Page 128 of Kiss of Light

The figure smiled coldly.

“That’sLordSalaq. I believe I still rank as equal to you.”

He was a large man, as tall and well-built as Shadeed. Raya was shocked to see he was handsome too. She had imagined him to be coarse and ugly; he was anything but.

He looked like an ice prince, with his high cheek-bones and aquiline nose. His hair was white and flowing, his skin so pale it was almost blue.

But there was cruelty about his eyes and lips. His expression, as he gazed at everyone around him, was a contemptuous sneer. Shade glared, shadows starting to roil about his feet.

“What is the meaning of this intrusion?”

“I believe congratulations are in order.” Salaq’s voice was silken. His cold grey eyes turned on Raya. “This must be your lovely wife. My demons spent years trying to track you in the human world, my dear. Imagine how things could have turned out if I’d got to you first.”

He licked his lips suggestively and Raya shuddered. She clenched her fists and flames appeared, running up her arms in an instinctive reflex.

“Want to find out?” she said.

Shadeed put himself in front of her.

“What do you want? Why are you here, Salaq?”

“I came to pay my respects. Frankly I’m hurt that you didn’t send me an invitation.”

“After everything you have done to keep me from the throne, you expect me to invite you to my wedding?” Smoke was curling off Shade in great clouds, black swirls that writhed as he tried to control his temper. “I should strike you down and end it right now.”

Salaq held out his arms.

“I am unarmed and alone, surrounded by your soldiers. It would be bad form to attack me now, here, in front of all your guests.” He turned to Darian and bowed. “Count Lemar, please assure your father I hold no grudge for his misguided support for my rival.”

“He’ll be so thrilled to hear that,” drawled Darian.

“I will, of course, be glad to consider his request for an alliance when I take my rightful place as emperor.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Shade. “You have no allies here. The throne is mine. You lost, Salaq.”

“Have I?” The jinn smiled superciliously and Shade narrowed his eyes.

“You must be desperate to come here clutching at straws. You are lucky this is my wedding day and I am in a good mood. I will let you walk out of here if you leave now.”

“Oh, I will leave. But not before I tell you why I came.”

“Get on with it then,” snapped Tala. “Nobody wants you here. Tell us what you want and fuck off.”

“Always so charming. If you were my demon, I would have cut your tongue out by now.”

Tala started towards him and Shadeed grabbed her arm.

“Enough. Tell us why you are here, Salaq, or leave.” His shadows swirled around the other jinn, who pointedly ignored them.

“Very well. I have something you want. Something you, Shadeed, desire desperately. Something I am willing to give you in exchange for the throne. And believe me, you will willingly name me emperor when you see what I have to offer.”

Salaq paused, enjoying the confounded looks on all their faces. They thought they’d won, that they had beaten him. But as they were about to find out, he was not a man who accepted defeat.

“What nonsense is this?” demanded Shade. “There is nothing I want from you. You are deluded if you think I will give up the throne for some spurious Marid trick.”

“No trick, Shadeed. Just the truth.”

“What truth? What can you possibly give me that would make me give up the throne for an evil bastard like you?”

Salaq smiled in self-satisfaction as he closed the trap.

“Kamran. I can give you Kamran. He’s still alive. But he won’t be for much longer. Give me the throne, and I’ll give you back the friend you thought you’d lost forever.”

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