Page 65 of Glow of the Everflame

Though my wardrobe with now stocked with pants and tunics, I had continued to opt for dresses. The foreignness of the gowns had become oddly inspiring, as if being Queen was a costume, a part I could play.

But next to these two warrior women, the fluffy layers of my pale lilac frock had me feeling more like a frivolous doll.

Alixe’s dark navy hair, or at least the half of it that wasn’t shaved to the scalp, was trimmed into a short bob that ended in a point at her chin. The other woman had golden waves that cascaded unbound all the way down her back. Her eyes were captivating, the piercing cerulean of a cloudless summer sky.

Eyes that were scorching a hole at where my hand rested on Luther’s arm. I pulled it back and shifted my weight away from him, but he immediately took a step toward me to close the space.

Luther nodded in greeting. “Alixe. Iléana.”

“You’re a hard man to find,” the woman—Iléana—replied. “I had hoped you and I could catch up.” She flashed him a loaded smile. “In private.”

This was a first. Other than her initial glare, Iléana hadn’t even acknowledged my presence, though the Crown that blazed above my head made it undeniable that she knew who I was. Or at leastwhatI was.

Alixe took notice as well, her elbow jabbing into her friend’s side as she gave me a low bow. “Your Majesty, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

Iléana’s eyes flitted to me. Her chin dipped almost imperceptibly before she returned her focus to Luther and took a slow step toward him. “You’re looking as handsome as ever, Lu.”

Lu?Note to self—tease Luther mercilessly for that later.

He retreated a step and turned toward me. “Your Majesty, may I introduce Iléana, of House Hanoverre. Iléana, this is Her Royal Majesty Diem Corbois.” He shot her a reproachful look. “Our new Queen.”

“UnchallengedQueen,” she corrected, finally turning fully to me and looking me over. “Diem, was it? I’ve heardsomuch about you.”

“Iléana,” Alixe hissed in warning.

My temper prickled.

“You may refer to me as Your Majesty,” I said coolly. “I must admit, I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you.”

“You know what they say,” she said with a shrug. “Bad news travels so much faster than good.”

Alixe looked mortified. I refused to give Iléana the satisfaction of looking to Luther for his reaction.

“Iléana is a top commander in the Royal Guard,” Luther explained, then added under his breath, “though perhaps not for much longer.”

“You’re one of the palace guards?” I asked.

She scoffed. “The Royal Guard has far more important tasks to manage than palace duty.”

“Such as?”

She turned to Luther with an incredulous look. “She doesn’t even respect the Royal Guard enough to learn what they do?”

My confidence emptied like a punctured balloon. Rude as she may be, she had a point—that was something a Queen should know.

It was somethinganyoneshould know. My lifelong isolation from the Descended had left me ignorant about the realm outside my tiny mortal bubble. A realm I was now supposed to lead.

“Lu, sweetie,” Iléana cooed. She moved closer and ran her hand along his arm. “Can I please have a word?”

He took another step back. “Her Majesty and I have a meeting to attend.”

“It’s fine,” I mumbled with a dismissive wave.

Iléana didn’t wait for his protest. She smirked, then took his hand and pulled him down the corridor.

“My apologies for her behavior.” Alixe sighed when they were out of earshot. “If it’s any consolation, it makes her a very effective commander. The guards are all terrified of her.”

I gave a tight smile, too embarrassed to come up with a witty remark. I glanced over to see Iléana and Luther huddled close in an alcove. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but her fluttering eyelashes and coy smile gave me a pretty good guess.

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