Kiss Then Kill

By Mimi Rose

Isolde Taylor is a powerful Mage, studying at one of the most prestigious academies in the universe, using her powers and smarts she leads a team of the Royal family's secret organisation. The only problem is that she can't seem to hurt the leader of the Rebellion against the royal family. As pressure and tragedy forces her to take the threat more seriously she must choose whether to finally kill her lifelong enemy or leave her life of tradition, family and duty to kiss the girl she has been in love with all her life.

Whatever will she choose?


Kiss Then Kill is a queer fantasy story, set on a separate planet in a brand new world similar to Earth but with its own rich history, rules, and culture. Kiss Then Kill will follow Isolde Taylor as she balances her duties as a secret agent in the Royal family's personal organisation with being a talented Mage at the Academy. Despite Isolde's success in both school and her advanced career in the organisation, there is one mission she refuses to complete; killing The Madwoman or as Isolde knows her, her ex-best friend Mara. Mara and Isolde are childhood friends turned enemies due to being on opposite sides of a secret rebellion against the royal family. Mara and Isolde used to be best friends in their childhood but must continue to battle each other as they follow their parent's paths and views. Isolde's family have been the protectors of the royal family since the organisation was created whereas Maras' families were the original rebels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mimi Rose
• Release date: Apr 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224727803

Book preview

Chapter 1

Death was almost a routine at this point. You discover someone you love is dead, you allow a hug as you tear up, you wear black and sit amongst strangers telling lies. I sat on the wooden bench, the guests buzzing around me as I forced my tears down. Re-focusing on the empty coffin, no tears were held back by fear anymore, and no fury rose for my mother’s sacrifice. We held the small intimate ceremony inside the hall, we mourned my mother, the Viscountess, and the tears I pleaded to stay in their jail broke out. How embarrassing, Mother would have hated it. Good thing I did that as Isolde Taylor because now the other agents had arrived at the Leader of the Second Light’s funeral. I was nobody but Agent Blue.  Sitting in the front row, my sister stole my hand, breaking me out of my daze, as we watched a random man, who knew nothing about my mother, talk about how amazing she was and how she was in a better place. I heard my sister’s distinct groan, forcing me to turn my eyes onto her as I watched her coal eyes, void of tears and puffiness, analyze the group. My sister was beautiful. Those lucky enough to see her fell for her instantly. She used her black curly hair and dark brown skin to her advantage. The organization learned that the best way to get information was by allowing her to use her every weapon, and so many of the agents here today hated her for it. One thing I learned over the years was that funerals were not for the dead, they were for us. To give us a chance of surviving mission after mission,  I had many meaningless deaths in my lifetime but this was only the second I mourned. My sister watched the right row fill with our team and nodded to them as she tucked a wild strand of black hair behind my ear. I need to go discuss something with them, she said, stealing the warmth of her hands away from me as she stood up. She wore a set of white pearls that choked her neck against the tight black dress she wore, and a slit ran through to her thigh, showing off the silver dagger tied up with a black ribbon. Eshi did love for accessories to carry a threat to all, thankfully the Royal family made sure this funeral was blocked off from public view.

Can work not wait until she is at least buried? I snapped.

I’m sorry, she said, standing up and walking over to them as she placed her own pair of dark sunglasses onto her face. The vultures of the Second Light all wore the newest black styles. When you're in this business long enough and you bury enough bodies, black becomes your color. They each paired them with black sunglasses mimicking Eshi, and I’m sure they hid a gun within their outfits, what kind of agent wouldn’t? The other side never much cared for our pain, loving to shoot even when bodies were already being buried.

I felt an icy hand slip into mine. Misha... I turned to my boyfriend. What are you doing on this side? I fixed his black tie as he stroked my cheek. His hair was a mess of brown and black curls, shining through the sunlight as the rays hit his deep brown eyes, turning them into gold.

Isolde, he said, pulling my fingers away, holding them so neither of my hands was free. I am not here mourning my boss, I’m here as your boyfriend, I’m here as Misha.

We shouldn’t know each other's true names, you know that. My eyes flitted to the bodies and back again quickly. What if they discover you are Agent Venus?

They either have assumed or believed you are cheating on him with his handsome twin, his lips leaned to my ears, and I don’t give a single shit, babe,

I smiled at the small comfort he always granted me as his hands shifted from mine to my waist. The second I felt his touch instantly I exhaled the emotions stuck in my body.

He shuffled even closer to me as I rested my head on his shoulder. You have been the only thing I cared about for years, at this moment you aren’t my captain, you are the love of my life who has lost someone very important to her.

I remember when you told me your real name, I said, smiling from his shoulder as the tears ran down my face. I thought that was the stupidest thing someone could do. I lifted my head again, needing his eyes on mine, needing his love to distract me.

Well, I got yours soon after, he said, drying each tear that fell.

My mother should have killed us both for doing that. My eyes drifted back to the photo they had placed on a small black table. She was smiling, her red lips revealing her pearly white teeth, wearing her white sari in her youth. I had never seen her smile like that. If it was anyone else she would have.

He chuckled, taking my hand to guide me back to the wooden benches. She warned me that if I told anyone your true name, she would kill me.

I ignored his words, the men in black coming into view yet again,  I don’t get why they are here, I said, crossing my legs and staring at my sister entertaining the intruders. Just to watch us talk about her and do some old tradition?

Yes, he said, rubbing my shoulder, that is how things are. They still feel the loss, they’re still sad. Even if they don’t all know her real name, they knew the Leader.

I nodded, tightening my fingers within his as if they could take out the tears within me. I spotted a face hiding in the trees, a face I had not seen without a mask in a very long time but would never forget. She should not be here. Give me a minute, Misha, I told him as I let his hands fall out of mine.

Love, he said, watching me stand up and away from him.

I’m fine, I said, kissing him on the cheek and going to see the one woman that could both comfort and ruin me.

Chapter 2

As I made my way to the large tree, my heels stuck into the grass. The breeze ran through me, lighting my skin on an icy fire as I took each step closer. It was cruel of her to make my heart race when I was perfectly fine being numb for the day. She wore a large black coat covering her tall, slim body, and her heels gifted her even more height as she leaned on the old oak tree. Her black sunglasses gleamed from the black hair she had forced into a bun.

Risky coming here, isn’t it? I said as I stood too far from her red lips. You do see the rows of agents of the Second Light, right?

Her red lips smirked.Is that what you call your organization?

You know it is, I said, too tired to even insult her.

It's nice to see you care, she said, letting her back slap into the tree. I’m glad you don’t want to see me die.

Just because I haven’t put a bullet through you yet doesn’t mean I won’t let someone else.

A bullet? she asked, pulling my wrist so we swapped positions. The wood burned into my back, and her eyes travelled my body, stopping at my neck. I enjoy being much more personal. Her eyes moved back to mine as she smiled again. I like to make sure I get my point across, you see, she said, twirling her dagger. I like to be inches from my victim’s face before I– she struck the tree beside me, the dagger inches from my cheek.

I cleared my throat, taking a step away from the tree, even if the wood had pressed into my back. Why are you here, Mara? (reword)

She grinned as I moved away from her. I am here to say goodbye to a woman who was always good to me, she said, placing her sunglasses back onto her face.

I rolled my eyes, pushing her away from me. Why after all these years did I still trust her enough to forget the insults? I sat beside the tree, the long green leaves above us protecting us from the sun's rays as we watched my mother’s empty coffin be pushed into a grave, I don’t think I would ever stop dreaming about where her corpse landed.

She joined me with a groan. She took off her sunglasses again, playing with the edges as we watched. Thank you, she said, her eyes focused on Mother’s red and black coffin.

For what?

For never telling her my actual identity. She faced me, her head turning so her jawline glowed in the sunlight.

I tell my mother, you would tell yours, I said, remembering the agreement we drew up as kids after discovering the truth about each other. That we were soldiers stuck on opposite sides of a never-ending war.

I would never, she said. Her voice became steel, adamant in this. As if she truly wanted me to believe that.