Page 130 of Kiss of Fire

“I want to get back to my simple life. But if you ever need me, I’ll be there.” He cocked his head. “I guess you’ve decided to stay here, with Shadeed?”

“I hope so. We have a few things to work out. We haven’t really spoken since we got back from Feyir.”

“That was yesterday.”

“He had stuff to do. And he was giving me and Aelah time to get to know each other.” She realised how weak that sounded. “I’m on my way to see him now.”

He studied her thoughtfully.

“What’s the problem?”

“He told me he loved me. In front of everyone.”

“So? You don’t feel the same?”

“It’s complicated.” She tried to explain. “I’ve spent so long hiding my feelings. In hospital, they encourage you to talk about how you feel all the time. It becomes the only thing you have any control over. So the important stuff, the really deep stuff, you hide. And I don’t know if I can break the habit.”

Tor looked at her sympathetically.

“You’ve already changed dramatically from the person you thought you were. If anyone can break a habit they no longer need, it’s you.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “You deserve happiness, Lady Raya of the Vulcani. Now stop dithering and go get it.”

Fifty

Shade hovered above the castle. His mind was in turmoil. He had a thousand things to do in the aftermath of what had happened in Feyir, all of them important.

He had to liaise with the leaders of all the different fae clans to convince them this wasn’t the start of hostilities. That the battle in the palace was personal, not political. But the fallout was already beginning.

There were rumblings of rebellion among the bestials. Some felt they had been treated as inferior under the elven and now they saw an opportunity to gain independence.

He also had to speak with the si’lat to try to bring them back to his side. He hoped their leader, Leona’s father, would be sufficiently outraged by what had happened to his daughter to switch allegiance again.

Leona herself had returned home to her family, the glamour which had been inflicted on her disappearing with Aelfric’s death. For that he was grateful. He didn’t wish her harm, though he would never truly forgive her betrayal. He knew he was partly responsible for her actions. He hadn’t been careful with her feelings.

He still hadn’t spoken with the Vetali to warn them of the plot against their Count. By now they would know a contract was out for his head and were under the misconception that Shade was responsible.

All of these things were vital, urgent tasks. And yet he could only think of one thing.

He’d told Raya he loved her. And she hadn’t said it back.

His wings beat the air slowly. She was a queen now. She had her own throne, her own calling. And she had her mother back. The deal they’d struck so long ago in the human world was completed.

She did not need him.

He stared unseeing into the distance and wondered what life would be like without her. It took him a little while to notice the butterfly flitting around his head.

He batted it away irritably but it kept coming back, persistently fluttering to and fro in his line of vision.

He squinted. It was made of flame.

Startled, he peered towards the castle. His platform was several hundred yards away but even from here he could see a tiny figure standing at the end of it. Long hair streamed in the wind and a single strand of amber glinted like fire.

Raya.

He flew towards her, suddenly nervous. Desperate to see her but scared of what she might say. Scared of what she mightnotsay.

He hung in the air several feet from the platform. She looked beautiful. She was wearing a simple off-white shift dress that made her skin glow.

“I thought you’d be with your mother.”

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