Page 16 of Kiss of Ice

“An unfortunate end. Though I confess I barely knew him, your Majesty.”

“Of course you didn’t.”

Kamran sprawled on the throne, affecting nonchalance. It was taking him every last ounce of effort not to lunge at Salaq and pound his face to a bloody pulp.

He switched his gaze to the young woman next to him. She had dropped into a low curtsy and all he could see was the top of her head. Her hair was an unusual silver-grey rather than the more normal Marid white. But she’d done nothing with it. It dangled over one shoulder in a limp braid.

“Are you going to introduce your daughter or leave her down there all day?” he inquired.

“Of course.” Salaq bowed his head again. “May I present my daughter, Lady Morenna of the Marid.”

Ren kept her gaze solidly on the floor, terrified the Emperor would recognise her as the thief from his carriage. But she was intrigued by the conversation she’d just heard. The tension between the two men was palpable. And who in the seven hells was Mortaine? Her legs began to ache from the curtsy.

“Get up,” Kamran said impatiently.

She rose, remembering to straighten her shoulders but keeping her eyes downcast. The silence lengthened. She sensed the Emperor looking her over and couldn’t help a stab of resentment.

Kam’s appraisal was deliberately insolent. He lolled on the throne as he inspected her, knowing how much it would annoy Salaq. Her skin was flawless, he noted. Pale, as were all Marid, with the exception of her lips. He’d expected them to be the same as her father’s – thin and perpetually twisted into a contemptuous sneer – but instead they were rose-tinted and full.

Otherwise there was nothing particularly arresting about her looks. Her features were plain. She hadn’t even bothered to put on any make-up. He felt a flicker of disappointment.

He let his eyes travel down her body. Gods, she was tall. Almost as tall as him. But she lacked the willowy form of most of her genus. A kind soul would probably describe her as ‘statuesque’.

In the right clothing she might look passable. But the sack-like dress she’d inexplicably chosen to wear did nothing to accentuate her figure. Instead, it made her look dowdy and shapeless.

Typical. All those gorgeous women throwing themselves at him and he was getting saddled with a frump who was too timid to look at him.

As if hearing his thoughts, she suddenly lifted her head and locked eyes with him. Her gaze was cool and unnervingly direct. And there was something else in there. Anger.

“Have you seen enough or would you like me to spin round for you, your Majesty?” she asked. Her voice was edged with sharpness and he regarded her with new interest. Maybe she wasn’t so timid after all.

“A spin would be delightful, thank you.”

She gritted her teeth. She’d walked intothatone. Annoyed, she stomped round in a circle before turning back to face him.

“Satisfied?”

“Satisfied,your Majesty,” he corrected her. Something about her voice was nagging at him.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The correct protocol is to address me as your Majesty.”

Her jaw tightened.

“I apologise. Are you satisfied, yourMajesty? Or would you like to examine my teeth now?”

“Morenna!” Salaq barked. He bowed to Kamran, barely disguising his irritation. “She speaks in jest, your Majesty. Lady Morenna has a quirky sense of humour. Perhaps she could wait elsewhere while we discuss the terms of your proposal.”

“Does the Lady not want to be part of the discussion?” Kam asked quizzically.

“She will abide by my decision.”

Kamran threw him an arrogant smile.

“Forgive me, Lord Salaq. I understand your need to control every little thing that happens. But for once, the situation isn’t in your hands. It’s between me and your daughter. And whenwemakeourdecision, I’m sureyouwill abide by it.”

Ren hardly dared look at her father. Blue wisps were curling from his hands, a sure sign of his fury. When Ren was growing up, seeing his power manifest like that was enough to send her running for the shelter of her bedchamber. Salaq’s temper was notorious.

---