Page 100 of Glow of the Everflame

“With pleasure.” His eyes glittered with the thrill of the game. I could tell he knew I was playing at something—and he was all too happy to join in. He spread his legs wide. “Come closer so I can get a better look.”

I hesitated a beat. He had given me an order, not a request. Should I shut him down—or would that look like I feared a challenge?

Perhaps he saw the debate warring in my head, because he gave me the briefest wink. “I’m terribly clumsy. I would hate to nick that exquisite skin of yours and have to explain myself to an angry gryvern.”

I smirked and moved in front of him, perching on the edge of the table and placing my foot in between his open thighs. Conversation once again fell silent, everyone around us watching in rapt silence.

He wrapped both hands around my ankle and held my gaze as his palms glided up my leg and under the hem of my skirt. He slowed his movements as he rode higher, his fingers pressing in against the sensitive flesh of my inner thigh. Despite myself, goosebumps rose on my skin. Aemonn’s expression went utterly feline.

I clicked my tongue at him and shook my head. “Naughty cousin. Just the knife.” He gave me a pout, and I shrugged. “For now.”

“A woman who makes you work for the prize. What a rarity these days.” He released my thigh and grabbed the fabric of my dress, hitching it up above the blade.

“Perhaps you’ve grown too used to women who are impressed with your fancy title.” I placed my hands on his armrests and leaned in closer. “Unfortunately for you, mine’s a little fancier.”

With an elaborate show of keeping his hands away from my skin, Aemonn pulled my blade from its sheath. He gave the knife a skillful twirl in his fingers, then offered it out to me, handle first.

I took the blade from his hand and my leg from his chair, but his thighs only spread wider. “Lucky for the both of us, my title isn’t the only thing women find impressive.”

I gave Aemonn an amused look, then glanced down to his groin and back to him. “Let’s hope House Corbois has more to offer me thanthat.”

Snickers and whispers skittered around us. With lightning speed, I whipped around and slammed the point of the dagger into the table beside my wine.

The crack of the blade splitting wood and the rattling of dishes from the impact silenced the room. I slid smoothly into my seat and gave a casual, one-shouldered shrug. “Just in case I need it.”

The Corbois cousins assessed me with new, curious eyes.

It was an effort not to look at Luther or Eleanor to see what they thought of my antics. I forced myself to stay focused—tonight, I needed to stand on my own.

Aemonn jumped in quickly to introduce me to the cousins in talking distance. I felt a little bad about insulting his manhood after he played along so well, though it was fair play for blackmailing me into taking him as my escort to the Ascension Ball. Now we were even, and the real game could begin.

“That’s a lovely dress, Diem,” one of the cousins—a redhead Aemonn had introduced as Ethaline—said with a sneer. I immediately regretted giving them all permission to address me so informally. “Almost as lovely as your attire this morning.”

“And the night she arrived,” another cousin murmured, only mildly attempting to conceal his voice as he sipped his wine.

More giggles and whispers arose, this time at my expense.

I sighed overdramatically and leaned back against my chair. “As you all know by now, I was raised by a mortal family.” I paused, remembering Iléana’s presence. “After the untimely death of my father, Harold Corbois, that is.”

A few knowing chuckles flitted around the room.

“In the mortal world, we wear black to a funeral to show respect for the dead. I only intended to do the same for King Ulther.”

“We?” Ethaline interrupted. “So you see yourself as a mortal?”

“Of course I don’t,” I said quickly, hating the lie. Hating that I wasn’t sure if it evenwasa lie. “I’m a Descended Queen, aren’t I?”

“And what of the lighting of the pyre?” another cousin asked—Tyris, a handsome male with a mop of dark blue curls. “We were hoping to see a show.”

“I’ll be sure to let Sorae know you found her insufficient,” I said curtly. “Perhaps she’ll give you a personal demonstration to show you what she’s capable of.”

“It wasn’tSoraewe found insufficient,” Ethaline said, sharing a smug look with Tyris.

I shot her a sizzling glare. “Then perhaps I’ll show you whatI’mcapable of.”

She raked her eyes over me without even an ounce of intimidation, but a deep, commanding voice had her expression going cold.

“Having been on the wrong end of Her Majesty’s power myself, I can assure you, Ethaline, there’s not a soul in Emarion that would find itinsufficient.”

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