Page 16 of Glow of the Everflame

But my plans were bigger than one man. House Corbois would meet its demise soon enough.

Along with every other House in Lumnos.

ChapterFive

As the night wore on, most of the family excused themselves, bored with me already, while others loitered and chatted quietly, no doubt gossiping over their new Queen’s scandalous heritage.

I walked over to Lily, who had been taking great pains to avoid me all night. “Princess Lilian,” I said firmly. “May I speak with you alone?”

She finally looked up at me, her eyes round with fear. “Um... of course, Your Majesty.”

I felt the burn of Luther’s stare as I brushed past him and led Lily to an empty corner of the room.

She shook her head and began to stammer. “I’m so sorry. Please… please don’t be m-mad.”

I sighed. “Lily.”

“I know I said I wouldn’t tell him, but Luther, he—he can understand—he can help you. He swore he would help you. He told me—”

“Lily.”

“Oh Blessed Kindred.” Her voice broke. “I betrayed you. You’re my Queen, and I betrayed you at the very first test of loyalty.”

“Lily.”

She buried her face in her hands and burst into tears, body quaking with each sob. Across the room, Luther shifted toward us, then paused.

“Look at me,” I commanded. She obeyed, her dark sapphire eyes red and weepy. I placed my hands on her arms and gave a gentle squeeze. “I’m not angry with you.”

She sniffled. “You’re not?”

“No, I’m not. Now dry those tears.”

She swiped her cheeks and straightened. “But... but I promised.”

“When you sent your brother, you believed you were helping me?”

She nodded emphatically. “He’s a good man. And he can understand you—more than you think.”

I very much doubtedthat, but I also understood the blinding power of sibling love.

“Then I can’t be cross with you. If the roles were reversed, I couldn’t have kept such a secret from Teller, either.” I brushed away a stray tear from her cheek and smiled. “You’ve been a very thoughtful friend, and I’m going to need that friendship in the days ahead.”

Her face brightened. “Oh yes, I’ll do anything you need!”

“Do you know of any way to bring Teller here without anyone in the palace seeing him?”

“Easy,” she said, a smile finally breaking through. “I sneak in and out of the palace all the time.”

I laughed. Teenagers would be teenagers, Descended or mortal. “Perfect. Bring him here tomorrow. I don’t mind if Luther knows, but please, tell no one else.”

“My lips are sealed—really this time.” She threw her arms around my neck, crushing me against her. “Thank you so much, Di—um, I mean, Your Majesty.”

“None of that. Call me Diem.”

I returned the hug with a warm squeeze. Lily was a good soul, and I suspected my brother cared for her more than he let on. I would have to protect the Princess from my plans as much as I possibly could.

But destroying her brother, her entire family—there would be no way to spare her the pain of those consequences.

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