Page 148 of Glow of the Everflame

Voices approached, and soon Remis appeared with Evrim and a small entourage. We briefly made introductions while Eleanor took my father’s hand and lurked in the background.

I took my seat in the center of the room, a large stone-walled chamber that was far more austere than the rest of the palace. A tapestry of the goddess Lumnos hung as a backdrop behind a throne-like wooden chair, which was carved with the sun-and-moon sigil of the realm and surrounded by the crests of the Twenty Houses. Remis and Garath sat on either side of me, with the rest of the Council spread in an arc behind us. Evrim sat directly opposite me, his chair far simpler and slightly lower-set, with his own advisors seated behind him.

“Welcome, Evrim,” I started, keeping my tone light and amiable. “It was a pleasure to see your family again last night. I only regret I never had the chance to meet your mother. I hear she was the most beautiful woman in all of Lumnos.”

Evrim gaped at me for a long beat, then a shade of fondness softened his features. “Yes, she was.”

“She would have been so proud of all you’ve built. Of her beautiful grandchildren, too.”

Evrim went a bit moony-eyed, and I nearly turned around and kissed Eleanor. She’d given me a wealth of advice on how to woo Evrim, and so far, it was working brilliantly.

“I hear your son is in the top of his class.” I batted my lashes prettily. “He takes after his father, I’m sure.”

“Not enough to my liking. He’s got a rebellious spirit, but with the right discipline, I’ll break it soon enough.”

My heart twisted at his cold tone.

“Interesting that you should mention my son,” he went on. “Lorris tells me that when he met you, you claimed to be from one of the smaller Houses.”

I stiffened. “I didn’t—”

“Her Majesty was born to Harold Corbois,” Remis interrupted. “His line was quite distant. He never resided at the palace with the rest of the family. He died before her birth, and she was raised by kind neighbors who took her in.”

“And your mother?” Evrim asked me.

“Died in childbirth, sadly,” Remis answered for me. “Her name is lost to history. From a lower House, I hear.”

I clenched my jaw. I had never planned to hide my status as a half-mortal. Risky as it might be, the half-mortal children Luther had smuggled out—and the ones he couldn’t save—deserved a Queen willing to claim them as her kin.

With one smooth lie, Remis had just taken that choice out of my hands.

“Marthe Hanoverre seems to believe Her Majesty was born of a mortal parent,” Evrim said.

“House Hanoverre accuses everyone they dislike of being a half-breed,” Garath said dismissively, and I had to curb my stunned look at his joining in the ruse.

Evrim drummed his fingers against the arm of his chair and studied me closely. His gaze roved my body, lingering on my chest a beat too long. A quiet growl rumbled from a chair behind me.

“Such a tragic upbringing,” Evrim said with false sympathy. “House Corbois abandoned its ties to you as a child. If you’re looking for another House to take you in, House Benette has much to offer.”

Remis and Garath squirmed in their seats. I rubbed my chin and let the offer hang for as long as I dared, reveling in their discomfort. I sighed and set my hand over the phoenix medallion. “A generous offer, but I will never,everturn my back on my family.”

If only they knew the true intention behind those words.

Remis gave me a gracious smile shaded with relief, then looked back to Evrim. “Her Majesty is keen to continue the prosperity of my late brother’s reign. Since I have been ruling as Regent for several months, I will continue to take the lead—”

“The last several months have beendisastrous,” Evrim said. “We’re losing business to Umbros, and my top clients have been receiving threats. Now those terrorists have destroyed my armory. If that is your leadership, it hardly gives me comfort.”

“What would give you comfort?” Remis challenged.

Evrim’s gaze slid to the chairs lined up behind me. “You can hardly expect me to speak openly with one ofthemin the room.”

“Andrei is a celebrated Commander in the Emarion Army,” I cut in. “His loyalty is indisputable.”

“He’s a mortal,” Evrim spat. “His very presence here is an insult.”

“He was an advisor to Ulther and helped him suppress several rebel uprisings,” I shot back. “I brought him here to show you how committed I am to preventing further violence.”

Evrim leaned forward and laid his elbows on his knees, glaring at me from beneath his brows. “I don’t want to prevent further violence. I want to hit them back ten times harder. I want to show those mortals the consequences of not knowing their place. We’ve allowed them to live here—”

---