Page 73 of Kiss of Ice

Ren was still asleep, her breathing deep and even. He watched her for a while and realised he was hoping she’d open her eyes.

Fuck and damnation.He’d broken his own rule not to see her as a person. She was supposed to be a tool, one he could use to torment her bastard of a father. And instead he was starting to care for her.

He wiped a hand over his face and was surprised to feel it was damp with sweat. Gods, it was hot in this room. And his wounded arm hurt like hell.

He got out of bed and leaned over the washbowl. His muscles were sore, as if he’d run a marathon. Surely not because of last night’s swordfight? It had been quite a workout, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

He splashed water on his face, trying to cool down, then peeled the cloth towel off his arm. The gash was an angry virulent red, the lips of the wound puffy and swollen. He heard a noise and turned. Ren was sitting up in bed.

“That doesn’t look good.” Her face was concerned. “I think we should get back to Arjhan as soon as possible.”

“I’m fine. I just need some healing cream.”

“Let me put a clean cloth on it.”

Ren jumped out of bed and found a fresh towel. She wrapped it round his bicep, frowning in concentration. He watched her, wondering if she realised she was still stark naked.

He wanted to tell her she was beautiful, but the memory of the dream was still too raw. Because he thought he knew what it meant. He thought his heart was finally saying goodbye to Nat.

“Get dressed,” he said gruffly. “We need to go.”

Ren retrieved her clothes from the washroom. Kam hadn’t mentioned last night, so neither did she. She wondered if he regretted it. It didn’t matter if he did, she thought fiercely.Shedidn’t regret it.

They rode back to Arjhan in rather more comfort than they’d left. Kam pulled his cloak around him and drew the hood over his face. He barely spoke and Ren assumed he was resting. But she grew concerned when they reached the city and he had difficulty getting off the coach.

“Kam, are you all right?”

“My damn arm’s throbbing. I feel a bit hot.”

Ren peeked under his hood and inhaled sharply. Kam was streaming with sweat and his eyes were unfocused.

“You don’t look well. Here, let me help.”

She concentrated briefly, cooling one hand down to the temperature of ice. She laid it on Kam’s forehead.

“Gods, that’s good,” he muttered.

“I think your cut’s infected. Come on, lean on me. The palace isn’t far.”

“We might have some explaining to do at the gate.”

“Don’t worry about that. Save your strength.”

The guards on gate duty were amused when the badly-dressed lady supporting what appeared to be a drunkard demanded entry to the palace. There was some confusion and a few raucous jokes, but when the angry woman pushed back her companion’s hood, they immediately snapped to attention. Even pale and perspiring, every palace guard knew the face of their Emperor.

Ren took Kam to her own quarters simply because she knew the way. The Royal Healer followed hard on her heels.

“Sickle fever, my Lady? That’s impossible. There’s no sickle fever in the city.”

“It’s a long story. I need panacea and calora.”

“Why don’t we run some tests first, my Lady? We can find out what really ails the Emperor and then we can…”

“I told you it’s sickle fever,” Ren snapped. “He got it through the cut on his arm. I know the symptoms and it needs treating as soon as possible.”

“D…do as sh… she says,” grunted Kam. He was shivering now, his body trying to stave off the fever. “Th… that’s an or… order.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” replied the healer unhappily. He helped Ren remove Kam’s cloak and lay him down on her bed. “Let me apply the medications.”

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