Page 239 of Glow of the Everflame

She peered into the heavy satchel at her side. A heap of jars containing bright red powder filled the bag to its brim. Another sizable stash was hidden in a shallow pit near the Lumnos dock. If all went to plan, she would grab it before escaping, leaving her with a decade-long supply—but if things went all to hell, she at least had this small batch to get her daughter through a few more years of hiding.

Thoughhidingwould not last much longer. Even flameroot couldn’t quicken Descended aging. Soon, Auralie would be forced to unearth some truths she’d spent the last two decades desperate to keep buried. But not today—and with any luck, not for years to come.

A slight rustle of grass from behind her gave away that she was no longer alone.

Before she could react, a hand clamped over her mouth. Another hand wound around her ribcage, pinning her arms to her sides, and hauled her up against a man’s chest of rock-hard muscle.

She didn’t bother trying to scream—no one on this island would be coming to save her. Instead, she thrashed like a wildcat, ramming her elbow backward into his ribs and flinging her head back to smash against his face. He yielded nothing, as immovable as stone, taunting her with a low chuckle.

“Now I see where your daughter gets it.”

She stilled, the words chilling her to the bone.

The scent of moss and cedar wafted to her nose as the man growled in her ear. “You have a great deal of explaining to do, Auralie Bellator.”

As recognition washed over her, the terror in her veins turned to ice. She let her body go slack, and the man’s grasp loosened and released her. She jerked a blade from the sheath at her hip and spun to face him.

“If you hurt my Diem, I’ll—”

“Hello?” a voice rang out from nearby.

He raised a finger to his lips to shush her as his eyes darted in the direction of the path. She raised the blade higher until the point was an inch from his neck, her glare hardening.

His focus lowered to the blade. The tense feathering of his jaw coaxed a vicious smile to her lips.

“Is someone there?” the voice asked.

Something about it poked at the corner of her mind in alarm, the nagging fear of a burning candle left forgotten at home. Her eyes wandered curiously in its direction.

The man took advantage of her distraction and clamped his hand around her wrist in a vicelike hold. “Drop the blade,” he mouthed, his fierce eyes flashing in warning.

She shook her head, and his grip tightened to a bruising pressure. Her arm barked in pain, but she fought against the reflex to let go.

The wall of foliage enveloping them rustled as someone moved closer. They crouched in unison, bodies still locked in mid-scuffle, both of them sinking into the shadow of the wild-growing grass.

A soft glow illuminated the brush. Just above the tall vegetation, Auralie caught a glimpse of dark vines and twinkling stars. Her eyes went wide.

The Crown of Lumnos.

Her gaze snapped to the man, suddenly aware of the vacant space above his head.Impossible. There was no other candidate, no one else even close. But if he had not taken the Crown...

“Hello?” the voice said again.

Auralie barely allowed herself a breath, though her mind was racing. The voice was feminine—so Lumnos had a Queen. But if Prince Luther had not inherited the Crown, how could he be here on the island?

He had been relentless in reminding her that his ascension as King was not guaranteed, and if it didn’t come to pass, he would have no way of smuggling her back into the realm. She had pretended to debate the risk, but in truth, she had never intended to rely on him for a safe return.

She had her own plans for that.

But Luther could have only come today with the permission of the new Crown—and he seemed as desperate to avoid being discovered by her as Auralie was. Had he snuck onto the island to rescue her—or had he come to silence her forever so the new Queen never discovered his secrets?

The voice struck up again, and this time it was joined by a new one, harsh and masculine. Auralie didn’t need Luther’s warning glare to know that a discovery by a foreign King would be the kiss of death for them both.

The Crowns moved further away, their arguing voices joined by two more women, and soon the conversation faded into the distance. Auralie’s shoulders sagged with relief. Even Luther’s tightly drawn posture softened, but his punishing grip held fast to her wrist.

“Who is the new Queen?” Auralie whispered.

Luther’s eyes narrowed and jumped around her face, searching for something, but he didn’t respond.

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