Page 101 of Kiss of Ice

It took everything Ren had to remain upright as they climbed the stairs to the highest level of the palace. She saw Kam glance at her more than once as she stumbled over her feet. Perhaps he thought she was tired or overwhelmed, or maybe he assumed she was just being clumsy. But he made no comment as she leaned on him more heavily than she should have, and she was grateful for his strength.

When the doors to the balcony were opened, she saw hundreds, maybe thousands of people gathered in the streets below, laughing and cheering as the newly-weds appeared.

Their images were transmitted onto huge scrying screens placed strategically for those who weren’t close enough to get a good view of them.

“So many people,” she murmured.

A chant went up among the crowd.

“Kiss! Kiss! Give her a kiss!”

Kam looked at her.

“May I?”

She nodded mutely, expecting the same kind of impersonal peck he’d given her in the temple. Instead, he gently opened her mouth beneath his and let the tip of his tongue brush against hers. The contact was deliberately intimate and she felt her head swim. Then he pulled away.

“I think we’ve given them what they want. Let’s go.”

They walked from the balcony back into the palace. The doors closed behind them and Kam dropped her hand. She stood, swaying a little, as Kam barked orders at Zelen.

“Tell the staff we’ll be five minutes. Have the guests seated ready for our arrival.”

“Very good, your Majesty.”

Zelen bustled away and Kam finally turned to Ren. Whatever he’d been about to say died in his throat.

“Ren?”

“Is…” she licked her lips, sweat standing out on her forehead. “Is anyone watching us?”

“No, we’re alone. What is it? Are you unwell?”

She couldn’t make out the rest of his words. Her side was aching savagely as if a knife was twisting beneath her ribs. The throbbing in her head notched up a gear and black spots started to crowd her vision. A sob burst from her lips as she finally let go of the iron control she’d been hanging onto for the past hour.

She saw Kam’s expression change as he ran towards her; and then she was falling forward into blessed darkness where the pain couldn’t follow.

Forty Three

When she came to, she was lying face down among feather-soft pillows in an unfamiliar bedchamber. Her dress had been undone and pulled down to her waist, and someone was applying a cold compress to her bruising.

Blearily she raised her head.

“Easy, my Lady. I mean, your Majesty.” Ruth looked down at her, face creased in concern. “I’ll have to get used to your new title.”

“Where am I?”

“In the Emperor’s quarters. You fainted.”

“Where’s Kam? I can’t let him see me like this.” Ren started to struggle upright and Ruth pressed her down.

“The Emperor is outside.”

“So he hasn’t seen…?”

“No. He hasn’t seen your bruising. I persuaded him to give us some privacy.”

Relief coursed through her.

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