Page 105 of Glow of the Everflame

Even without seeing him, I felt the dark rumble of his mood roll through the air.

A storm was brewing.

“In my room?” I asked lightly. “I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong impression about yourinterests.”

“Fuck their impressions,” he snarled.

His tone shocked even the guards, who eyed us both with unease. One of them stepped into place at my side, hand resting on his weapon.

“You will address Her Majesty with respect,” he barked.

The hallway fell silent. I had never seen a guard so much as glance at Luther the wrong way, let alone openly challenge him.

I turned to intervene before Luther’s temper left me with a vacancy to fill and a pool of blood to mop up when my eyes stopped on a familiar face.

“Perthe?” I gasped.

The guard’s demeanor relaxed. “Your Majesty remembers me?”

I laughed and threw my arms around his neck. I hadn’t seen Perthe since the night I’d dragged him out of the burning armory after his legs were shattered by a falling beam. We were strangers to each other then, but something about nearly dying at his side made him feel like an old, dear friend.

“You’re healed,” I cried, marveling at his sturdy body.

“They took me to the healers in Fortos to speed my recovery.” His eyes cut upward to the Crown. “It seems we’re both much improved since we last spoke.”

I wasn’t sure I agreed that the Crown was animprovementto my life, but seeing Perthe healed and smiling was enough to have me grinning back. Guilt had been haunting me for the role I played in the Guardians’ attack, and to know that Perthe had not only survived, but recovered in full, was a salve I’d deeply needed.

“I didn’t know you were a palace guard,” I said. “Does this mean you’re a Corbois?”

“He is neither,” Luther answered from behind me. “Perthe hails from House Benette, but he is on special duty as a member of your personal sentry.”

Perthe nodded. “When I returned to Lumnos and discovered that the woman who saved my life was the new Queen, I asked Prince Luther if I could serve in your guard. Others who were friends, even family, left me behind to die that night, but you risked your life to rescue me.” He clamped a fist to his chest and bowed low. “It would be my greatest honor to repay that debt.”

“To see you healthy is repayment enough.” I took his hand and squeezed it, ignoring Luther’s grunt of displeasure. “But if you wish to serve me, I gratefully accept. I can think of no man in theentirerealm who is more worthy to fight in my defense.”

A bit over the top, perhaps, but worth it for the near-snarl that ripped out of Luther’s mouth.

“If the happy reunion is over, Perthe has a job to return to,” he snapped.

I offered Perthe a gracious smile, then walked past him into the parlor. Behind me, I heard Luther’s footsteps follow, then a scuffle and a low exchange of words.

I turned to see two guards with their weapons crossed over Luther’s chest to block his entry.

“Get out of my way,” he gritted out.

“No one enters without Her Majesty’s consent.”

I couldn’t restrain my grin. It seemed they had learned their lesson from the last time he disciplined them.

Luther glared at them before turning his icy gaze on me. There was a tension in him that seemed coiled too tight, a bowstring stretched too thin. Even without magic or weapons at his hands, he looked more deadly than ever.

“Let him through,” I relented.

No sooner had the guards withdrawn their weapons than Luther had his hands on the back of their necks, shoving them out into the corridor and slamming the doors behind them.

“They’re followingyourorders. You could be a little less of an ass.”

He practically growled.

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