Page 82 of Kiss of Light

The castle came into view, lit up by thousands of lights spread like a carpet in front of it. The fabled night-garden, Lemar thought distantly. Even Vetali had heard of it. A garden of magical blooms which glowed in a myriad of colours during the hours of darkness and gave Castle Elumina its name.

The jinn landed at an opening cut into the wall, a floor-to-ceiling window that led directly into a bedroom. He brought Lemar and Tala in carefully, making sure they touched down before removing his shadow bonds.

“You can leave her here on the bed,” he said gruffly. “I will have my healers tend to her.”

“Not here. A room without an open window.”

“In the name of the gods, what difference does that make?”

“She’ll need time to heal. I want to stay with her. It’ll be daylight in a few hours. I can’t stay here.”

“You are in my home and you will do as I say!” The reverberations from Shade’s voice shook the furniture and Lemar felt the bones in his ears vibrate. His eyes darkened.

“Fuck you. I’m not leaving her.”

Black shadows started boiling off Shadeed and he started towards Lemar, intending to forcibly take Tala from him. The bedroom door opened.

“What the hell is all the noise about?”

A young woman came into the room. Her long hair was as black as night, except for a thick strand of golden copper that fell over one shoulder. With an effort, Shadeed reined his anger in.

“Tala is back. But she is hurt and this presumptuous cur will not set her down.”

Cool eyes appraised Lemar. He held Tala closer to his chest and the woman smiled in understanding.

“It seems your shaitun has a protector, Shade.”Shade?It sounded like a term of endearment and suddenly Lemar knew who she was.

The Vulcani betrothed to the jinn. Lemar remembered what Tala had said about her.She’s tougher than she looks.

“I’m not leaving her, my Lady,” he warned.

“Call me Raya. And Shade’s right, we need to have the healers look at her.”

“They can come, but I want to stay with her. We need another room.”

“What’s wrong with this room?”

“The window,” growled Shade. “He is Vetali. The daylight will kill him.”

Raya’s gaze snapped back to Lemar.

“You’re Count Lemar? The vampire? The one she was sent to find?”

“Yes, my Lady.”

The Vulcani studied him curiously. She’d never seen a vampire before. He was extremely handsome. And judging by the way he was cradling Tala, extremely worried.

Raya looked at the woman in his arms. She’d only met Tala once before and thought her the most beautiful person she’d ever seen. Now she was pale and lifeless.

“You can use the guest quarters across the hall,” she said decisively. “This way.”

Shade made as if to argue but Raya shot him a look. The huge jinn followed her meekly to the door. If Lemar hadn’t been so distraught, he might have found it amusing.

Raya took them to another suite of rooms which were just as opulent but without the opening in the wall. The windows all had thick blinds and heavy damask curtains which Raya drew immediately, even though it was still night outside.

She snapped her fingers at the candelabra on the dresser. A slim stream of fire arced through the air and lit every candle on it at the same time.

Lemar acknowledged her power respectfully. Here was one of the very few beings who could kill his kind with just a thought. He lay Tala on the bed.

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