Page 49 of Kiss of Ice

“I’d like to be friends,” she said shyly. “I don’t have many female friends.”

“Nor me. And the ones Idohave tend to be a bit prickly. There’s Aelah, my birth mother. She helps me to rule Feyir and isn’t slow to give her opinion on anything. And then there’s Tala, she’s a shaitun. Um, she’s pretty forthright too.”

“Let me guess,” Ren gave a half-smile. “Neither of them are fans of my father.”

“Sorry. A lot of people aren’t. But that shouldn’t affect how they treat you.”

“Are you sure about that?” Ren glanced towards Kam and away again. Raya followed her eyes.

“Look, I know this is, um, an arranged marriage for you,” she said awkwardly. “But Kam’s a nice guy. He’s moody sometimes, but trust me. Underneath it all he’s very fair and honourable.”

“I just don’t understand why he hates my father so much. He can hardly blame him for what happened. If he didn’t want people fighting over the throne, he shouldn’t have run away.”

Raya made a non-committal noise and took a gulp of wine. Ren looked at her.

“What?”

“Nothing. I didn’t say anything.”

“You know something, don’t you?” Ren leaned forward. “Do you know what happened to Kam? You know where he went, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You have to tell me. I always thought Kam ran away but… but that’s not true, is it?”

Raya sighed.

“Lady Morenna, you need to ask your future husband about it. It’s not my place to say.”

Ren wanted to push her, to make her tell her the truth. But just then another couple joined them, a lord and lady from the northern lands keen to meet the Emperor’s betrothed, and the moment was lost. Raya touched her hand as she moved away.

“We’ll speak later, my Lady.”

“It’s Ren. Call me Ren.”

Hiding her frustration, she charmed the northern couple for a few moments but was relieved when Kam rescued her from their eager conversation.

“Did you enjoy meeting Raya?” he asked.

“She’s a very lovely person.”

“She is. Don’t tell Shade I told you this, but the big smoke-brained lunk scored gold with her.”

His words were so unexpected that she couldn’t help giggling and Kam looked at her in surprise. Then he broke into a smile and his whole face lit up.Second time this evening.He should really do it more often.

The trumpet blared again and the herald at the door announced another arrival.

“Lord Salaq bin Amar of the Marid.” Kam’s smile evaporated.

Her father was very handsome, she thought as he strode across the floor towards them. His long white hair flowed over his shoulders and his pale face was classically good-looking. But as always she found herself tensing when his eyes locked onto her.

“Your Majesty, congratulations on your engagement.” Salaq’s bow was carefully measured to show the minimum respect required. He straightened and turned to Ren, his lip curling into a supercilious smile. “Daughter. I see the palace dressmakers have managed to make you look presentable.”

She smiled back, swallowing her hurt. She had hoped he would tell her she looked nice, but of course that wasn’t his style. Beside her, Kam examined his nails casually.

“Have you forgotten something, Lord Salaq?”

“I beg your pardon, your Majesty?”

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