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

Chapter 36

Arrow

Several weeks later…

I opened the door to Leaf’s Mydorian bedchamber, and stopped in my tracks, my heart thundering against my ribs.

“Hi,” she said, her cheeks flushing as I studied her, decked out in coronation finery.

She looked exquisite. I took a few steps forward, wondering how I’d stop myself from grabbing hold of her and never letting go.

“Nearly ready?” I asked, my gaze trailing over the creamy skin of her back draped in a gown of finely woven gold thread.

Satisfaction and a dash of fury surged through my blood at the sight of what remained of Bakhur’s rune marks, barely visible since I’d been sloughing them off daily at Leaf’s request with lightning magic.

It destroyed me to know that when he’d hurt her, I hadn’t been there to stop him that night.

“Almost,” she said, her reflection smiling at me in a long mirror as she tucked loose strands of hair into her crown of golden peacock feathers. “If only my dust-damned hair would co-operate.”

“Where’s Ari?” I asked. “Wasn’t she supposed to help you get ready?”

My Aldara laughed. “Oh, she did. My hair is just rebelling against all her hard work.”

The disobedient hair was currently tumbled high on her head, revealing the graceful line of her neck. Her rose-red lips, curved in amusement, matched the rubies sewn sparingly over the dress. Sheer material hung from her bare shoulders, covering her arms, and an embroidered neckline dipped low, highlighting her glorious curves. Splits swept up to her thighs and revealed more creamy skin, making my mouth water.

As she walked toward me, a frown grew between her eyes, marring the picture of a radiant, happy princess about to be crowned queen.

“Are you wearing that?” she asked, stopping in front of me.

My heart galloped as I glanced at my attire, checking my human-style outfit hadn’t dissolved in a fit of malfunctioning storm magic. Nothing had changed. I still wore expertly tailored pants, a fine linen shirt, and a well-cut jacket, the whole ensemble black and embroidered with subtle silver-and-gold feathers.

“I’d planned to. What’s wrong with it?”

“Is your feather plate hiding beneath the shirt?” she asked, running her palms over my chest, and finding out the answer herself.

I nodded.

“Arrow, please don’t take offense, because you look wonderful. It’s a beautiful suit and absolutely does you justice. But tell me, do you feel comfortable wearing it?”

Silence hummed between us as I considered my answer. Should I give the reply that I knew would please her? Or tell the truth?

Closing my eyes, I sighed.

Had I learned nothing?

If Leaf had taught me anything, it was this: only the truth would satisfy her. Even if it hurt.

“No. To be honest, I’d prefer my chest plate was in easy reach, so I can better protect you if needed.”

“Says the man with lightning magic that can melt flesh off bones.” She unbuttoned my jacket and swept it off my shoulders, tossing it onto the white-washed wooden floor.

She reached for my shirt buttons, and I grabbed her wrist. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you get ready for my coronation.”

Releasing her hand, I gripped her waist, my fingers flexing over her warm skin beneath the gown’s cool material.

She slid the shirt off my back and ran her palms over my shoulders, lightly over the gold feathers, and then down to my twitching stomach muscles.

“There you are, my golden Storm King. Muscles flexing, glyphs swirling bright,” her hand moved lower. “And rock hard at my touch. Just how I like you.”

“For gold’s sake, keep doing that, and I won’t be able to walk out there with you.” I tugged her close, kissing her sweet mouth.

For several moments, everything but her dissolved.

She cupped my hardness and squeezed. “As soon as the formalities are over, let’s meet back here and have some fun.”

“I’ll be counting down the minutes.”

“Shall we go, then?” I said.

“Not yet. You’re not quite ready.”

A dark brow arched, an uncertain smile dancing on her lips.

I wiped my damp hands on my pants. “I have something… something I’d like to give you.” I dug a silk-wrapped parcel from my pocket and offered it to her on my palm. “Would you wear this, my Aldara? Only if it pleases you, of course.”

Her green eyes sparkled. “What is it?”

“Open it and find out.”

She peeled the dark silk away, revealing a faceted, red prulite stone, the largest known specimen of the rarest jewel in the realms, flanked by two smaller stones glistening like blood on a chain of finely wrought gold.

She stroked the stones, gazing at me with tears in her eyes. “It’s so beautiful, Arrow. Thank you. I would love to wear it.”

Grinning, I dropped a kiss on her cheek, then stepped behind her and fastened the chain around her throat, letting the center stone rest in the notch between her collarbones.

I turned her toward the mirror, hugging her from behind. “It used to be my mother’s. As a child, it was my favorite thing in her chambers, and I begged to hold it and stare through the gemstone at the sun outside her window. Both light and dark can be found in the jewel’s heart. For some reason, that always appealed to me, and my fascination greatly amused my mother.”

Leaf smiled as she stroked the pendant. “Now I adore it all the more.”

“My mother gave it to me when I came of age, instructing me to keep it safe for my beloved.”

“What was your mother’s name?”

“Samara,” I said, wiping a tear from Leaf’s cheek. “She had silver hair with matching eyes and was almost as skilled with a blade as you are.”

“I’m sure I would’ve loved her.” Leaf spun away from the mirror, turning to face me. “We really should go.”

She took my arm, hugging it close to her side as we left her chamber and made our way to the Mydorian hall. Today, the weather was perfect, the sun shining in a clear, blue sky. Leaf was perfect, too—mine, and about to become the Queen of Dust and Stones. Everything was fucking perfect, and my heart was full. I should have been ecstatic, but as my boots echoed through the corridors, something niggled at the back of my mind.

“Leaf, before you’re crowned, will you do one thing for me?”

“Anything,” she said softly.

I dragged in a long breath. “For weeks, when you first came to Coridon, I made you suffer. I made you beg and cry out my name many times over, both in fury and in bliss. That is behind us now, and our future shines brightly before us. But I must know if you understand the truth.”

“What truth, Arrow?”

“That you’re mine, and I am yours forever. A truth as eternal as the stars circling the Crystal Realm. As powerful as Light Realm storms, as constant as the Sun Realm’s flames, deep as the seas in the Ice Realm, and as enduring as the Earth Realm’s stones—the most wonderful of all the five realms, because you were created from the dust of its forests.”

“Of course I know it. And I’ll love you always, Arrow. I promise.”

“As I will love you.”

We began walking again, and peace settled over me.

Standing behind the Mydorian dais, Leaf peeked through the curtain at the crowd gathered under the bone-white branches that held up the high ceiling, waiting patiently for the ceremony to begin.

“Arrow, there’s Zaret standing with Stormur, Ildri, and Van. They all look very fine in their coronation outfits. See Raiden and Ari nearby? And Esen is making them laugh. Who would ever have imagined it?”

“I did. For a very long time now, I’ve hoped to see Esen happy.”

Gasping, Leaf elbowed my ribs. “And who’s that large fae on the left? The one with long dark hair wearing a crown of ice?”

“Where?” I asked, peering over her shoulder. “Oh, that’s King Ren from the Ice Realm, practically your neighbor since the Kingdom of Sea and Snow lies just east of the Earth Realm. I’ve heard rumors that he’ll soon be taking a bride as tribute for maintaining peace with the other fae courts.” I hesitated, scanning the side of her face, wondering if this was the best time to reveal the whole of it. “A human wife. Willing or not. No doubt you’ll have lots to say to him later this evening.”

“There are humans in the Ice Realm? And to think I thought him incredibly handsome, with those ice-blue eyes and that lovely pouting mouth. Now I despise him.”

Good , I thought to myself, lest they got too friendly, and Ren decided to steal my human. Which would be a stupid fucking mistake. “Mm, probably best to wait until you meet him, Leaf. Then decide how you feel.”

Raising her stubborn nose, she gave me a familiar smile. The one that told me to take my advice and shove it deep in the fiery hell realms.

She pointed at the back wall of the hall, then clapped a hand over her mouth. “Estella came! But, oh, my gods, look at Ruhh next to her. It’s still a shock to see the little fiend walking on the ground with her extremely solid legs and feet. I keep bumping into her, thinking I can walk through her. I suppose I’ll get used to it one day.”

“You will eventually,” I said, offering my arm, ready to lead her onto the dais. “Happy?”

“Ecstatic.” The fire in her green eyes flashed as her fingers wrapped around my forearm. “Shall we join our friends and family?”

I grinned. “To be honest, I’d rather keep you to myself. But that would be selfish, and since I’m no longer a villain, guess we’d better get out there.”

“Fear not. In the bedroom no one is as wicked as you are.”

“Praise the gods,” I joked.

“Do we really deserve such happiness, Arrow?”

“Every day. And forever,” I replied, tugging her through the curtain as the crowd released an ear-splitting cheer.

She let go of my arm and raised hers high in a sign of triumphant joy.

The crowd roared, and musicians took up their instruments.

Leaf shimmied to the front of the dais, waving and greeting her people. Then she turned to face me, ran, and leaped into my arms.

As she wrapped her legs around my waist, laughing and kissing my cheek, not for the first time, I thought to myself: humans sure know how to have fun .

And the party hadn’t even started.

Thank you for reading the conclusion to Leaf and Arrow’s story. I hope you enjoyed it!