Page 26 of Kiss of Ice

“So… have you worked here long?”Gods, they must think I’m dull.

“For several months now, my Lady,” said Leshi. “The Emperor employed us when he returned. Of course, he was still just the prince then. He hadn’t been coronated.”

“The coronation was so impressive,” added Jaina. “Did you attend, my Lady?”

“My father did.” Despite Salaq’s dislike for the Emperor, he knew his presence was expected. “I watched it later, on a viewing crystal.”

“It was amazing. Everyone was here, even the leaders of Palissandra. The ceremony was held at dusk especially for them.”

“Weren’t you frightened having Vetali in the palace?” asked Ren curiously. She herself had never seen a vampire up close but she’d heard they were insanely attractive.

“Oh no. They don’t feed from you unless you give them permission,” said Amal. “But I have heard that if you let them, it’s very… pleasurable.”

The maids all burst out giggling. Ren’s interest was piqued.

“What do you mean? How can being bitten feel pleasurable?”

“It makes you feelitharaa.Aroused,” explained Jaina. “They feed from you and then you want sex with them.”

Ren felt heat flood her face.

“Oh.”

“Did you see the Palissandran heir? Count Lemar?” Leshi tossed her hair back. “He’s hot. He can bite me any day.”

“He’s taken,” Amal said. “Anyway, I think our Emperor ismuchhotter. You’re so lucky to be marrying him, my Lady.”

“Um, yes,” mumbled Ren. It struck her that this was an opportunity to find out more about Kamran. “Tell me, what do you think about the Emperor? Apart from the fact that he’s, um, hot. Do you think he’s a good ruler?”

The girls exchanged glances.

“Of course my Lady.” None of them said anything else. Jaina switched to Ren’s hair and started stroking shampoo through it.

Ren sensed their reluctance.

“You can speak freely,” she said quickly. “I promise it stays just between us girls.”

“Well,” Leshi said at last. “Ever since he got back from wherever he was, he’s been preoccupied. Don’t get me wrong, he carries out his duties as he should. But every spare minute he gets, he takes off into the sky.”

“He’s always up there,” added Jaina. “The gods only know what he’s thinking about.”

“He spends a lot of time with his friend, Lord Shadeed of the Ifrit,” said Leshi. “Though there was a bit of tension between them when he gave away the Forbidden Zone.”

“The Forbidden Zone?” Ren was intrigued. “That’s where he was supposed to have died, isn’t it? In a hunting accident? Though obviously he didn’t.”

“That’s the place, my Lady.” Leshi nodded. “It’s part of Feyir which belongs to Lord Shadeed’s wife, Queen Raya of the Fae. But the Emperor granted it autonomy and placed it under the authority of a siren.”

“A siren?” Ren was perplexed. “Why in the world would he put a forest in the hands of a sea-dweller?”

“She’s not a siren.” Amal said scornfully. “You have it wrong, Leshi. I heard she was a Vetali.”

“That’s even more weird.”

“Anyway, no-one knows why the Emperor did it, my Lady. But then, he hasn’t really been himself since he returned.” Amal leaned forward confidentially. “He doesn’t sleep very well. And when he does, he has bad dreams. That’s what all his mistresses say, anyway.”

“Amal, hush!” Horrified, the other two girls glared at the indiscreet maid who turned red and clapped her hands to her mouth.

“My Lady, forgive me! I’m sure now that he’s getting married he’ll get rid of… he’ll stop… he won’t see other women again!”

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