Page 53 of Kiss of Fire

His eyes gleamed.

“You may relax. Leona has her own rooms and my private chambers are big enough for both of us to keep our distance. Now come.”

He strode towards a stone archway and she hurried to keep up.

“Where are we going?”

“To eat. You must be hungry. But you will change first. You have a certain odour of horse about you.”

Great.

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”

“On that, we are in agreement. You should be prepared for a certain amount of scrutiny.”

“Scrutiny? You mean, like people staring at me?”

“They will be curious.” He shrugged. “I have never been betrothed before.”

“Well, that’s not unusual, is it? You’re what, in your twenties? Early thirties? Lots of people don’t get engaged till they’re…”

“I am four hundred years old.”

She may have squeaked, she wasn’t sure.Four hundred?

“So there’s a bit of an age gap, then?” she said faintly.

“Do not worry. You are half fae, your own longevity will also be expanded. Fae can live for centuries.”

She was still processing that revelation as he led her to a set of huge wooden doors flanked by soldiers. A smaller door was set into one of the bigger ones and a guard hurriedly pulled it open as they approached.

Raya stepped through, wondering why Shade hadn’t simply flown them up to his chambers as he had done before. Then she realised. He wanted her to see his home.

And it was impressive. The forbidding exterior hid a warm and vibrant centre. A vaulted ceiling soared above them, the surface painted a deep cerulean blue with constellations picked out in glittering gems. The flagstones were made of polished creamy marble. A fire blazed in an enormous fireplace. Doors led in every direction, and people were constantly bustling through them.

“Are these all your servants?” Raya wondered.

“Some. Others are administrators, advisors, visitors, bureaucrats. There is also a few of the local aristocracy who stay here at the castle when they have business to attend to.”

“Any of them just plain old friends?”

He frowned, but was prevented from answering by a tall skinny man in a long black robe who approached them. Raya eyed him cautiously. He had ‘butler’ written all over him.

“Lord Shadeed, we do not normally see you in the public part of the castle.”

“I am showing my intended around. Raya, this is Pasha, my chief steward. Pasha, this is Lady Raya of the Vulcani. You may let it be known that we are betrothed.”

Pasha bent his head respectfully, but not before Raya caught the flash of surprise in his eyes.

“Lady Raya, welcome to Castle Elumina. We are honoured to have you.”

“Castle Elumina? That’s its name? It’s lovely.”

“Inform the kitchen we will dine within the hour,” said Shade. “Nothing too rich. We’ll take it in the night-garden.”

“Of course, my Lord. I’ll see to it.”

There was a sweeping staircase to each side and Shade led her up the one to the right. People nodded respectfully as they passed. Raya was conscious of furtive glances being cast in her direction, and wondered if people assumed she was another of Shade’s casual flings.

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