A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(5)

Hittite regarded him with a leveling look. “I have no doubt. You went to war for it.”

Sin refused to apologize for that. “We did what we thought was necessary. I did not wage war for the joy of it. For the lives we could take. Contrary to your popular opinion, we are not barbarians.”

“I never listen to popular opinion. The population is very often misinformed.”

“If you had listened to what was popular you might never have given away the land you did.”

“We didn’t give it away,” Hittite said with a grin. “We sold it. As such a great many things have been improved upon in the cities. Aquaducts. Sewage. Other public works. The army has been paid, the homeless are being tended. Orphans have beds for the night. It’s all done. The question is…do the people comprehend that it’s all possible thanks to the land sale?”

“And do they?”

“It depends on who you ask,” Hittite said with a shrug. “But it is done and there is nothing to be done about it now. The tithe you pay us is handsome and we are at peace. It is ideal almost all the way around.”

“It was well done. It took much negotiation and we both drove a hard bargain. I am quite satisfied.”

“As long as you stay satisfied and on your side of the border.”

Sin chuckled. “It will not be in my lifetime that my people might grow discontented with what they have. Not in either of our lifetimes.”

“I plan to live quite a long time,” Hittite said. “I must go. I am being beckoned over by Lady Salisburg. She is intent on making a husband of me and seeks to dig her claws in.”

“And will she succeed?” Sin asked, although he supposed he already knew the answer to that.

“It would take a far braver woman than she is to take me on as a husband. I despair of there ever being such a woman. Certainly not in this society,” he said, encompassing the room.

“Perhaps you require a Kiltian woman. They are made of sterner stuff than these.”

Hittite seemed to consider that a moment. “Perhaps. I often thought it wouldn’t be a Saren woman…if any woman at all. They are too civilized for me. Too genteel.”

Sin regarded his civilized and genteel clothing a moment. “You are more civilized than I think you give yourself credit for,” he said.

“Perhaps. Excuse me.”

Sin nodded to him and watched him move through the crowd to where a woman was violently waving Hittite forward. The moment he was within reach she threaded her arm through his and he saw her nails literally sinking into the sleeve of his coat. Sin smiled a little at the sight. Better Hittite than him.

Now that he was alone, his gaze snapped back up to the room, sweeping around it in search of his quarry. He found her, still surrounded by fawning worshippers. He frowned. What were the odds of him ever getting her alone? Fairly slim he was certain. He would have to manufacture a method. But how? What?

He felt a breeze enter the room and it drew his attention to the doors that had been thrown open leading onto the terrace which then led down into the gardens. The capitol building was an enormous structure. Large enough to house three of the triumvirate and their families, all of the diplomatic offices, the ballroom and the most extravagant manicured gardens in the entire city.

Sin smiled.

And waited.





Chapter Two


Ariana moved toward the terrace doors. The heat of the room, all of those bodies, would have been stifling if not for the cool breeze blowing in the doors. It was unusually balmy for autumn, the cold of the previous days having given way to an almost summer-like clime. But if she knew the weather as she thought she did, it would not last.

She walked out onto the terrace and up to the stone railing, the carved marble matching all of the marble that made up the capitol building. White with a slightly pinkish hue. It was funny because all of the marble quarried for the building had come from Kiltian lands. It had come overland with weeks of travel in great lumbering ox carts. It had not been the most convenient of buildings.

“Will you walk the gardens with me?”

The deep voiced request made her smile. It was a pleasant voice, rich and masculine, for all it, too, was expecting something of her. But this was something she might be inclined to give because she had been thinking of doing that very thing.

She turned to face the owner of the voice and her heart sank, her smile faltering.

It was he. The Kiltian. It had been six months since she had seen him last…at some such diplomatic thing or other, she couldn’t remember which. She had known he would be there tonight, but she had acknowledged the name on the guest list and then put it out of her mind. It wasn't as though she could have refused to invite him. At an event where everyone and their brother was invited? It would appear a slight and their peace was still too young to handle slights, perceived or otherwise.

“Raja Sin,” she greeted him coolly. “No, thank you,” she said turning her back on the tempting gardens. “I have to remain here and play hostess.”

“Surely they would not miss you for a little while.” His smile was almost charming. Charming? On Raja Sin? It was nigh inconceivable.

“Really I—“

“Come,” he said, picking up her hand and tucking it into the crook of his elbow as if he were a first class gentleman. “A short walk to clear your head.”