Page 116 of Kiss of Fire

“Si’lat are so malleable, aren’t they? Quite a skill, to be a shapeshifter. To assume any form you choose. But, I wonder, what happens when you assume a form youdon’twant? I imagine that is quite traumatic.”

“Sire, please, I promise you won’t ever see me again.” Leona struggled to free her hand but Aelfric was unrelenting.

“You pride yourself on your allure, don’t you? A shifter like you can assume beauty with a mere thought. Let us see what you look like when beauty is no longer an option.”

“No, sire, I beg of you…”

Leona’s voice rose to a shriek as Aelfric got inside her head. Her features melted and morphed. Horrified and yet fascinated, Raya watched as Leona transformed against her will.

Lines appeared across her skin, etched deep into her cheeks and forehead. Her bones bowed as her muscles shrivelled, forcing her into a stoop. Her taut flesh sagged and wrinkled, her curves now flabby with age. And where once her hair flamed as red as autumn leaves, now it hung in thin grey strands.

The seductive si’lat was gone and instead there was an old crone inside the cage.

Aelfric opened the door.

“Now leave. Before I set the dogs on you.”

The elderly creature hobbled out. She cast one agonised look towards Raya with rheumy bloodshot eyes. Then she left the throne room accompanied by the jeers and taunts of the lords and ladies.

“Why did you do that, father?”

“You said you never wanted to see her face again. It was an elegant punishment, daughter, especially for a vain shifter. I applaud you.”

“How did you make her change?”

Aelfric shrugged.

“An elven trick. Merely an illusion. But one so powerful, her mind will believe it long after she leaves Feyir. She’ll die of old age without ever realising she could have broken the spell, if only she could have seen through the fakery.”

“That’s quite a power.”

He studied her.

“You have your own power, don’t you? You’ve inherited your mother’s gift. Show me.”

With barely a thought, Raya lifted her hand and called up a flame. It danced in her palm, reflecting in her father’s eyes.

“Impressive. A useful power for a ruler to have. I could make a lot of bargains by leveraging a power like that.”

“Father?” She closed her fist, extinguishing the flame.

“It strikes me that having a daughter could allow me to extend my territory. If, say, you were to marry Lord Salaq, the fae would finally have a claim to the throne.”

“But you’re already a king.”

“Only to the fae. To rule the whole of Nush’aldaam… now, that would be a prize indeed.” He looked her up and down. “Fortunately you are quite attractive, despite not being fully elven. I imagine Lord Salaq would be pleased to have you as his bride.”

Bride. I was going to be Shade’s bride. At least I think I was.

“I don’t think I like the idea of marrying a man I’ve never met.”

“Yet you agreed to play the part of Lord Shadeed’s betrothed.”

“He offered me a deal. He rescued me in exchange for some play-acting.”

“Play-acting. And are you sure that is all it was?”

“Yes, father.”

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