Page 77 of Kiss of Fire

“I collect the classics from all the major kingdoms. Fae, jinn, and the human world.”

Raya put the book down without turning round.

“Why are these books out on the table? Don’t they fit in with the rest of your prized collection?”

“I pulled them out for you. I thought you might like to read something in a language you could understand.”

He was really making an effort. First the rose, now the books. She finally turned.

For a moment they stared at each other.

He wasn’t wearing all-black as usual. His tunic was a rich gold, a perfect match for her dress. It was sleeveless to show off his sculpted arms and the collar was high, dropping to an open vee that revealed his muscled chest. His trousers were of black silk and for once he was wearing boots.

“You look very nice.” Raya’s tongue seemed to have turned slow and stupid. “Like an Arabian prince.”

“They are actual clothes, not my shadow garb.”

“They look great.”

“They feel itchy.”

Raya felt a smile tug at her lips.

“In my world, people say beauty comes at a price. No pain, no gain.”

“Who are these people?” he demanded. “They are clearly imbeciles. These clothes would try the patience of a manticore tracking its prey.”

“Um, okay. If they’rethatbad, why are you wearing them?”

“Pasha insisted. I did not wish to disappoint him. He left them out for me.”

“Me too.”

“For you, at least, he made the right decision.” His gaze was so appreciative she felt a blush warm her cheeks. “You are exquisite.”

She didn’t know what to say. She moved back to the book table and picked up a novel instead.

“I love reading. We never had enough books at the hospital, it was mostly old Mills & Boons and regency romances that people donated. I’ve always wanted to read Hemingway.”

“You may come here whenever you want,” he said. “When you are in here, you will not be disturbed by anyone. Including me.”

It was a strange feeling, knowing he was trying to be nice to her.

“Thank you again, for the rose bush. How on earth did you find it?”

“We have seers in Nush’aldaam. Oracles who know things. I asked one of them. Did you think I simply flew from one cemetery to the next like some Angel of Death until I found what I was looking for? What would your humans have made of that?”

She giggled.

“Probably that the end was nigh.”

“Ah. Doomsayers. We have those also. They are a nuisance, are they not?” His lips quirked and she saw he was in a good mood. “Shall we?”

He held his arm out, and together they walked to the main staircase. Raya could hear the hubbub of hundreds of voices below them and she swallowed nervously.

“I’m not sure about this. I don’t like being stared at.”

“Then you should have worn a different dress.”

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