Page 200 of Glow of the Everflame

He crossed his arms and looked me over. “I’d be happier if I could see you attack. Your shield is strong, but shielding drains your power quickly.”

Lily groaned. “We’re hungry, brother. Let the Queen and her subjects eat.” She gave a savage, entirely un-Lily-like grin. “You can let Diem overpower you again later, if you really insist.”

Taran threw his head back and roared a laugh, and even Luther cracked an affectionate smile in his sister’s direction. “Fine,” he agreed. “That’s enough.”

“You’ll decline the Hanoverres’ bargain?” I asked.

“I’ll decline the bargain.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You promise?”

He nodded, and I swore I saw relief wash over his features and strip away some small measure of the burden he carried. Whether it was relief to no longer be bound to Iléana, or at the knowledge that I still valued his promises, I couldn’t tell, but both were a balm for my soul.

“Lunch!” Eleanor cheered. She looped her arm in mine and yanked me toward the stairs.

I snagged Alixe in my other arm, pulling both women in close at my hips. The rest of the group fell in step behind us, marching in a boisterous parade up the steps.

“I hope this good mood you’re all in means none of you are planning to Challenge me tomorrow,” I joked.

“If any Corbois tries to raise a Challenge, I suspect they’ll have a sword in their side before they can get the words out,” Alixe said.

Luther growled in agreement.

I laughed. “At least if I do get betrayed, Remis goes down, too. He and I sealed our arrangement with a bonded bargain, so if any Corbois Challenges me, he loses his magic.”

Luther stopped still. “You did?”

“Diem,” Eleanor interrupted, “would you like me to arrange a dinner this evening? Something simple, just for the seven of us?”

My heart felt suddenly heavy. Tonight very well could be my final night alive, and if it was, spending it with my newfound family was exactly where I wanted to be.

But there was something else I needed to do. Something I could not rightly go to my grave without seeing through.

“Thank you, but I have some unfinished business I need to take care of this evening.”

Eleanor forced a smile, though shades of disappointment marred her lovely features.

I gently nudged her side. “Will you plan a victory dinner for tomorrow night instead?”

“That’s the spirit!” Taran yelled.

Eleanor lit up. “Nothing would make me happier.”

We paraded through the palace to the glass-walled dining room, where my entourage abandoned me the moment they laid eyes on the mouth-watering buffet.

Only Luther remained at my side, taking a private moment to settle my cape back onto my shoulders and secure the clasps over my chest. “This unfinished business you spoke of... do you need any help?”

I pulled out the letter he had delivered to me and studied it, running my fingers over the creases, thinking of the words scrawled inside and the man who had written them. When I met Luther’s eyes again, I saw a gleam of understanding—and of hope.

“No,” I said softly. “This is something I need to do alone.”

ChapterThirty-Nine

Maura’s wails filled the night air, reverberating off the stone walls of the healer’s center and the leafless winter branches of the surrounding forest.

“This is not a very strong vote of confidence for my chances tomorrow,” I teased as I swiped away another round of tears from her ruddy cheeks.

“I’m s-sorry,” she sobbed, burying her head against my chest and squeezing her arms around me. “This whole thing is awful. Awful. Soawful!You’re already the Queen, what’s the point?”

---