Page 13 of Kiss of Fire

He inclined his head graciously.

“I give you my word. And you will listen to what I have to say without running, screaming or crying?”

She caught the mockery in his voice and bristled.

“Hey, it’s been stressful, okay? Yes, I’ll listen to you withoutcryingif it bothers you so much. But you have to tell me what’s going on.”

His jaw tightened. Could he trust her? Then again, did he have any choice? Having her people ally with him was the only chance he had of getting what he wanted.

He needed her. A thought that should have left him furious. And yet it was clear that she needed him too. The way she kept running, the despair in her eyes. Something bad had happened to her.

Without a word he started flying back towards the Gatekeeper’s hut. She didn’t hide her face in his neck this time. She watched him curiously as they glided silently through the night.

“Where were your wings before?” she asked. “In the bedroom?”

“They come and go as I please,” he replied shortly.

“And the shadows?”

“A manifestation of my mood.”

“Your mood’s always dark then?” He scowled and didn’t answer.Anger management issues, much?“What happens if you’re happy? Do you get pink clouds inste…”

“We are here,” he said abruptly. They dropped to the ground and she watched, fascinated, as his wings faded and disappeared, leaving just the merest smidge of smoke.

A figure was sitting outside the hut smoking a pipe. It was bundled into so many clothes it looked spherical. A ridiculous red bobble hat was perched on its head. It took Raya a moment to realise it was a little old woman, and only then because it spoke in a sing-song voice.

“I see you’re starting to enjoy the flying, then?”

Bright green eyes twinkled up at her. Raya couldn’t help smiling back. The wizened face was alive with mischief.

“It’s not so bad,” she answered cautiously. “It’s an amazing sensation.”

“Do you mean the flying, or being held by a jinn?”

Raya blushed and the old woman cackled.

“Gatekeeper.” Shadeed’s voice rumbled impatiently and small heaps of snow were dislodged from the eaves of the hut. “We require sustenance. And then we will talk.”

“All right, all right. Keep your shirt on. Oh, too late.”

Raya nearly giggled until the thunderous expression fell on her. She ducked her head and saw his feet were bare. Did he not feel the cold at all?

“Don’t mind him. I’m Magda. Are you hungry?”

“A bit. I never really ate the food at the hospital.”

“Was it no good?” sympathized the gatekeeper as she led the way into the hut. Shadeed remembered to duck this time.

“The orderly spat in it. So I had to choose carefully. Bananas mostly. Yoghurt. Chocolate bars.”

“I think we can do better than that. How do you feel about steak?” Raya’s stomach rumbled loudly and the Gatekeeper grinned. “Then I’ll cook, and you two talk. Just one thing, my dear. Please keep an open mind.”

She disappeared into the kitchen. Raya faced Shadeed, suddenly feeling awkward. She scratched an ear, not surprised her eczema had flared up again. If anything could be categorized as ‘stressful’, this was it.

She drew closer to the fire on the pretext of getting warm. Though in truth, she could still feel the heat emanating off him.

“So? What’s this deal you keep talking about?”

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