Page 65 of Kiss of Ice

“Oh?” Kam glanced at the innkeeper. He was standing to one side looking utterly terrified. “And who protects this establishment from you?”

The minotaurian reappraised him.

“I do believe we have a trouble-maker here.” His gaze swivelled to Ren. “Perhaps, for the sake of your lady, you should drink your beer quietly and no harm will come to her.”

The scarred fae sniggered.

“Or maybe, since Caelan seems to be a little short this month, we should take her outside and have a little fun with her.” He licked his lips suggestively. “She certainly looks sturdy enough to take all three of us. Even you, Mr Torus.”

Ren’s heartbeat jumped and she looked nervously at Kam. The half-smile hadn’t left his face.

“Anyone laying a hand on the lady will lose it. That I can guarantee,” he drawled. “Now kindly fuck off before I lose my temper.”

The second fae wandered over. He was far more blond and willowy than his compatriot, and would have been handsome if his lip hadn’t been twisted into a sneer.

“He’s got a big mouth for someone who’s half-blind. I say we use him for sword practice. Winner gets to take his other eye.”

Kam spread his arms wide.

“That doesn’t seem very sporting.”

“Why, because there are three of us?”

“Yes. Do you want to call some of your friends? We ought to make it a fair fight.”

“Oh, you’re most amusing, stranger,” the minotaurian snorted. “But you’ve wasted my patience. All right boys, have your fun. Make it fast.”

He went back to the bar and his minions drew their swords. Ren gasped but Kam was unperturbed.

“Watch my beer.”

With a thought, he manifested two gleaming swords, one in each hand. He rotated them coolly as he advanced on the trio. They backed away warily.

“He’s jinn,” said the fair one.

“Makes no difference. He’s on his own. Get him!”

They charged at him in unison. From the first blows Kam realised they weren’t unskilled. They may have been thugs for hire but they were also fae, and as a rule fae were good with blades.

They were agile and light on their feet, and they knew what they were doing. But they hadn’t had Kam’s training. He fought with an expertise they simply couldn’t match.

With a grunt he drove one assailant backwards whilst parrying a thrust from the other. Both of them leapt for him with swords raised and he blocked the attack. Ren watched, her heart in her mouth, as the inn rang with the clash of steel.

The fae both fell back, panting.

“Had enough yet, girls?” Kam taunted.

With a snarl, they ran at him again. Kam took them on together, one hand for each attacker – slashing, feinting, lunging, so fast that Ren could barely follow his movements.

The larger fae swept his sword round in an arc, aiming for Kam’s neck. Kam ducked under the swing and skewered him through the chest.

As he fell lifelessly, Kam kicked the other one square in the stomach. The fae stumbled backwards, putting his sword hand on the table to steady himself. Without thinking, Ren reached out and froze it.

The fae screeched in pain and dropped the blade, grabbing his deep-frosted hand by the wrist. His skin was ice-white and he held it out to the fire, frantically trying to bring warmth back into his fingers. One of them snapped off.

“What did you do?What did you do?”

In a fury, he turned on Ren. She caught a glimpse of his bared teeth, then Kam smashed him on the head with the hilt of his sword. The fae collapsed, unconscious.

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