Page 210 of Glow of the Everflame

He trailed off. It was the one wrinkle in our plans that no one could solve.

I had never used my magic to harm another person. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

Though I had walked away from my career, some part of me would always be a healer. Behind all my swagger and threats, it was the drive to repair harm, not create it, that filled my heart with purpose.

But this was a fight to the death. If I could not find it in myself to cross that line...

“Diem Corbois.”

Remis’s voice reverberated across the arena, magnified by the Sophos invention he’d used at the funeral.

Teller’s hand tightened on mine. I squeezed his back, then dropped it and strode several paces forward until I stood alone.

I turned to face the royal box, my posture going rigid. I steeled my face into the mask of a warrior, letting all trace of emotion boil away under the unforgiving sun. The time had come to show all of Lumnos that I was not afraid tofight.

Remis spoke again.

“The traditions of our great realm demand you be judged by your peers before you take the throne. The rules are simple: Each of the Houses will have an opportunity to raise a Challenge. If one or more Challengers steps forward, you must fight the strongest among them using only your magic until one of you is dead. If you are truly worthy to wear the Crown, may Blessed Mother Lumnos make her will known to us all.”

Taran’s snort carried to my ears. I bit my cheek to hold back my smile.

“And if you are tested and found wanting... may she have mercy on your soul.”

A thunderous rumble rolled through the stands as thousands of Descended beat their fists against their chests in a slowly building cadence.

But this gesture was no salute.

This was a Descended battle cry.

This was a call for blood.

The beat grew louder and faster, carrying my pulse along with it. When the roar reached its crescendo and faded, my heart stayed pounding in my ears.

“Houses of Lumnos,” Remis boomed, “the time has come. I call on each of you to make your decision. Will you Challenge your Queen—or will you kneel to her?”

The murmur ceased. Lips pressed closed, bodies went still—even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Absolute silence seized the arena as my life teetered on the cliff.

I did not dare look at the Houses and risk provoking them to act, nor did I look at Remis, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear. And I could not bear to see the fragile hope in my brother’s eyes.

Instead, I looked up.

I had never prayed to the Kindred before—at least not by name. In my lowest moments, I had thrown desperate pleas out to any divine being that might be listening, but not once had I sought out the patron goddess who had plucked me from mortal obscurity and tossed me straight into the boiling cauldron.

I squinted at the radiance of the sun’s rays, then closed my eyes and faced the darkness of my mind.

Light and dark. The two sides of Lumnos’s magic.

Both misunderstood, for although we often ran from the shadowy unknown toward the clarity of day, the light could blister and burn just as the dark could shield and soothe. It was in the meeting of the two, the dusk and the dawn, where peace was truly at its height.

Lumnos, I said without speaking,let’s be honest,we’ve never been great friends, you and I. I’m pretty sure you and your siblings are sitting up there laughing your heads off at my expense.

But I do believe in Luther, and he believes in you. He thinks you want me to bring peace between the mortals and the Descended. I don’t know if you’ve got the right girl, but I’m willing to give it my best shot. If that’s truly your will, then give me a sign. Let me leave here without a Ch—

“I will Challenge her.”

Shit.

I opened my eyes and turned toward the voice.

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