Page 123 of Kiss of Fire

The fire flickered out, leaving everyone stunned to silence.

A woman walked in. Copper hair, caramel skin, marmalade eyes. She balanced another fireball in her palm as she faced Aelfric.

“Hello lover,” she said. “Miss me?”

Forty Six

Raya felt the world tilt around her. That face… it wasn’t possible. Yet she recognised it from the countless hours she’d spent staring at a photo.

“You can’t be her,” she breathed. “You’re dead.”

The woman cocked her head.

“Escape now. Explanations later.” She glanced at Aelfric. “Don’t move, you bastard.”

The elven hid his shock. He held his hands out to the fire fae and forced a smile.

“Aelah. Mylumen vitae,light of my life. I knew you’d come back one day.”

“Don’t call me that. And believe me, I never wanted to set foot in this place again. But there’s no way I’m letting my daughter stay trapped with you.”

Aelfric’s face hardened.

“Don’t you meanourdaughter? Suraya is here of her own free will.”

“Yeah, looks like it. The trouble with strong minds is that sooner or later, they break the glamour.”

“She doesn’t want to break it,” spat Aelfric. “I gave her what she wanted. I gave her a family. A place to belong.”

“You played on her fears, like you always do, you prick.” Aelah glanced at Raya. “He kept me under his spell for months. But I broke free the minute I found out I was pregnant, because of my love for you. Love is a great weapon against mind control.”

Love.

Raya looked at Shade. He hadn’t moved. He remained on his knees with Silas’s knife to his throat. Aelfric’s shards were still embedded in his shoulder and abdomen, and he was grey with pain. But his eyes flared blue and she felt her heart leap.

“I think… I think I want to go home now.”

“Youarehome, daughter,” Aelfric snapped. Raya shook her head, her thoughts becoming clearer with each second.

“Let him go. It’s over.”

“No. It is not.”

Aelfric laid a hand on her shoulder and she heard the tuning fork strike up its chord again.

Shade roared in desperation, trying to clamber to his feet. But he was too weak and the centaur easily held him back.

Aelah created a second fireball, balancing one in each hand. Her eyes glowed dangerously.

“Get away from her, Aelfric. Or I’ll fireball the whole fucking place and in case you’ve forgotten, we three are the only ones here who aren’t flammable.”

“I think our daughter should speak for herself.” Aelfric looked at Raya intently. “I’m the only one who ever told you the truth, Suraya. These two both lied to you. They wanted to contain you, control your life. If you stay with me, you’ll have true power.”

She met his penetrating gaze and knew he was right. Theyhadlied to her.

But they’d done it because they loved her. The thought cut through the hum like a scalpel.

She let her mouth widen into a smile.

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