Page 11 of Kiss of Ice

“Very well.” Shade perused the list again. “Hm. Interesting.”

“What is?”

“The slayer is on here. Lady Natalia Valeria Leraje. I had forgotten she was nobility.”

Kam felt his breath catch.

“She’s taken.”

“You are sure? She would provide a pathway to a closer alliance with the sirens. That would be useful given they have traditionally supported Salaq.”

“I said, she’s taken. Here, letmetake a look.” Irritably, he snatched the scroll out of Shade’s hands. The Ifrit shot his friend a quizzical look.

“Are you ever going to tell me what happened with the slayer?”

“Nothing happened. She broke the curse and I came home. End of story.” He kept his eyes on the scroll, aware Shade was examining him. “Hells. So many names. Who knew there were this many eligible women in the empire?”

He ran down the list until the words started to blur. Unexpectedly, something caught his attention. He jerked in surprise. “Fuck.”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t know Salaq had a daughter.”

“What?”

Together they looked at the list. The name was there in black and white. Lady Morenna bin Salaq of the Marid. Kam gave a snort of laughter.

“At least I can cross this one off.”

“Do not be so hasty,” Shade said slowly. Kam’s eyebrows rocketed.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Hear me out. Despite all he’s done, Salaq is still the Lord of the Marid and governor of the coastal territory. And he still has ambitions of yet more power. Even now, he undermines you by spreading rumours about your absence. And he has many supporters who believe the lies. He will continue to be a thorn in your side for the entirety of your rule. You know this to be true.”

“I can handle that bastard. He doesn’t dare challenge me openly.”

“It is not his open challenges I am concerned with. It is the underhand methods he employs. He has already demonstrated he is not averse to using sorcery to achieve his goals. It is only a matter of time before he tries something again. He wants the throne, my friend, and he is a powerful enemy to have. But…”

“But what? What infernal plan have you hatched in that smoke-filled brain of yours?”

“If you were to make Salaq part of your family…” Kam started to protest loudly and Shade raised his voice. “Just listen, your Majesty. If you were to marry his daughter, he would no longer be able to attack the throne without harming her, and by extension himself.”

Kam closed his mouth. It was a dreadful idea. Loathsome. To deliberately make that vile traitor his father-in-law… it was inconceivable.

“What are you suggesting? That I should keep my enemy close?”

“More than that. Completely hamstring him. Cut off his legs. Neuter him.”

“If only I could do those things for real. He made me suffer, Shade. He made myfathersuffer. And you want me to reward him by making his daughter Empress of Nush’aldaam?”

“It is merely a political marriage, my friend. A means to an end. Salaq would be neutralised. Forever.”

An ugly thought took shape in Kam’s head.

I could also use the marriage as a weapon, couldn’t I? It would deliver Salaq’s daughter completely into my power. Her fate, her wellbeing would be in my hands. She would be vulnerable to my every whim. Mine to do with as I pleased.

Salaq would be acutely aware of that. He would be tortured by it. Payback for what he’d done to me and my father.

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