Page 95 of Kiss of Ice

“Of course.”Fuck. You’ve still got the witch under house arrest, haven’t you?He wanted to slap himself on the forehead. “I’ll send her at once.”

“Thank you.”

Ren sank onto the chaise longue and waited for him to leave. He dithered.Don’t just stand there, you useless son of a troll. Say something nice.

“You’ll make a wonderful Empress, Ren. Nush’aldaam is lucky to have you.”

He turned on his heel and left. Ren waited until he’d closed the door behind him. Then she sagged forward with a groan, bending at the waist to try to relieve the pain in her ribs.

Thirty Nine

“So you are to be wed tomorrow, old friend. How do you feel?”

Shade and Kam hung high above the realm, their wings beating lazily to keep them aloft. Shade had brought cigars and the two of them blew smoke rings into the starlit sky.

“I don’t know. How am I supposed to feel? It’s a political match, after all.”

“Is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I was at the engagement party, remember. When you were with Lady Morenna you seemed… happy.”

Kam shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

“Ren isn’t as odious as I thought she’d be. And you were right. She does have some good ideas about helping the empire. But as far as I’m concerned, her primary role is to keep her father on a leash.”

“If you say so.”

“All right. Fine. I like her.”

“Youlikeher?” Shade’s voice was teasing. “Have you pulled her pigtails and knocked her books to the ground yet?”

“I like her a lot, okay? I think she’s incredible. She’s smart and kind and her body makes me drool. Is that what you want to hear, you annoying Ifrit?”

“Aside from the drooling, yes. Have you told her all that?”

“What? No! As far as she’s concerned, this marriage is strictly one of convenience. I’m not telling her anything.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to lose the upper hand.”

“You mean, you do not wish to make yourself vulnerable to a woman.” Kam didn’t answer. Shade sighed and examined the tip of his cigar. “Are you ever going to tell me what happened in the Forbidden Zone, my friend?”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Why did the slayer not return with you? Why did she stay in the Forbidden Zone?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Itismy business. It pains me to see you like this, Kamran. You have a chance of happiness with Lady Morenna. Instead you insist on keeping yourself closed off.”

“Oh, spare me the romantic crap. Just becauseyougot lucky doesn’t mean we all will. I had my shot and she said no. End of story.”

Shade’s brow creased.

“Morenna said no?”

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