Page 135 of Glow of the Everflame

I flinched and moved back toward the corridor. As I brushed by Eleanor, she pulled me in by the waist. “Wait,” she whispered.

“I’ve heard enough. I should get back to the ball.”

“Wait,” Eleanor insisted.

Luther’s voice rumbled out of the room, carrying in its low timbre a hint of the deep vault of power that lay inside.

“Let me make myself extremely clear. If you or anyone in your family makes a move against Diem, it will be the last thing you ever do. I will see to it personally that House Hanoverre is destroyed.”

“Is that a threat?” Iléana hissed.

“It’s a promise.” He paused, his voice turning dark. “And you know I always keep my promises.”

Eleanor bit her lip as a smile threatened to break through. “Nowwe’re done.”

* * *

“My darling Diem,”Aemonn bellowed loudly at my return to the ballroom. “It’s time for our first dance.”

He strolled—pranced, really—over to me with one hand extended, the other fanning out the thick fabric of his feathered cape.

I threw a pleading look to Eleanor. “Save me?”

She laughed and shoved me toward him. “It’s aball. This is supposed to be the fun part.”

Before I could protest, Aemonn snagged me into his arms and curled a hand around my waist. I begrudgingly slipped a shaky hand into his. My skin went clammy, red splotches rising along my chest.

“Nervous?” he teased.

“I can’t dance,” I mumbled, staring down at my feet. “This is going to humiliate both of us.”

“We’ll be fine.” He gave my waist a quick squeeze. “Relax and follow my lead. Are you capable of that—letting someone else take control?”

I scowled at him, and his grin spread wider. He pulled me tight against his body, lifting my weight so that when he moved, I became an extension of him, and the stumbles of my clumsy feet were lost under the flutter of my skirts.

We floated around the room with unexpected grace as he led me in a series of spins, to which the crowd responded with cooing and frequent applause. Aemonn took every opportunity to make use of his dazzling smile as my frown turned deeper and deeper.

“You’re supposed to be enjoying this, not looking like you’re plotting to stab me in my sleep,” he said beneath his breath.

“I’ve never been a very good liar,” I said flatly.

“What happened to ‘thank you, Aemonn’? And ‘I won’t forget your kindness, Aemonn’?”

My eyes narrowed. “That was when you were being nice. The moment we stepped in front of a crowd, you turned into just another pompous fake, lying about how close we are to look important.”

He laughed harshly and shook his head. “You’re welcome, Diem.”

“For what? Pretending to be the father of my unborn children? Thinking you can trickme into marrying you?”

“For shutting off speculation about who else might be in your bed,” he snapped. “If everyone here believes you have committed to me, there’s no reason for them to go snooping after anyotherlovers you might have, is there?”

My irritation faltered. He had a point—after his display in front of House Benette, not a single person had asked about my love life. And with the way he continued to paw at me and make claims on our future, it was unlikely anyone ever would.

For a young, unknown Queen, marrying a well-connected Corbois Prince would be expected. Welcomed. Unquestioned.

I knew Aemonn’s behavior was calculated. I hadn’t considered it might be calculated forme.

“I think you’re beautiful, Diem, and interesting, and fiery, and many other qualities I seek in a wife, but I’m not trying totrickyou into marrying me. I would prefer to spend my life with someone who enjoys my company.”

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