Page 185 of Glow of the Everflame

“We’re missing Luther,” I said. “We should wait until he arrives.”

“No need,” Remis said. “My son won’t be attending today. Everyone, please, take your seats.”

A cold chill crept along my skin. I tried to catch Remis’s gaze to push for more, but he was carefully avoiding eye contact, his focus entirely on the visiting Descended.

My attention shot to Taran, who had already stepped back to sink into his chair. All he offered was a silent shake of his head. I held my stance, debating how much of a scene I was willing to make, when he mouthed a single word: “Later.”

Reluctantly, I slipped into my seat. Surely Taran wouldn’t let me sit through hours of political posturing if Luther was in danger.

Or would he? Did he believe I cared so little for Luther that I would place a trivial meeting over coming to his aid?

Then again... had I given him any reason to think Iwouldn’t?

* * *

The next twohours were torture.

Keeping my eyes on the members of House Ghislaine—and not on the open door that I kept hoping Luther might walk through at any moment—was an effort. As I smiled and offered bland platitudes, my mind invented explanations that grew increasingly catastrophic. My fingers trembled with the need to put my arms around Teller and Lily and ensure they were unharmed.

And Luther, too.

I cursed myself for allowing my own inner circle to be seated out of my line of sight. As often as I dared, I jumped from my chair to refill my goblet for the chance of a stolen glance. That, at least, offered some comfort. Alixe’s panic had faded to resignation, while Taran scowled, and Eleanor looked nearly as lost as I felt.

As she had predicted, the final House Reception was innocuous and forgettable. House Ghislaine offered the usual gushing praise, which Remis met with equal sycophantic energy. Not a word was spoken about the mortals or the half-mortals, much to my relief, and by the time House Ghislaine finally,finally, rose to leave, I had hardly uttered more than a handful of sentences.

Not a second passed after the last Ghislaine disappeared into the corridor before I wheeled toward Remis.

“What have you done? Where is Luther?”

Remis pulled his shoulders back. “This meeting is for the Crown Council and your advisors only. My son’s presence was unnecessary.”

“Luther is on the Crown Council.”

“Not anymore.”

“He stripped Luther of his titles,” Taran muttered, joining me at my side.

I gaped at him, then at Remis. “You had no right. Those titles are mine to decide.”

“Not until you’re coronated,” Remis said coolly. “Until then, I decide who sits on the Council.” He smoothed down his doublet. “As I understand it, you declined to appoint my son as an advisor despite his best efforts, and you’ve refused his counsel for weeks. You should be grateful—our positions are now aligned.”

My fingers curled, furious breaths rumbling in my throat, though my loathing was largely self-imposed. Remis was,infuriatingly, correct. I had little ground to object to him doing what I had effectively done myself.

“Who holds Luther’s titles now?” I scoffed. “Let me guess,you?”

“Me.” Aemonn stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest. “I had hoped to share the news with you myself earlier, if only you had deemed me worthy of your time.”

“Blessed fucking Kindred,” Taran spat. “Him?You’re going to make some sniveling courtier High General? He’s never even served a day in the Royal Guard.”

“Watch your tone, little brother,” Aemonn said. “That sniveling courtier is now in charge of where you’re assigned to serve. Both of you,” he added with a glance at Alixe. “I hear the western coast is quite dreary. Perhaps a few years in the swamps would do you both some good.”

Taran’s face flushed red with fury. My hand shot out to grab his in a silent plea to wait.

“And... Keeper of the Laws—you hold that title now, too?” I choked out.

Taran’s muscles went taut under my hand as he came to the same realization that had just turned my stomach.

Aemonn nodded, his expression tightening into something unreadable. He had once accused Luther of being a murderer for holding that title. Was it more of his scheming, or could he be trusted to stay the executions of the half-mortal children, as Luther had secretly done?

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