Page 58 of Kiss of Fire

“Well, that’s the interesting thing. Apparently, it’s you.”

Shade rocked back on his heels. Raya looked from one to the other.

“Who’s Lemar?” she asked curiously.

Shade didn’t answer, so Tala obliged.

“Count Darian Lemar the Third, the son of Prince Vassago Lemar of Palissandra. He left the kingdom ages ago. Lives somewhere in the human world now. What’s he done to piss you off, Shadeed?”

“I barely know him, and I certainly do not want him dead. What would that gain me, except the hatred of the entire Vetali clan?”

“Bingo.”

Raya felt she was losing the thread of the conversation.

“Sorry, can someone explain what’s going on?”

Shade turned a troubled face towards her.

“Somebody is trying to turn the Vetali against me. I assume it is Salaq. I underestimated him. I never thought he’d seek their support.”

“I thought the Vetali didn’t get involved with what the fae and jinn do?”

“They would if they thought their heir was being targeted.”

“You need to nip this in the bud, boss,” Tala said. “I stopped off at a hunter’s bar in London on the way here. Half the mercs in the place were talking about the hit. It’s worth a fortune.”

Shade swore under his breath.

“I cannot leave here. Not now. We have to win over the Vulcani.”

“But the Vulcani won’t matter if the Vetali side against you,” argued Raya. “They’re just one small fraction of the fae. The Vetali are an entire realm of people.”

“Well,” muttered Tala,” I wouldn’t call thempeople.”

Shade looked at her.

“Will you go?”

Tala folded her arms.

“No way. I hate those bloodsuckers. They’re all psychopaths.”

Bloodsuckers?

“Tala, you are the only one who can save him.”

“He’s somewhere in the mortal world. That’s seven billion people, give or take.”

“So track him. You always claim to be the best tracker in the empire. Prove it.”

Tala snorted.

“You can’t appeal to my vanity, boss.”

“Then let me appeal to your sense of preservation. Do you really want to see Salaq on the throne?”

“You’re a bastard.”

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