Page 114 of Kiss of Ice

The trumpets blared and fireworks lit up the night sky. Kam and Ren walked into the Grand Ballroom to a roar of applause and cheers. They stood smiling, hand in hand. Both looked a little rumpled, and Kam was now wearing a new tunic - a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by their closest friends.

Ren saw Shade turn to Raya and whisper something in her ear. The fae blushed and slapped his arm lightly, perhaps reliving a memory from their own wedding.

Ren felt ridiculously happy. Stupidly so. As light as air, even though she’d probably torpedoed her relationship with her father.

In her heart of hearts she still believed Salaq loved her. She couldn’t bear the idea that her own father wouldn’t care for his daughter onsomelevel. She knew she would try to rebuild the relationship because that’s who she was. And she also knew Salaq would be dismissive because that’s whohewas. But it no longer mattered.

He wasn’t her only family anymore. Now she had Kam.

She gazed at her husband and hardly dared believe it. The most handsome man in the empire, the Emperor no less, was in love with her. And she with him.

As if reading her thoughts, he turned to drop a kiss onto her lips.

“I have a surprise for you,” he murmured.

“A surprise?”

“A wedding present.” He turned to his steward. “Master Zelen, are our special guests here?”

“Yes, your Majesty. At the corner table there.”

Puzzled, Ren peered over to where he was pointing. Her mouth fell open.

“Is that Bodran and Kora? And Rina?”

“They’re here as ambassadors for my new national apprenticeship program. Bodran is running a carpentry training school. Rina’s son is his first recruit. All paid for by a new tithe on rich landowners, which will also, incidentally, be used to restock the emergency grain silos.”

Ren opened and closed her mouth a few times.

“How in the seven hells did you manage all this so fast?”

“I won’t lie. It was tricky. Took me ages to find a babysitter for Rina.”

“No, you idiot. How did you get everyone on board so quickly?”

An amused smile tugged at his lips.

“I’m the Emperor. When I say jump, everyone jumps. The problem is figuring out where I want them to jumpto.That’s where you come in, my warrior queen. You know the people, you know the issues. I want you to help me rule Nush’aldaam. By my side. As an equal.”

She gulped.

“An equal? As in… joint ruler?”

“Yes. You’re not just my wife, Ren. You’re my partner. I love you and I don’t want some archaic marriage where you’re just there to serve me and give me heirs.”

“Well of course not. You can take other wives for that,” she teased. His face turned serious.

“I don’t want anyone else. You’ve ruined me for other women, Ren. I’m afraid the burden of wife is one you’re going to have to shoulder alone.”

Wife. She’d never get used to hearing that word. She smoothed back the rebellious lock of hair that always seemed to be falling into his eyes.

“You even look at another woman and I’ll freeze bits off you that I’d really,reallymiss.”

He grinned.

“Yes, my queen. Now be a good wife and come dance with me.”

“In public?”

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