Page 96 of Kiss of Magic

“Whataboutme?”

“Don’t you have someplace to be too?”

“My place is by your side.”

He reached out to arrange the covers more comfortably around her.

“I don’t think so, big guy.” He raised a brow quizzically. “You can’t stay here while Castle Elumina may be under attack. I would never forgive myself.”

“Pasha is there, he can….”

“Pasha is a fabulous butler, but he’s not a commander.” Raya smiled weakly. “The people will be scared. They need a leader. They need you.”

“ButIneedyou. I will not leave you.”

“Do I look like I need mollycoddling?” She struggled to sit up, glaring at him. “Go. Do as you’re told, you stubborn jinn. Go save our castle.”

Shade’s jaw worked. Then he leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

“You are as wise as you are beautiful.”

“Yeah, I know. Get going.”

The Ifrit glowered at the healer.

“Make sure she thrives.Or I will find you.”

The healer nodded rapidly.

“Yes, my Lord. Of course. I will give her my personal attention.” His shoulders sagged in relief as the large, angry jinn stalked away. He examined Raya again, his brow creased in concentration as his hands moved gently over her abdomen.

“The wound has healed nicely, my Lady. There is no reason why you won’t make a full recovery.”

“Thank you, healer. And thank you for respecting my wishes about… about the other thing.”

“Perhaps you should have told him, my Lady,” he ventured. She shook her head.

“If he knew, he never would have left my side.”

“But the baby…”

“The baby’s gone.” Raya closed her eyes and tried not to think of what could have been. “I’ll tell him when the time is right. Not now. Let me rest, healer.”

“But I promised your husband…”

“My husband’s not here. And others need your help. Tend to them. I just want to be alone.”

Reluctantly, the dwarven went to check on his other patients. The bunker was full of them. Fae and jinn, witches and soldiers, all injured in the battle against the demons. Raya lay in silence.

She hadn’t known she was with child. The healer had only discovered it when he was repairing her torn belly. He couldn’t save it, though he had tried. The tiny foetus was too new, too fragile.

He’d told her she wasn’t to blame. It had only happened recently, too soon for her to see any physical signs. She couldn’t have known.

Yet she was wracked with self-recrimination. Bitter tears coursed down her cheeks as she mourned a life she and Shade hadn’t even been aware of.

One more future stolen by the demons.

Forty Five

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