Page 103 of Glow of the Everflame

My cheeks flushed, and I swore internally at my body for giving me away. The cousins tittered and smiled, though Aemonn’s expression had lost its mirth.

“Think of the powerful children they would produce,” Velis added. “It could keep the Crown in House Corbois for centuries. If Diem is coronated, I imagine Remis will start planning the wedding in a matter of weeks.”

“When,” Luther snapped. “Notifshe is coronated.When.”

“That remains to be seen,” Iléana huffed.

“Do you agree with Velis then, Prince?” Tyris asked. “That a match between you and Diem would be in the best interest of House Corbois?”

I couldn’t bear to look at Luther to see his reaction. I didn’t want to know his answer.

For so, so many reasons.

“It’s not for me to decide, nor my father. Her Majesty is entitled to choose whatever Consort she sees fit.”

I sagged with relief. It was a smart answer. A safe answer. And a kind one—a private show of support, given the secrets he knew.

If only he had stopped there.

“As for me, my interest lies in serving my Queen, not in marrying her.”

I had no right to feel hurt.

No right to flinch, especially as Iléana’s victorious giggle rang in my ears. No right to feel my heart clutch and my throat burn. I had no right at all to want any other answer from him.

Butgods, I had.

“Unlike my short-sighted cousin, I am quite interested in serving Diem in everypossibleway,” Aemonn crooned to a bevy of laughter. He turned his chair toward me and took my hands. They were shaky, and I knew from the firm squeeze he gave me that he felt it, but his only reaction was to flash me his dazzling smile.

His eyes flicked briefly to Luther, disdain gnarling his perfect face. “Iléana may be more to Luther’s tastes, but I have never in my life seen a creature more stunning than our fair Queen.” He raised my hand to his mouth, holding my eyes as he kissed the back of my palm, then the other, followed by a slow smirk that hinted at our shared game.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him. “You’ve been a good friend to me tonight.”

He brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen in my eyes. “I am your most humble servant.”

I shot him a look. “Most humble?”

He grinned and leaned in close. “Fair point. Most sexy? Most devastatingly handsome?” His eyes turned wicked. “Most talented in bed?”

I laughed despite myself, and Aemonn lit up at the response. He crooked a finger under my chin, tilting my face up to his. “Iléana is a bore. We’ve all had to put up with her for far too long because of Luther’s affection for her. It’s a relief to have someone willing to challenge him and put her in her place.”

I tried to smile, but the thought of her, and of him, had my spirits tumbling. “You never seem to shy away from challenging him.”

He beamed as if that was the greatest compliment he could have received. “My dear cousin does a very good job of playing the faithful servant to the Crown, but he forgets that some of us know the truth about him.”

I swallowed. “And what’s that?”

“That Luther Corbois is a man with many secrets. And many plans.”

Finally, I mustered up the courage to peer down the table toward Luther’s chair.

But he was gone.

And so was Iléana.

ChapterTwenty-Two

“You were amazing. Incredible. Perfect. Sheer brilliance!”

---