Page 115 of Kiss of Fire

“I… I didn’t know, sire. I beg forgiveness.” Leona fell to her knees and Raya wanted to cackle in delight. She held it back. Aelfric examined the grovelling woman dispassionately.

“How should we punish her?”

“No, sire, please. After all I have done for you. I acted as your spy. I betrayed Lord Shadeed for you. I persuaded my father to change his allegiance to Salaq. Please. Have mercy.”

Leona pleaded desperately, tears tracking through the dirt on her face.

“As I say repeatedly, I do not do mercy. And the allegiance of your people no longer troubles me. I have the Vulcani in my pocket now.”

In despair, Leona caught Raya’s gaze.

“Raya, I beg you. Lord Shadeed… Shade would not want you to do this.”

The name jolted her. For the first time she felt something other than manic glee. It was shame. It pierced the jangle in her head and lodged there, a tiny splinter breaching the haze.

“Daughter, I am waiting. How should we punish this creature?” Aelfric’s violet eyes gleamed. “Shall we have fun with her? Perhaps she can be the quarry in a hunt. We have not hunted yet, have we, you and I? This would be a perfect opportunity. What say you?”

“I… um, maybe we should just let her go.”

As one, the lords and ladies gasped. Raya felt the weight of their incredulous stares and tried not to squirm.

Weakness. That was a flaw. She could not show weakness. Not in a room full of predators.

She drew herself up and thrust her chin out imperiously.

“You have something to say? To me, Princess Suraya of Feyir, heir to the throne and daughter of the king? You want to question me?” They were silent. “Well?”

One by one they dropped their gazes. All but Aelfric who watched her thoughtfully.

“Explain.”

Raya walked round the cage and allowed contempt to play across her face.

“This creature is not worthy of our time or effort. She is nobody. Nothing. She has lost her home and her status. Throw her back into the forest and have done with her.”

He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. The crystal clamour sharpened and suddenly she wanted vengeance against Leona so badly, she could almost taste it.

And yet the tiny splinter of shame in what she was doing, what she was becoming, still hung there.

“This is what you truly want, daughter? To let her go?”

Raya nodded.

“Send her away. I never want to see her vapid face again.”

Aelfric’s face cleaved into a vicious smile.

“Done.”

He walked to the cage and held out his hand.

“My daughter never wants to see your face again. If you agree, I will let you go.”

Leona took his hand carefully.

“Thank you. And thank you, Raya. I promise I will never bother you again.”

Aelfric yanked hard and her face hit the bars. She gave a cry as he trailed a finger along her cheek.

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