Page 79 of Kiss of Ice

“We shall see, won’t we? Now please, I beg of you. You’ve had your wicked way with me, surely I deserve to eat now?”

She splashed him with water in mock outrage, but was forced to agree that she too was famished. They climbed from the bath together and this time, she didn’t try to hide her nakedness.

Thirty Two

They lounged on the bed in fluffy white robes, a tray of food between them. At least, ithadbeen a tray of food. Now it was mostly a tray of crumbs and leftovers.

“Is there any dessert left?” Ren asked.

“I literally just fed you the last spoonful.”

“Cheese?”

“I ate that.”

“The pastries?”

“I ate those too.”

“What about those crunchy savoury things?”

“Oops.”

“Honestly, you have the appetite of a wendigo.”

“I’m recovering from a serious illness, woman. I need the calories. Here, have this instead.”

He fed her a grape and she rolled her eyes.

“It compares badly.”

“I’ll call the maids and demand they bring more food.”

“No, don’t do that. I’m pretty full to be honest. If I eat anything else I’ll burst.”

He smiled smugly.

“I knew you were all talk.”

“Me? What about you?” She picked up a solitary grape and threw it at him. “You couldn’tstoptalking while you were ill. You were delirious.” Too late, she saw him stiffen and cursed herself. She hadn’t intended to spoil their easy camaraderie. “Not that I understood most of it,” she added hastily. “It was largely nonsense.”

“What did you hear?”

“Nothing, really.”

“Ren, be specific. What did you hear?”

“A few names, that’s all.”

“Which names?” His voice was quiet but he was watching her intently, wondering how much he’d blurted out in the grip of his fever. Ren shrugged.

“One of them I’ve heard before. When you were talking to my father the first day I was at the palace. Mortaine. You said it a few times. Who is he?”

Kam ignored the question.

“Who else?”

She licked her lips, suddenly nervous.

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