Page 40 of Kiss of Magic

She made to walk out and Kam caught her by the hand. He raised it to his lips.

“Thank you, my queen,” he murmured, his mouth warm against her fingers. She blew him a kiss.

“Come,” she called out to the guards. “Let them have privacy.”

She swept from the throne room followed by her escort and the doors closed behind them.

Kam and Nat looked at each other silently.

He looked good, she thought. Bronzed. Fit. And without the sadness that had been in his eyes the last time she’d seen him.

“Your wife’s amazing,” she said eventually. “Are you sure she’s Salaq’s daughter?”

“Don’t hold that against her. You more than anyone know how contrary the heart can be. HowisBeast, by the way?”

“He said to tell you hi, puny jinn. His words, not mine.”

Kam gave a short laugh.

“Sounds about right. And you? How are you, Nat? How’s the Haven? And everyone in it?”

“Not good. Everyone’s rattled by news of the seal starting to open. But Beast more than anyone.”

“Why?”

“Because he comes from dark magic, remember? He was created by it. He more than anyone understands the danger.”

“Shit.” Kam ran a hand through his hair. “I never thought of that. Is he okay?”

“He needs to do something. So do I. We want to help.”

“How? No offence but he can’t leave the Forbidden Zone. And as good a fighter as you are, Nat, your blades won’t make a dent on a demon.”

“Is that all you think we can do?” she retorted. “Fight?”

“What, then?”

“Thousands of people are trying to move out of Arjhan, away from the seal. I’ve seen them. They’re pouring out of the city. Do you know where they’re going?”

“We’re organizing evacuation centres. Nurhan, Valkar…”

“But not enough, right? Too many people, too few places.”

“What’s your point, Nat? Are you just trying to make me feel like a failure?”

Too late, she saw the hopelessness in his eyes. She wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t know. He couldn’t save everyone and it was tearing him up.

“That’s not what I meant. Beast and I, we’ll take them. We’ll keep them safe.”

He frowned.

“Take them? Take them where?”

“To the Haven.”

Understanding dawned.

“Nat, no. No way. That place is a secret, it has to be protected.”

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