Page 114 of Kiss of Magic

“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when he finally let her up for air.

“That was to remind you how much I love you. Don’t forget it, my ice queen.”

“I love you too.” She rested her head against his. “I know it all seems daunting. But we’ll get through it together. Nush’aldaam will come back stronger than ever.”

“With you by my side, I don’t doubt it.”

She lifted her chin to look at him.

“What about Zeferestiel? The angel? What’s going to happen to him?”

“He has decided to stay among us. He says he can’t return to his own home until his wings regrow, and he’s keen to explore this realm. The only question is…” Kam’s eyes darkened. “Should I reveal what he told me about the demons? That they were created by the angels?”

It was a question that had been weighing heavily on his mind. Angels had always been seen as beneficent allies in Nush’aldaam. Powerful beings who had come to their aid because Nush’aldaam was good and worthy. It was, in part, what their culture and values were built on. But if he repeated what Zeferestiel had admitted, that image would be shattered.

Ren was the only one he’d told so far, and he looked to her now for her opinion.

“No.” Her vehemence surprised him. He raised a brow.

“No? Don’t people have a right to know?”

“What good would it do? It wouldn’t change anything. It would just make Zeferestiel a target for people’s anger. I think he’s suffered enough.”

“But it makes a mockery of history. Everything that’s written about Nush’aldaam is inpraiseof angels and it’s all a load of bullshit.”

“It doesn’t matter. Let people keep that vision. They have enough to deal with right now. The important thing is, the demons are gone.”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ll just tell Shade and…”

“No!” Again, Kam was surprised. Ren looked at him seriously. “You can’t tell Shade. Trust me on this. If you tell Shade, he’ll kill Zeferestiel.”

“What? Why?”

Ren hesitated.

Raya had confided in her about the loss of her unborn baby. She and Shade were still recovering from the tragic news. Perhaps they’d never recover. She wanted to explain to Kam, but it wasn’t her secret to tell.

“He and Raya are dealing with something private and deeply personal,” she said at last. “Shade might tell you about it one day. But if he finds out what you know, he’ll blame Zeferestiel and there’ll be bloodshed. I think there’s been enough of that, don’t you?”

Kam nodded slowly. He wanted to ask more, but he respected her silence. He knew Raya was a close friend.

“Then it’s decided. You and I will be the only people in the world who know what the angels did. And the knowledge will die with us.”

“Agreed.” Ren tried to lighten the moment. “On the plus side, my father’s started talking to me again.”

“Oh, great.”

She slapped his arm.

“Don’t be like that. He did a brilliant job protecting Valkar. And he threw himself in front of me when he thought a demon was about to attack. I really think we’ve turned a corner.”

“I’m genuinely happy for you, my queen. Just don’t expect me to like him.”

She kissed him deeply, taking the frown off his face. She knew Kam and her father didn’t get on. But just in this moment, when Nush’aldaam was being reborn, anything felt possible.

She held her husband tightly and closed her eyes.

“New beginnings,” she murmured.

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