Page 94 of King of Fire and Flames

I fell backward through space and time, my arms wheeling and my mind screaming. It felt like eons, though in reality, it was probably only a few minutes. I spun through darkness until the churning vortex spat me out, and I landed in the bushes outside the conservatory, away from the guards’ line of sight.

I pressed Estella’s onyx pendant against my chest, and then ran as fast as I could toward the kitchen.

Chapter 29

Leaf

The moment I arrived, the khareek lurched up from the depths of the moat as if they’d been waiting for me to wander by.

“A lovely liar comes,” one said, its flaming body shivering with anticipation.

The three creatures sniffed the air, swinging their heads around and searching for me.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot I was still invisible.” I flipped Estella’s pendant to the outside of my tunic and stepped closer to the moat.

Sparks showered me as the khareek leaned down and inspected the jewel. One of their arms broke off, landing on the path beside me in a mound of flames.

“That necklace belongs to the Night Queen,” said the creature, its limb already reforming as it nudged one of its companions.

“No, the necklace is mine,” I lied, smiling in what I hoped was a charming manner. “It always has been.”

Laughter crackled. “Two lies,” they shrieked. “So sweet. So tasty.”

“Why did you call Estella the Night Queen? Surely she’s the Queen of Fire.”

“To us, she will always be the Queen of Night and Stars. Cosmic Witch. Mother of All Time and Warden of All That is Good, tethered to this realm by her love for an unworthy child.”

“That’s quite a title,” I said.

“You are eager to enter the moat,” said the fire creature, extending its hand toward the churning lava. “Balance must be restored. Release the Storm King, and then let no being in the realms live under tyranny. Go quickly.”

A staircase materialized before my eyes, the steps disappearing beneath the fiery water. “You mean I have to actually walk under the moat?”

“It’s the only entrance to the dungeon. Do you trust us?”

“Oh, of course I do,” I said, stepping onto the edge of the moat.

“Another lie,” they cackled, licking their bubbling lips. “This human feeds us well.”

“When I go down there, I hope I don’t get burned alive and turned into a khareek. No offense.”

Making no reassuring comments, the khareek moved aside as I took a deep breath, held it in my lungs, and began my descent.

Wet warmth rushed over my body, but I felt no pain, and could breathe and see clearly under the fire water. The khareek swam in circles above the staircase balustrade, their bodies entirely transformed.

They reminded me of the Ice Realm’s water sprites from books that I’d read as a child, two females and one male, their sleek, angular forms shining with a cold, beautiful light.

The stairs spiraled past two empty landings, the third one leading to a door that opened smoothly into an air-filled chamber as I approached. I took a long breath of stale air, relieved to be out of the moat.

Another door revealed a long, torch-lit corridor, where two dark-marble statues stood guard. Dressed in Fire Court armor and holding long spears of gold, only their black eyes showed signs of life, moving from side to side and scanning their surroundings.

Making sure Estella’s pendant touched my skin, I strolled straight past the creepy, spellbound guards and into a rectangular room, the right side of it lined with bars. Both relief and terror surged through me as I spotted Raiden, Zaret, and Esen inside the first cell. But no Arrow.

Was he even alive?

A quick inspection of the cell revealed a water pipe on the back wall, a single canvas bed, a pile of blankets, and a bucket in the corner. Even if the fire fae improved the lighting and added two more beds, the living conditions would still be dire.

Esen slept on the stretcher, with Zaret curled on the stone floor nearby. Only Raiden was awake, sitting with his arms wrapped around his knees, glaring at his boots.

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