King of Fire and Flames: A Steamy Fae Fantasy Romance (Courts of the Star Fae Realms Book 2) by Juno Heart

Author:Juno Heart [Heart, Juno]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Juno Heart
Published: 2024-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Leaf

Outside the cave, rain slashed at our faces, our hair tangling together as I pulled her close.

“How?” I yelled over the roar of the wind. “What did you do, Esen?”

Her cheeks flushed red, and she gave a faint laugh. “I’ve always been one of them. I was born a fire fae.”

“What?” In shock, I spun on my heel and started walking up the path. I stumbled on a slab of slippery rock and gripped Esen’s arm for support. “That’s not possible. I’ve seen you wield storm magic.”

“King Azarn planted me at the Storm Court as a spy. I only recently found out. Apparently, it took his mages centuries to find a child whose power was strong enough to be subdued then transformed into storm magic. But they did it. They found me. Killed my family and dumped me at the gates of Coridon.”

Pity and horror churned through my stomach. At such a young age, Esen had been used, abused, and twisted into a servant of the Fire King’s greed. On some level, she must have felt warped, wrong, her true essence incompatible with the lightning magic running through her veins.

A lot of things about her made sense now, especially her bitter personality. As was the way with most hate-filled beings, she’d been damaged at a formative time and had suffered greatly.

“But why didn’t the fae of Coridon notice something was amiss? I mean Arrow’s father must have been—”

“Melaya’s ability to block and repress power is formidable.” Watching me warily, she heaved a sigh, then grinned. “Come on. Let’s keep walking before we drown. I’ll answer all your annoying questions when we arrive at the beach.”

“In this rain?” My boots crunched and slipped over stones as we started down the hill. “Can’t I interrogate you in comfort by the fire in my chamber?” As soon as I said the word fire, my heart clenched, and the image of Orion hanging over the Sentura Pyre assaulted me. His hollow, twisted features. The sweat coating his leathery skin. So much agony. And all because of me.

“I’d prefer to do it out here,” said Esen. “Where the sound of the waves will ensure no one can eavesdrop.”

I tuned into my body, searching for any strange sensations. “Melaya’s not listening in, Esen. I feel no signs of another being’s magical interference. In fact, since I was given the anklet, I’m fairly certain that I never have.”

“Good. But I still prefer to be outside, where the wind and rain will hide my tears.”

Shocked, I shot her a glance. With her tough exterior, it was easy to assume Esen didn’t have any feelings. But clearly, I’d been wrong.

Nearly at the beach, I pointed up the hill. “It would be better if we headed back to the palace. I need to find Estella and—”

She cut me off with a snarl. “Do not tell the queen I took you into that cave. Please, Zali. It will be the death of me.”

“Who should I speak to, then? Who can

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