Page 37 of Kiss of Fire

Raya squinted.

“It looks like one big forest.”

“It is extremely beautiful, mostly woodland with grass plains and several rivers. Feyir used to be home to both jinn and fae. As cousins we have co-existed for many centuries. But time passed and the population became predominantly fae. They wanted autonomy, so Mazhab gave them Feyir on condition they would remain loyal to the empire.” Shade’s face darkened. “But now Aelfric is overstepping. Kamran never did trust him.”

“You think maybe Aelfric had something to do with his death?” Raya was genuinely curious but Shade didn’t answer her question. Instead he gave her a stern look.

“You must never go into Feyir alone. Fae can be cold and cruel.”

“Magda’s fae. And she’s lovely,” Raya said indignantly.

“Not all fae are like Magda.” Shade hesitated, then ploughed on. “There used to be a type of fae called a faerie. A tiny creature. I believe they are quite popular in human mythology?”

“Fairies!” Raya’s eyes shone. “Yes, there are whole stories about them. They’re real?”

“Not any more. Faeries could fly, you see. They had wings. And one day Aelfric became jealous. He decided ifhecould not fly, no fae would. He ordered all the faeries to be rounded up and imprisoned in glass jars.”

Raya stared.

“That’s fucking horrible. What happened?”

“He forgot about them. They say his Court is littered with jars containing faerie bones.”

And people saidshewas nuts.

“He sounds psychotic.”

“That is as good a description as any. His mind is twisted. So you understand why I do not wish him to form an alliance with Salaq? If we go to war, I would not just be fighting Salaq’s forces. I would be fighting Aelfric’s too. And if Salaq wins, if he becomes emperor, Aelfric will be his right-hand man. He will expand his influence beyond Feyir. I cannot allow that.”

Raya swallowed. She was beginning to understand the stakes. The butterflies in her stomach had turned into rats and were gnawing at her with self-doubt. Was Shade really depending onherto help him win the throne?

“Anything else I should know?” she said faintly. “Like, who lives over there?” She gestured to the mountains in the north. They were a long way off, hundreds of miles. But she could see white at the top of the darkly brooding peaks.

“That is Palissandra. The realm of the Vetali. Separate to Nush’aldaam. You need not concern yourselves with them.”

“Why? Who are they?”

“They are neither fae nor jinn and maintain strict neutrality in our affairs. We do not interfere with them, and they do not interfere with us.”

“Couldn’t you ask them to support you against Salaq?”

“They do not support anyone but themselves. Not even Salaq would be fool enough to request an alliance with them. The Vetali are even more dangerous than the fae.”

“But what if…”

“Enough!”His voice roared through her and she practically felt her ear drums vibrating. “While you are here, you will cease questioning everything I say.”

Her teeth were chattering so much she could barely get her words out.

“F… fuck… y… you.”

His shadows rightened around her waist and yanked her close enough to see dark flecks in the depths of his furious azure gaze.

“If we are to maintain the illusion of a betrothal between us, then you must act the part. No woman of mine would continually second guess me.”

“No woman would put up with your temper tantrums.”

“Nevertheless, in public we must present a united front.”

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