Page 175 of Glow of the Everflame

“The Princess,” Ravyn answered. “Our darling Roderyck is betrothed to your Lilian. They are to be wed just after the new year.”

I spun to face Luther again, but for once, his eyes were not on me. He was glaring at his father with enough rage to level a realm. The aura of his power shuddered darkly against my skin, raising the hair on my arms.

My gaze jumped between Remis and the twins. “Does Lily know she’s betrothed?” I snapped.

Remis didn’t answer, though he gave me a look that was an unmistakable order tostand down.

But I had seen Lily’s untroubled demeanor this morning as she clung to Teller and squealed with delight on their gryvern joyride. That wasn’t the face of someone who knew she’d been sold off like chattel.

“Lily isn’t marrying anyone unless she chooses for herself,” I said. “If Roderyck wants to marry her, he can court her and propose, and she will decide.”

The twins’ smiles fell as one, their eyes sliding to Remis. “Regent,” Ryx said, “we had an agreement.”

“Lilian will do what’s best for her family,” Remis soothed. “She will accept whatever betrothal I arrange for her.”

“You bastard,” Luther snarled.

“The hell she will,” I said. “She is my family, and she’s not for sale.”

Luther stalked forward to stand at my side. A scorching heat radiated from his presence, borne of his imposing body and his fiery wrath.

The twins shared a prolonged, wordless look, then Ryx turned to me with a calculating stare. “It is in your best interest to uphold the agreement, Your Majesty. Roderyck is one of the most powerful Descended in the realm.”

My gaze narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

Ravyn let out a gasp that was a little too loud, a little too dramatic. “We wouldn’t dare threaten the Queen. But our dear boy does have such a temper, and he is so thrilled about the wedding. If the betrothal were to be broken off now...”

“He might be inclined to do something rash,” Ryx finished for her.

“Let me guess... something like a Challenge?”

Ryx gave a casual shrug, as if he hadn’t just threatened my life—and his own son’s.

“There will be no need for any of that,” Remis cut in, once again stepping between us. “Lilian will do her duty.”

“Marriage is not herduty,” I clipped.

“Perhaps we should allow you two to discuss this in private?” Ravyn offered with a sprightly smile. She took her brother-mate-husband’s hand and cuddled into his hip. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Your Majesty. You’ll look stunning in our pearls at the wedding.”

Remis cut me off before I could snipe back a response, shooting an unspoken warning to his brother that had Garath dragging Aemonn forward to escort House Byrnum from the room. Remis waited until the corridor was empty, then slammed the door and turned to me with a hiss.

“Are you truly so determined to get yourself Challenged?” he growled. “That was not your business to interfere with.”

“Nor was it yours. Lily will marry whomever she pleases, whenever she pleases, but it certainly won’t be forced on her by you.”

He scoffed. “I don’t have to force her. Lilian is a smart, well-behaved girl. She knows her place.”

“Her place?” Luther and I repeated in unison.

“I am the head of this House,” Remis said, “and I will decide—”

“Are you?” I asked, tilting my head as I crossed my arms. “You’re not the oldest. You’re not the most powerful. You’re not even the highest ranking.” I gave him a slow, unimpressed once-over.

Remis’s temper finally snapped. His composed demeanor melted away, replaced with a predatory rage reminiscent of his son’s. “You think you can steal this House from me?” he boomed. “You were a backwater, uneducated nothing. If I hadn’t allowed you to associate with my House, you’d be dead already.”

Luther moved to intervene, and I stopped him with a laugh. “Youbeggedme to claim House Corbois. I walked in, soaking and muddy, and you practically groveled at my feet. You were so desperate to hold on to a crumb of importance, you gave your entire House away.” I shot him a pointed look. “Maybe now you’ll learn a lesson about selling off family for power.”

Remis snarled and bounded toward me. In a flash of movement and light, Luther shoved me into Taran’s arms and unsheathed the jewel-encrusted sword strapped to his back. Magic seeped from his hands and illuminated the blade in a soft glow.

---