Page 217 of Glow of the Everflame

I nearly slammed into Luther’s chest as he stepped into my path.

“Go back. Tell my father you choose me.” He was panting for breath, his face haunted and wild. “The crowd will accept it—they’ll prefer it. Theywantto see us fight.”

“My decision is made.”

“Diem, please—”

“Don’t call me that,” I clipped and moved to route around him.

He stepped in front of my brother, his tone turning frantic. “Convince her, Teller. You have to make her change her mind.”

Teller squinted at Luther, studying him with a puzzled look. Suddenly his eyes went wide, some inner light clicking to life, and Luther nodded silently.

“I don’t have time for this,” I muttered. I yanked my brother toward the tent, ignoring the shouts that followed. Once we’d ducked beneath the canvas flap, momentarily shielded from prying eyes, I spun on my heel.

“Why didn’t you choose him?” Teller said before I could speak.

“It doesn’t matter. I need to tell you some things, and I don’t have long.”

“Diem, I think Luther is trying to—”

“There’s a box in my nightstand drawer containing a letter. If I die, read that letter and guard it with your life. Don’t share its contents with anyone else, not even Lily.”

“D, listen, I really think Luth—”

“No one, Teller. Understood?”

He frowned but nodded, and I let out a small sigh of relief. Last night, in a hastily scrawled note, I had laid out everything—all the secrets about our mother and Luther, even my birth father. What I’d seen at the site of our father’s murder. The Guardians’ plans. A warning about Sophos. Where I’d hidden a secret stash of gold for him to start a new life abroad.

“Maura will take you in,” I continued. “If it’s not safe in Lumnos—”

“Stop talking like you’re going to die. You swore to fight, D.”

“I will fight, but I need you to hear this.” I clutched his face, wincing at the emotion that thickened my throat. “Don’t give up on Lily, Tel. This world is full of reasons to quit or run away. If you find something that brings you joy, hold on to it with everything you’ve got.”

He nodded, silvery tears beginning to line his eyes.

“And if you two are together, and she becomes pregnant...” I managed a faint smile at the blush on his cheeks. “Go to Luther first. Don’t run, don’t do anything irreversible. He’ll know what to do. I know he turned on me today—”

“Actually, I don’t think—”

“Just do it, alright? I still trust him on this.”

His eyebrows knit together with a host of unspoken questions.

“Promise me, Teller.”

“I promise.”

I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his shoulder and cherishing this final, precious moment with the one person who had been by my side through everything. The person whose loyalty I would never doubt, whose love for me was always pure.

“I love you,” I whispered. “I am so proud of the man that you are.”

He gripped me hard, his shoulders quietly shaking.

“My brilliant little brother, you are going to do such great things...” I fell silent as my voice broke and tears slipped in rivers down my cheeks.

“So are you, Diem. This can’t be the end.”

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