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

Chapter 30

Arrow

Trapped inside the dungeon below the fire moat, I had no way to tell the exact time of day. But the moment night fell over the city, my blood quickened in my veins, and I began my vigil, pacing across the cell, cursing Azarn’s soldiers for chaining my wrists in front of my body.

In a nearby cell, boots scuffed against flagstones as my friends muttered to each other, the low hum of their voices tethering the chaos of my mind to a bare semblance of sanity.

Questions ricocheted through my brain, torturing me until my palms were slick with sweat. What if we failed and left Leaf alone to face a life of servitude to Bakhur and the corrupt Fire Court? What would happen to Coridon without me? To my people, the Zareen, and the elves of Auryinnia?

Tonight, I couldn’t lose. That much was certain. I had to destroy Melaya, Azarn, and Bakhur, too.

If I could break out of the dungeon with my power restored, I would summon a catastrophic storm. Melt the flesh off Azarn and Melaya. Then wrap my hands around Bakhur’s throat and squeeze the life from his veins with unbridled joy.

Jerking to a halt, I pressed my forehead against the bars of my cell, each shuddered breath echoing through my lungs, pure agony.

For daring to hurt my Aldara, I would kill Bakhur slowly, savoring his death. I’d play with the fucker. Taste each sour tear as he begged for mercy, for relief that I would never grant.

Hands chained in front of me, I cracked my knuckles, Leaf’s face flashing through my mind again. I imagined her expression as she watched me dispense justice—first fear, then disgust—the vision a reminder of how much she despised cruelty.

So be it.

For her , I would show leniency. To a point . A small, sharp one. And I’d behave like a male who deserved Leaf’s love.

Perhaps I wasn’t her equal yet, but I would never ever give up trying to be.

“Raiden,” I called out. “Don’t forget as soon as I hand you the petals, you must waste no time and rub one over your skin.”

“Does it matter where we apply it?” asked Zaret, the over-thinker of our group.

“Over your heart is best, but anywhere you can in the space of three seconds will do,” I replied.

“Will you do the same?” Esen asked, suspicion resonating in her tone.

“No. Fuck that. When Azarn’s organs start boiling, I need him to see my face. I’ll target Melaya first, then the king. And, Raiden, remember that away from Coridon, your storm magic might be weaker. Gold knows what will happen to Esen’s mutated power, but we can only hope both elements will continue to work well together. Grab swords from the nearest fae and kill the king’s guards or anyone wearing armor. If any soldiers flee the hall, let them leave. I guarantee they despise Azarn and will help us build a better Taln after we’ve defeated him.”

“You want the entire royal family dead?” asked Zaret.

“No,” I replied. “Just the males. And Esen, Raiden, be sure to always have Zaret’s back. He may be as fierce a fighter as the strongest Light Realm fae, but he has no magic. I can feel you scowling, Zaret. Don’t take stupid risks in the hall. I need you alive.”

“Why? So you can keep your promise to Zali? And hers to my mother?”

“I will never break my word to my Aldara. She is more precious than every kanara feather in Coridon. But this is not why I need you by my side. You and Leaf have taught me that I was a fool to reject an entire species because of the crimes of a few. You are as valued a friend as Raiden and Esen, and my trust in Esen is stronger than ever now that I know her true story. Believe me, Azarn will pay for exploiting an innocent fae child.”

“I would gladly give my life to save your future queen,” said Zaret, his voice determined, bearing no trace of sorrow.

“If it comes to that, so be it,” I replied, knowing the young human was as headstrong as my Leaf, and nothing could deter him from following his conscience, seated in the center of his heart.

Not even me.

Time passed as I paced in darkness, and before long, terror took hold, sliding through my veins like a curse, my limbs shaking with suppressed adrenaline, nausea churning my gut. I clutched the bars, certain too much time had passed.

“Estella’s plan must’ve failed,” I ground out. “Melaya probably found her before she could subdue Nukala. Leaf might already be dead.”

That idea sent shock waves of pain radiating through my body. If my Aldara was dead, I had no wish to go on living.

“No way,” said Raiden. “I’m sure all is well. Have patience. Check your glyphs. How do they feel?”

Good question.

Closing my eyes, I tuned out the sound of dripping water, the scuttle of a nearby rat, and ignored the stench of misery that emanated from the walls, barely breathing as I focused internally.

A subtle warmth vibrated over my skin. I concentrated harder, feeling a slight buzz from my glyphs, evidence the magical tether that pulsed from my heart to Leaf’s remained unbroken, even in this gold-forsaken shithole.

For the hundredth time, I tried connecting to the elements above the dungeon. To move the clouds. Entice the wind. But once again… nothing.

I paced. Stopped moving, focused, and tried again.

Still nothing.

I repeated the actions until I was ready to smash my skull against the wall in desperation.

“For gold’s sake, what the fuck is going on out there?” I yelled, slamming a shoulder into the bars.

Power crashed into my chest and threw me across the floor. “Fuck, yes . Estella did it. It fucking worked.”

A moan parted my lips, my body shaking and shuddering as my magic returned. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and then roared closer as I called the storm clouds toward me. Blinding light filled the room before snaking down my throat.

I retched, then planted my boots firmly on the stone floor, forcing my arms out in front of me, breaking the chain between my wrists. I pushed a small beam of lightning magic through my palm and blasted the lock off the cell door.

On my way out, I swiped the persimmon from the ground, taking a single bite, because I’d promised Leaf that I would. Then I burst into the passage and blew the door off the cell containing my friends.

Raiden dashed forward and slapped my back. “Finally.”

“We have about twenty minutes.” I handed Esen an orchid petal. “Here. Start rubbing.”

She grinned slyly, wiping the petal over her face, neck, and arms, unable to reach beneath the armor covering her chest. “You have no idea how badly I once wished you’d give me such an order, Arrow.”

I snorted, handing Raiden and Zaret petals. They applied them fast, their bodies dissolving into blank space before my eyes.

“Let’s go,” I said.

Wings folded behind me, I bolted around a corner onto a long, torch-lit corridor where the stone guards waited, the sound of boot scuffs and ragged breathing the only indication my friends followed at my heels.

The guards’ spear arms creaked and moved as the magic that animated them sprang to life. I conjured two balls of lightning and threw them at their chests, ducking away from the spray of rocks and fine powder, their remains forming a pile of debris in the corner.

“Too easy,” Raiden said as I opened the only door in sight and began climbing a walled-in staircase.

Two levels up, the khareek appeared, stripped of the fiery bodies and their true fae forms revealed.

“King Arrowyn. Come quickly,” the female said. “We will guide you through the moat safely.”

“Escorts. Excellent,” I said, extremely glad to see them. “I was wondering how we’d get out of here without blowing up your moat. Let’s go. We haven’t got much time.”

The khareek nodded, and then led us through the fire water. In no time at all, we stood on the grass beneath a star-filled sky, the violence of my storm clouds rumbling above Taln Palace.

“Those fire fuckers took your chest plate,” Raiden said, his voice sounding next to my right shoulder.

I glanced at my bare chest and the feather glyphs flowing like veins of molten gold over my skin.

“Get to the hall,” I told my friends, wishing I could see their faces in case everything went to shit and I never got to look upon them again. “Run, and don’t stop until you find a soldier or six to kill. I’ll meet you there.”

As my wings snapped out, I leaped into the air, hovering above the ground with my arms crossed and my heart thundering against my ribs.

Esen yelled, “Arrow, wait. Where the fuck are you going?”

“To make a grand entrance.”

With a single, hard beat of my wings, I shot higher, hurtling toward the domed roof above Taln’s hall. Toward my Aldara. Zali Omala. Leaf. My forever love and the queen of my heart.

And gold help anyone who tried to keep me from her.