Page 108 of Kiss of Ice

“Are you hurt?”

“My arm. I think something’s torn.”

“Let me see.”

He didn’t move as she came over and pulled the neck of his tunic open. She was close enough for him to smell the floral scent of her perfume. He inhaled surreptitiously.

She examined his shoulder. It was swollen, the ligaments obviously sprained. But nothing seemed broken or dislocated. She put her hand on the joint and concentrated for a moment. Cooling relief spread across his flesh and he sighed gratefully.

“That’s better. Thank you.”

She glanced at his face just inches from hers. She wanted to back away but found herself unable to move, mesmerised by the expression in Kam’s eyes. The way he was looking at her…

“Options,” she murmured.

“Sorry?”

“You said there were options. What are they?”

“We can annul the marriage. It hasn’t yet been consummated so it’s simply a question of tearing up the marriage contract. Or…” he cleared his throat. “You can stay. With me. As Empress.”

There was a long silence. Ren realised she still had her hand on his shoulder and slowly removed it.

“What is your preference, your Majesty?”

“I am open to continuing the marriage.”Gods. Could you sound any less romantic? Tell her how you feel, you useless piece of ogur shit.And still his mouth wouldn’t obey him.

“Open to continuing the marriage.” Ren’s voice took on a mocking tone. “How generous of you, your Majesty. Am I supposed to be grateful? Should I sink to the floor and thank you for your beneficence?”

“Ren, no, that’s not what I meant.”

“Then give me a reason to stay.”

“I…”For fuck’s sake, tell her.“I like having you around.”

She was incredulous.

“Youlikehaving mearound?So I’m what, like a faithful servant? Your favourite armchair?”

“Of course not.”

He reached for her but she turned away angrily.

“My father never told me he cared for me. Not once. Do you know what that does to a person? It chips away at you. Makes you feel just a little bit smaller every day.”

“Ren…”

“I can’t live like that again. I won’t. So I’m asking you one last time, Kam. Is there any reason for me to stay?”

He was going to lose her. If he didn’t open his heart to her right now, she would walk away. The thought was unbearable. Yet still he couldn’t say those three simple words.

“I didn’t challenge Salaq because of his ambitions for the throne,” he said gruffly. “I challenged him because he hurt you.”

She opened her mouth to snap at him, to accuse him of being upset because one of his possessions had been damaged. But then she paused.

Her mind flashed back to when she’d fainted. Kam had been furious when he’d seen her injuries. More than furious. Incandescent. She’d never seen him like that.

And then he’d stormed out to face her father and…and he’d risked everything. The whole empire. Put it all on the line. For her.

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