Page 52 of Kiss of Magic

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Raya sat up. “I escaped from a secure hospital which considered me a deranged arsonist. I’m probably on Interpol’s most wanted list. And you want me to go back there? Are you nuts?”

“I merely thought…”

“What, that I’d duck out of a fight? I’m not human, in case you’d forgotten. I grew up there, sure. But I’m fae.Thisis my home and I’m going to defend it.”

“If we have to fight, it would be better for me if I was not distracted by your presence.”

“Oh, yes? Perhaps I heard wrong but didn’t Kamran say your Ifrit powers were worthless against the demons? Perhaps it would be better formeifyoustayed out of the way.”

Shade’s brows drew down.

“Are you saying I could not best a demon?”

“I’m saying when it comes to fighting them, I have more chance.”

“You think you’re stronger than I?”

“You’re forgetting what I can do. When we fought Aelfric, I threw a wall of fire at his soldiers. No Vulcani has ever been able to do that.”

“And you have never been able to do it since.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t! And fire is the ultimate weapon against the demons. Having as many Vulcani on the front line as possible is vital for our defence.”

“And I say you are not ready.”

She bit her lip, not wanting the confrontation but knowing it was unavoidable.

“I’m sorry, Shade. But you’re wrong.”

Angrily, Shade sent out a skein of smoke and caught her round the waist, lifting her off her feet and shaking her a little. Not enough to cause discomfort, just enough to show her who was boss.

“This is a childish argument. Your powers are untested and inconsistent and you have never faced an enemy like this.”

“You put me down right now!”

Raya summoned her power and sent a fireball hurtling towards the jinn. She knew he was immune to heat but she was hoping to at least singe his eyebrows. The fire bounced off his torso and extinguished. He smiled coldly, his eyes flashing blue.

“Do not think to challenge me, halfling. I am impervious to your flames.” A tendril of smoke caressed her cheek. “I know you are angry with me now. But you will come to see I am right.”

She closed her eyes as more shadows stroked her throat, her shoulders, her collarbone. A questing tendril easing its waybeneath the neckline of her dress made her shiver. It would be easy to give in, to let him think he’d won. But she couldn’t.

She streamed fire from her fingertips and burned through his shadows as if they were tissue paper. His grip loosened and she dropped gracefully to the ground.

“My fire consumes your smoke,” she said quietly. “Just as they’ll consume the demons.” She ignored the darkness swirling round him as he fought to contain his emotions. She was used to his volatility now. She walked towards him and laid her hand on his face.

“We’re not having this argument. We’re staying together. Is that clear?”

“Are you speaking as my wife? Or as the Fae Queen?”

“As both. You have to trust me, Shade. I can handle myself. Now lay some more shadows on me. That’s an order.”

His eyes glittered.

“The jinn do not take orders from the fae.”

“Oh, that was an order from your wife.” Slowly, she pulled her dress over her head and stood before him, naked. “But if you don’t like it, why don’t you try to show me who’s boss again? Maybe this time I’ll let you.”

He trailed his gaze over her flushed face, her delectable curves. Without warning, she found herself lifted off her feet again and tethered securely by his shadows. She made no attempt to struggle, knowing instinctively he needed this.

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