Fae Realms #2)

Chapter 27

Leaf

It didn’t take long to work out that if I stayed close to Ari, in the range of her reaver’s cloak, I could see everyone in our small party. But I still wasn’t visible to them.

The blood orchid’s magic was fire based, incompatible with the deep-earth power of the elves of Auryinnia, and therefore reacted unpredictably.

“How long will it take to arrive at the meeting place?” I asked, swiping wet hair from my eyes.

“About fifteen minutes if we move fast,” said Arrow. “Keep talking, Leaf. I need to know where you are at all times.”

“I can do that,” I replied as I tugged on Ari’s tunic. “What did you do to Bakhur?”

“Estella created a sleeping potion for him. He’s had a large dose,” said Ari, not looking back as she spoke, the wind flapping her soaked, golden tunic around her calves.

“Bakhur’s mother gave you a sleeping potion?” I tripped over my feet in surprise. “Your powers of persuasion are truly astounding.”

Ari laughed. “ Estella suggested we use Bakhur to break the pyre’s spell.”

“Gods, that was… nice of her, I guess.”

Granting Arrow’s request, I blathered on about the rumbling storm clouds and the tiny creatures living in the rock pools I leaped over, and he grunted or laughed, responding to each trivial comment.

We followed the shoreline around a sharp bend, staying close to the cliffs, the rain finally abating when we arrived at a small bay about ten minutes later.

Sand squeaked beneath our boots, jewel-toned sea glass glinting in the sunlight amongst the coarse grains. White caps raced like spirited silver ponies into the shore, and a group of gulls circled above the sea as they fished for breakfast, their urgent cries evoking memories of picnics on the beach with my family when I was a child.

Ruhh flew ahead and skimmed over the waves, the ragged edges of her gown trailing in the foam.

“Fuck. The boat isn’t here,” said Esen.

Ari released the reaver cloak, then whistled, wading into the sea. The slick backs of three dolphins crested in the distance. They swam into waist-high water and circled the Sayeeda with friendly splashes and cheerful chirping noises.

“Come quickly.” Ari waved at Esen, urging her to bring Orion forward.

The dolphins formed a row, pressing the sides of their bodies together in a tight line, while Esen stomped into the gentle surf. She draped Orion over their backs and clamped his fingers around two dorsal fins. “No matter what happens, orc, do not let go.”

“Be safe, Orion,” I called out. “I’ll be seeing you soon in Auryinnia.”

The dolphins traveled in graceful arcs until they reached the middle of the bay, Ruhh flying above as the reaver elves’ hands appeared on the edge of the invisible boat and pulled Orion’s limp body aboard. First, his forearms vanished, then his head and shoulders, followed by his torso and upper legs, then finally, he was gone.

Ari walked out of the surf and stopped in front of me. “Don’t worry, Leaf. The boat is well-equipped with two skilled sailors and three elves. The orc will be fine,” she assured me.

“Thank you. Until we hear that he’s reached Auryinnia safely, I’ll be praying to every god in the realms,” I said.

With his free hand, Arrow felt for me, hitching Bakhur higher over his back before pulling me into his other side. “Orion knew the risks when he helped you board Loligos’s ship, and he chose to do it anyway. You would’ve done the same for him if your positions had been reversed.”

Two sharp screeches reverberated across the sky, and Ruhh flew like a tornado above us, agitated.

“The grymarians are awake,” she hissed. “We need to run.”

“What? What are grymarians?” I asked, my gaze scanning the cliffs and finding only gray rocks and scraggly, shrub-like trees. “I don’t see anything.”

“Over there,” said Esen, pointing a little to the right of where Ruhh was facing.

“Ari, activate your cloak again,” ordered Arrow, squinting into the diffused sunlight. “Shit,” he breathed, squeezing me harder as two gray figures morphed out of the cliff face.

The grymarians leaped into the air, and before we could move a muscle to flee, they landed without a sound on the sand only a few yards away.

The winged creatures were at least a head taller than Arrow, their wiry, muscular builds covered in opalescent black scales. From the neck down, the male and female pair looked like any other fire fae, their powerful, naked bodies gracefully shaped, but their faces were something else.

Dark green scales slithered over large brows concealing luminous silver eyes, adorned with slitted black irises, all framed by stringy brown hair resembling seaweed that had long ago washed ashore.

Their cold eyes tracked over us, assessing before attacking. Twisted black horns curled above their long ears, the tips covered in gore.

“Whatever those things are,” I said, “I think they can see us. All of us.”

Wringing her hands together, Ruhh circled wildly above us. “They’re guardians. My brother never mentioned that he had set them to watch the pyre, but I should have guessed. I should have known. I’m just a stupid dead girl.”

She slapped her forehead, and I tried to grab hold of her as she buzzed past, but my hands slipped through her spectral body. “It’s not your fault, Ruhh,” I whispered.

The grymarians raised dark-red wings, crosshatched with scars, and then leaped into the air, screeching toward us.

“Run,” yelled Arrow, dropping Bakhur on the sand before scooping me up and throwing me over his shoulder as his legs swung into motion. “Everyone stay close to Ari so she can cover us with her cloak.”

“Arrow, don’t leave Bakhur behind,” I said, my hips bucking in protest. “And I don’t think the reaver cloak works on them.”

“There’s no other choice. Your safety is all that matters.”

“I’ll get him,” yelled Esen, tracking back to collect the prince.

We ran in the direction of the palace, not once looking behind us, but just as we neared the path that led toward the fire moat, the dragon-like fae alighted on the sand in front of us. I slid off Arrow’s back, clasping his hand as my boots hit the ground.

Clouds of black smoke wound from the creatures’ clawed hands, filling the air between us. Mesmerized, I reached out to touch it.

Ruhh hissed. “Don’t even look at their magic, Zali. Its purpose is to draw prey close, keeping them placid and the meat nice and tender.”

“Gods, I sure hope we’re dead when they start feasting on us,” I said as Ruhh shot into the air, disappearing, and leaving us to our fates. But I held no hard feelings. She’d done all she could, and I just hoped she made it back to the palace safely.

At the sound of my voice, the creatures’ heads canted, their slitted irises widening. I’d assumed they could see me, but as they sniffed the air, tracing my scent, I realized that they couldn’t. I didn’t know which god in which realm I had to thank, but the magic of the orchid petals seemed to work on the grymarians.

Keeping her gaze averted from me, Ari raised a finger to her lips, pretending to brush something away, perhaps an insect, a clear sign for me to stay silent.

“My energy is depleted, and my cloak has failed,” she whispered between gritted teeth. “They can see us, but not you, Leaf. Go now. Hurry.”

Arrow released my hand. “Go,” he said gruffly. “For once, do as I ask.”

“Not leaving without you,” I whispered.

“Yes, you are. Look carefully at the beasts’ magic. Someone’s coming. If you won’t leave for your own sake, then go for ours. We’ll need someone to get us out of this mess.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, squinting at the guardians. “Who’s coming?”

The beasts prowled closer, the black smoke thickening until the outlines of three bodies became visible. Then Azarn, Melaya, and Neeron stepped out of the dark haze.

“I told you, My King,” said the sneering Sun envoy. “I knew they were up to something when I saw the human leave the fire cave with Esen a few days ago. As soon as I noticed the guardians take to the air this morning, I guessed what terrible deed the storm fae had accomplished.”

Melaya flicked his fingers, and Ari’s reaver cloak retracted.

Azarn’s crown of black flames swayed in the breeze as he stepped closer to us. Growls rumbled from the grymarians’ chests, their animal stares fixed on my friends, who were now completely visible.

“Sayeeda, what interest have you in the orc’s survival?” asked Azarn.

“He is a particular friend of my family’s,” said Ari. “His father helped our Zareen during the War of Attrition. Elves never forget a kindness and aim to repay it tenfold.”

“Did you bring gold serum into my land? Is that what you used to poison my son?” He nodded at Bakhur’s limp form, still snoring gently in Esen’s arms.

Ari met the Fire King’s gaze, not flinching. “Yes,” she lied. “It acts as a sleeping tonic on sensitive fae. I took a chance it might work on him. And it paid off.”

Azarn’s jaw ticked as he strutted back and forth in front of our line, his hands behind his back as if making a decision. Finally, he stopped in front of Arrow, so close I could smell the scent of sleep on his royal bed robes.

“Even though you deserve it, Arrowyn, I don’t believe I shall kill you just yet,” said Azarn, turning slightly toward Esen. “And although you chose to protect my son from the guardians, you were part of this foolish plot and perhaps instrumental in its design. You betrayed me and must join your former master in the dungeon.”

Silent, Esen bowed her head.

“Retrieve the prince,” barked Azarn, and Neeron took Bakhur from Esen, stumbling a little at his dead weight.

Waves of fury rolled off Arrow’s body, prickling my skin. Without a doubt, he longed to blow the City of Taln to dust, his actions hindered only by Melaya’s power block.

The fire mage bristled, flames leaping in his eyes, as if he’d love nothing more than to snap the Storm King’s neck. It would be quite a sight to witness—the two of them engaged in battle, their powers unrestricted. But alas, that wouldn’t happen today.

Azarn wrapped his dark robe tighter around his chest and leaned close to Arrow. “From now on, your gold reaver will serve me .”

“That’s impossible,” Arrow ground out. “There are ceremonies, rituals that must be completed. The Sun Realm has no Accord with Auryinnia.”

“That is true. But perhaps the Sayeeda’s terms of service will be a little… different to the bond you shared with her, Arrowyn. Regardless, I believe we will get along quite well.”

“If you hurt her—”

“What will you do?” Azarn asked, grinning as he circled him. “Having repaid my friendship by releasing an enemy of my court, you’re in no position to make any demands.”

Arrow released a frustrated sigh. “Orion’s sentence was too harsh. Savage, in fact. Killing him would’ve been kinder. You’ve already made him pay for his betrayal a thousand times over.”

Azarn laughed, his fingers combing through his beard. “How ironic that the ruler known for stringing slaves from a pavilion high above his city, carving them up, and letting their blood paint the sides of his palace while they died slow deaths, even thinks to call me harsh. You , Arrowyn Ramiel, are the savage.”

“King Darian did those horrible things, not me. I have never taken pleasure in another being’s suffering. I will never be like you or my father.”

“All that matters is that you pay for today’s crimes. Put him in chains, Melaya,” Azarn ordered. “And while I decide what to do with you, Storm King, you will reside in a cell, and your Aldara will be punished for your deeds. Zali will be my son’s pet, and through her, we shall control you . You will write the Zareen pretty letters and maintain the Gold Accords with Auryinnia. From now on, my court will manage the trade or the human you profess not to care about will suffer. Fight us now, and she will be tortured immediately. As we speak, my soldiers are on their way to find her.”

Beside me, Arrow ground his teeth together.

Shit, shit, shit .

“If you know where Zali is, you had better tell me now,” said Azarn.

“Zali prefers to sleep late. I assume she is in her room,” said Ari at the same time as Arrow said, “This has nothing to do with the human.”

Melaya conjured a red beam of magic, blasting it directly into Arrow’s chest. He collapsed on the sand with a thud.

Fuck, fuck, fuck .

He had better not be dead.

I waited three seconds before I saw his chest rise and fall. Then I turned and bolted up the hillside. At the top of the cliffs, I stopped briefly and watched Melaya produce another mergelyn anklet from a ball of flames that spun on his palm before he fastened the damned thing around Ari’s leg.

With loud screeches, the guardians took to the air, and I sprinted toward the palace, praying I would make it to my room before Azarn’s guards arrived.