Page 109 of Glow of the Everflame

“But you’re a fool if you think that applies only to the Descended,” he said flatly.

When he faced me again, his walls were built anew. All the churning emotions that had been pouring out of him moments ago had boiled off and floated away. Luther was gone, replaced by the cruel, uncaring Prince, the indomitable force who bent for no one—not even his Queen.

“Eventually, your mortal friends and family will come calling, too. They’ll see you as a tool to get what they want. They always do.”

I bristled. “My family is nothing like your family.”

“No?” His voice sounded so hollow, barren of the happiness I’d glimpsed in him only hours ago. His eyes had gone dim, their piercing blue-grey now a dull, lifeless slate. He was fractured, and I was the one holding the hammer. “Your mother never told you lies? Your father never kept secrets?”

I winced at the truth of it.

“And whether you’re willing to see it or not, no one wants to use you more than that pathetic mortal boy.”

“You told me to stay with Henri,” I shot back. “You said ‘we’ll find a way.’ Has your support dried up so quickly?”

“Do not mistake my support as agreement with your choices,” he snapped. “Outside this room, I will stand by any decision you make. I will shed my blood to protect you from any threat, even my own family.” His features warped with disgust. “I’ll give my life to protecthim, if that is your command.”

He jabbed a finger toward the door. “Out there, I will do anything you ask of me.Anything. But here, in private, do not expect me to hold my tongue while you give your heart to a man you had to beg to keep from walking away.” His glare sharpened. “A man who only agreed to marry you when you offered him a throne.”

“You were eavesdropping on us,” I gasped, my eyes going wide. “You had no right—”

“I don’t care,” he thundered back. “It’s my job to know the true motives of the people closest to you. I will keep you safe, and I will not apologize for it. Not now, not ever.”

He roughly cupped my face in his hands, his fingers clinging to my skin like he might fall to his death if he ever let me go. “Not even if you despise me. Not even if I amnothingto you. Because my calling comes from a higher authority than even you can claim, Your Majesty. As she guarded my heart, I will guard over yours. Even if it kills me.”

The aura of his power flared, its pulsating energy flooding the room and seizing me in its furious, desperate grip. A thousand invisible hands clutched my face, my arms, my legs—and everywhere in between. My own power hummed in harmonious response. It clawed against the inside of my skin, pleading to be set free and match his magic’s mighty wrath.

For the most fleeting of heartbeats, the world came to a stop. There was nothing but him and me and this light that burned between us, this glowing beacon we couldn’t ignore, even if it lured us to our destruction.

Every moment with Luther felt like a tug-of-war against fate. Every look, every touch felt weighted with an ominous heft, like each one held some deeper, unseen consequence that went far beyond the two of us. It was as exhilarating as it was terrifying, and for once, I was sick of fighting it. Sick of fightinghim.

I closed my eyes, parted my lips, leaned in, and surrendered.

But his hands fell from my face. His power withdrew, and the warmth of his body vanished. A moment later, the door slammed closed.

And once again, I was alone.

ChapterTwenty-Three

“One, two, three—ow!”

“Sorry!”

“You’re doing great—four, five, six—”

“Shit.”

“Keep going! One, two, th—”

CRASH.

“Oh gods, I just broke the Princess.”

“I’m fine! It’ll heal—I think.”

Teller bit down hard on his lip to keep from laughing. “Are you two alright?”

“Is it too late to cancel the ball?” I grumbled. I helped Lily brush away the dirt on her dress after my clumsiness sent her tumbling across the dungeon floor.

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