Page 48 of Kiss of Ice

“I doubt that’s possible.”

“You may be right. He alwayswasa slow learner.”

“Easy, both of you,” grumbled Kam. “I’m still the Emperor. Raya, you look beautiful as always.”

“Thank you. And you look fabulous. But I’m afraid neither of us can hold a candle to your future wife.” Raya smiled at Ren, who immediately became tongue-tied. Even more so when Kam gazed at her.

“On that, we both agree.” His smile was warm and deep, and Ren’s stomach did a slow flip. If she didn’t know any better, she would have sworn it was genuine. She dropped her gaze, flustered, and Raya took her arm.

“With your permission, I’m going to steal Lady Morenna away and you two boys can talk about whatever crap you talk about when sane people aren’t around.”

Kam leaned towards Ren.

“Don’t trust a word she says about me. None of it’s true.”

His eyes sparkled and Ren caught a glimpse of the roguishness he’d once been renowned for. For the first time, she wondered what he might have been like if he hadn’t vanished for fifty years.

Raya pulled at her arm and they moved to a quieter spot. Ren belatedly remembered her manners and dropped into a curtsy. The woman was the Fae Queen, after all.

“I’m pleased to meet you, your Majesty.”

“It’s Raya. And there’s no need for formality. You’re going to outrank me pretty soon.”

Ren straightened.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Raya.”

“And I’m delighted to meetyou. Kam has been very tight lipped about you.”

I’ll bet he has.Ren smiled noncommittally.

“He seems very close with Lord Shadeed.”

“They practically grew up together. They’re best friends.” Raya hesitated. “I’d like us to be friends too but I’ll understand if it’s not possible.”

Ren glanced at the fae. Her dark hair swirled around her shoulders in glossy dark waves, shot through on one side with a single strand of copper.

“Because Salaq is my father?”

“Yes.” Raya chose her words carefully. “As I’m sure you remember, it was a very difficult time when he and Shade were vying for the throne. I would hate that to come between us.”

“I’m not sure how it can’t. It was a deeply bitter experience and I supported my father one hundred percent.”

“But now you’re marrying Kam. And I know what it’s like to be caught in the middle. My own father, Aelfric, sided with Salaq. I had to make a decision and I chose my husband.”

Ren stiffened; Raya had unknowingly hit a sore spot. Her father’s alliance with Aelfric, the late eleven king, had never made any sense to her. Aelfric had been cruel and sadistic, and Ren had always thought joining forces with him was a mistake. But saying so would have been disloyal. She answered coldly.

“My father allied with Aelfric through necessity. He wouldn’t have needed to if your husband had made way for him.”

She expected Raya to snap back but the fae just sighed.

“I don’t want to rake over old history. I’m sure it’s difficult enough for you as it is. But if you ever need someone to talk to in all this madness…” she gestured at the ballroom, at the fae and jinn aristocracy milling around, “…then I’m here. I’ve been through it.”

Ren was surprised and touched. Her father had spoken scathingly of the “jumped-up Ifrit and his mongrel human-raised wife”, but Raya seemed kind and compassionate.

And let’s face it. You’re marrying a man who doesn’t really want you. You need all the allies you can get.

She reached for two glasses of wine and handed one to the other woman.

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