Page 19 of Kiss of Ice

He gave a twisted smile.

“I’ve been called that many times. What’s your answer, Lady Morenna?”

Her mind ran in desperate circles.

Marriage? To a man she despised? A deserter who didn’t deserve to be ruler and what’s more, was an arrogant bastard?

But he knew she had stolen from the healers. The revelation would bring shame on the Marid and worse, would see Tovah and her grandson imprisoned. She had no doubt Kam would make good on his threat to track them down.

And her father wanted this match, didn’t he? If she agreed, he would be pleased with her. He would be proud. He might even say he loved her.

Don’t be pathetic, she admonished herself. Of course he loves you. Just because he doesn’t say it doesn’t mean anything. He’s your father. And you know what he would want you to do.

She took a breath.

“I’m doing this under protest because you leave me no other choice.”

“Duly noted.”

“You’re despicable. A bully of the worst kind. One who preys on the weak.”

He threw her a bored look.

“Again, noted. Your answer, please, my Lady?”

“I… I consent.”

She swayed as she said the words and the room seemed to lose focus.

“Are you all right?”

The note of concern in his voice surprised her. She hadn’t expected him to care one jot whether she was about to keel over or not. Then again, he probably didn’t want to deal with the mess. With an effort she pulled herself together.

“Do you have a washroom where I can freshen up?”

“Of course. Zelen will escort you.” The steward appeared silently. Could all palace servants do that, she wondered distantly? Or did they just hang around in the shadows until they were needed? “Take Lady Morenna to the ablution chamber. And bring her father to me. We have much to discuss.”

She followed the steward to the bathroom. It was decorated in tiny blue mosaic tiles, giving the impression of being cocooned at the bottom of the ocean. She splashed water onto her face and looked at herself in the mirror.

The full enormity of what she’d agreed to fell on her like a ton of bricks.

“Empress,” she said weakly. “I’m going to be Empress of Nush’aldaam.” She tried to control the spark of fear that flared in her chest. She was going to be married to a man her father hated. A man he’d taught her to despise.

Another thought hit her. Would the Emperor want to consummate the wedding? Or would he be satisfied with matrimony in name only? He’d called it a marriage of convenience, but maybe he’d expect the perks that went with it.

An errant thought skipped through her brain.

I bet he’s really, really good at it.

She shook herself. Of course he’d be good. He was undeniably attractive, and if the rumours were true he slept with a different woman every night. But she’d bet her bottom dollar none of them looked like her. They would all be tiny little stick insects whereas she… she wondered if they made wedding dresses in extra large.

An urge to laugh hysterically swept over her and she fought it down.

“You’ll be fine,” she told her reflection. “He’s not going to want to sleep with you.”

She walked back towards the throne room intending to make it clear this would be a marriage in name only, but slowed as she heard raised voices. She hovered outside, wondering if she should go in. Then she heard her own name and froze.

“You think having me marry your daughter puts you closer to the throne,” Kamran was saying. “That making Lady Morenna the Empress will further your insane need for power.”

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