Page 90 of Kiss of Ice

Her father had done that to him. Damaged him. Kam didn’t trust. He didn’t love. He didn’t let anyone in.

And her father had damaged her too, hadn’t he? She couldn’t believe she’d been so blind. All those years of passive abuse, constantly being told she was too big, too slow, too shy, too naïve. He’d taught her she wasn’t good enough. And she’d accepted it.

His cruelty had been tempered while her mother was alive because he’d loved her. Ren had no doubt about that. Salaq had loved his wife, and perhaps he’d even loved his daughter once. But now it was as clear as day.

Her father was a monster.

A shape moved across the moon and she looked up. Her heart rose and quailed at the same time as she realised who it was.

Kam. He’d found her. And he was furious.

With every beat of his wings, his rage grew. She’d left the palace. She’d run. Even after the intimacy they’d shared, she’d rejected him. She’d chosen her father over him.

He let his anger burn because the alternative was despair.

What would he do when he got to Valkar, he wondered? Talk to her? Plead with her? Grab her and throw her over his shoulder as he’d done before?

He had the right to retrieve his betrothed. She’d given consent and until that was formally rescinded, imperial law stated he could force her back to the palace.

Is that what he wanted? Toforceher?

His stomach knotted.

All he knew was that he desperately didn’t want to lose her.

“You’re not getting her back, Salaq,” he snarled into the wind. “You’ve taken too much from me already.”

He spotted a figure far below, the moonlight glinting off silver hair. Ren? His breathing quickened. What was she doing out here all alone?

He glided down, landing gracefully a few feet from her. His anger rushed to the forefront.

“You disobeyed me,” he hissed, eyes narrowed. “You left the palace. You flouted my orders. Ignoring the Emperor’s commands is a serious crime, did you know that, Ren?”

She didn’t answer and he saw that she was swaying slightly. He took in her wild hair and dusty clothes.

“Ren?”

She looked at him and her eyes were brimming with tears. A single drop spilled from her lashes and rolled down her cheek. His fury evaporated instantly.

“Ren, what’s wrong?” He strode towards her, all thoughts forgotten except the overwhelming need to stop her crying.

“Take me home.”

Her voice was so small, so defenceless, he barely heard it.

“Of course. Do you… do you mean Valkar?”

She shook her head and more tears fell. His heart cracked.

“The palace,” she whispered. “Take me back to the palace.”

Wordlessly, he picked her up in his arms and cradled her against him. Then he surged into the sky, careful not to jolt her. Carrying her as if she were precious.

She turned her face into his chest and cried silently, soaking his shirt with the weight of her grief. Kam felt her shaking and was at a loss.

“Ren, please tell me what’s wrong. Is it your father? Did he do something?”

Her body shuddered with sobs but she didn’t answer. Feeling utterly useless, he lapsed into silence. When they finally reached the Gilded Palace, he carried her straight to her room. She sank onto the bed and curled into a tight ball.

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