Page 113 of Kiss of Magic

“Will you teach me to hunt?”

“Bounty hunting?”

“Yeah. It appeals to me. Tracking down bad guys, bringing them in, making them face justice.”

“I’m not always hired to find bad guys, Blue,” he said cautiously. “Sometimes the bad guys hire me to find good guys. I don’t ask questions. The contract is what’s important.”

Her eyes hardened.

“No. Not anymore. If I join you, we only hunt bad guys.”

“Laying down rules already, huh?” He rubbed his thumb across her cheekbone. “I always knew you’d be trouble.”

“Is it a deal?”

“Yeah. I’ve made enough money now that I can pick and choose my jobs. So bad guys it is.”

She brushed her lips over his.

“And what about you? Is it going to work for you, being stuck with me?”

“No-one I’d rather be stuck with, princess.”

“I’m going to start ageing like everyone else, you know. Grey hair, wrinkles, the lot.”

“Like I said. I’m not going anywhere.”

She snuggled into his side, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her naked body.

“Good. Because personally, I could stay like this forever.”

“You might want to rethink that, Blue.” His gaze shifted to a point over her shoulder. “A bus-load of tourists just pulled up and they’re looking distinctly shocked.”

“Shit.”

Scrambling into their clothes and giggling like teenagers, they made their escape.

Fifty Five

One week after the Second Dark War

Kam read the lists Ren handed to him silently. All those names. Most he didn’t know but he resolved to contact all their families. They had died in defence of the realm. They would be honoured.

“How many?” he asked. “How many casualties?”

“Almost a thousand. Mostly soldiers. But civilians too. The witches in particular lost many of their number, including Cassia.” Ren’s voice cracked. “And Ruth.”

Kam rubbed his face tiredly. It had been a brutal few days. After the euphoria of realising the demons had gone for good, the reality of the carnage had set in.

Much of Nush’aldaam needed rebuilding. The castles at Valkar and Elumina had prevailed, but the Gilded Palace was largely destroyed. Fortuitously, the single remaining wing contained the royal residences and the throne room, and it was from here that Kam was now conducting all official business while the rest of the palace was restored.

But there was much to be thankful for, Kam reminded himself. The casualties were sizeable, but they could have been so much worse. Most women and children had survived. Palissandra’s technological assistance had been invaluable, and it had cemented relations between their two nations. Nush’aldaam would be rebuilt and it would be bigger and better than before.

Most importantly, the people he loved most in the world were safe.

He rested his eyes on Ren as she sorted through the casualty lists and couldn’t help but feel admiration. She had taken on a demon single-handedly. She had helped defend her people. She was magnificent.

Without warning he pulled her into his arms. She squeaked as she found herself being kissed mercilessly.

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