Page 81 of Kiss of Ice

Kam looked down at his hands.

“With a kiss. She fell in love and her kiss broke the curse.”

“She… she fell in love with you?”

“No. Not with me.” He looked up and gave her a crooked smile. “With the beast. And it’s taken me a long time to come to terms with that.”

Ren tried to figure out whether he was playing some elaborate game with her. Her lips twisted into a bitter smile.

“You expect me to believe this crap? That my father had the heir to the throne kidnapped and cursed? If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell everyone? Why not have my father arrested?”

“You know why. Nush’aldaam was in chaos. It wasthisclose to war, and I couldn’t risk making things worse. Your father had already spread the lie about me running away and it was my word against his. I had no proof. Mortaine was dead.”

“And what about the slayer? Your Nat? Where the hells is she? Why couldn’tshecorroborate your story?”

Another long pause.

“She stayed with the beast in the Forbidden Zone.”

Ren stared.

“By the gods. She’s the one you handed the Zone over to, isn’t she? I remember the maids talking about it. You gave the Zone to her as a reward?”

Kam nodded silently.

Ren sat back, her mind reeling.

She couldn’t,wouldn’tbelieve that her father was capable of such cruelty and treachery. But at the same time, Kam’s explanation tied in with the things he’d babbled while he was delirious. And it explained why he’d given away the Forbidden Zone. He’d gifted it to the slayer who’d saved him. Someone he’d cared about.

She was surprised to feel a sharp stab of jealousy. It twisted her guts and made her angry all over again, yet the emotion made no sense. She had no right to feel jealous.

Yes, she was attracted to Kam. And he to her, if the incident in the bathroom was any guide. And yes, they had developed some kind of rapport after all that had happened between them.

But that was the extent of it. She had no illusions where Kam was concerned. To him, she was a means to an end and nothing more. She’d be an idiot to pretend it was anything else.

Another thought struck her.

“That’s why you wanted to marry me, isn’t it? It was never about getting my father’s supporters on your side, it was about taking revenge on him.”

Guilt made Kam look away.

“This was never about hurting you, Ren. It was about ensuring Salaq’s loyalty, making sure he…”

“Liar! I heard you talking to him, that day in the palace. You said you were going to break me. Is that what you’re trying to do, your Majesty? All that horse-shit you’ve been feeding me about being desirable, being beautiful?” Tears pricked at her eyes and she wiped them away angrily. “Is that all part of your plan? To make me believe you and then pull the rug out from under me?”

“Ren, nothing I’ve told you is a lie. Yes, I loathe your father, but not you. Not now I know you.”

“I don’t believe you!” She jumped off the bed, clutching her robe to herself tightly. “It’s all lies. You ran away because you’re a fucking coward and now you’re trying to convince me it was my father’s fault.”

“He stole my life!”

His pain-filled roar reverberated around the room. Shocked, they stared at each other. In the sudden silence, Kam saw Ren was trembling.

“Ren, I’m sorry, but it’s true. It’s all true.”

She shook her head.

“I’m going to talk to him. I’m going to tell him about your ridiculous accusations. And when he denies them, as he will, I’m going to call off the wedding.” She started for the door and Kam came after her. He caught her arm and spun her round.

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