Page 227 of Glow of the Everflame

I spread my arms in an arc at my sides. A deluge of shadows surged around me, coating the sandy floor with a sea of midnight ink that churned in a raging whirlpool at my feet. Thorny black vines crept up the walls of the arena, then moved higher, their spiked ends tapping ominously against the protective barrier.

An orb of shimmering light formed around me and lifted me on a cushion of air until I hovered high above the ground. Glowing stars swarmed like fireflies, and from my outstretched fingers, jagged bolts of lightning sparked and formed a blinding web of sizzling pale blue.

The audience cowered as my magic thrashed against the invisible wall that protected them from me. Then their terrified faces turned up to something even more alarming.

High above the amphitheater, the sunlit sky began to fade away. There were no clouds in sight, but the sky darkened nevertheless, fading in seconds to pitch-black night.

My skin illuminated with a radiant, moonlight sheen, my hair floating weightlessly around me as I scanned the crowd. Some were frozen in their seats, while others panicked and scrambled for the exits.

I closed my eyes and reached out for the Forging magic that flowed through the soil of the realm. I felt it thrumming all around me, running from border to border and buzzing brightly with all the life that it touched. I allowed my own magic to pour into it until the two energies merged and became one. There was no longer a realm and her Queen, but one single devastating force of nature.

With a snap of my fingers, the protective barrier fell. The invisible wall shattered into a cloud of glowing slivers that swirled and scattered on a sudden updraft of wind.

In the stands, the spectators fought each other to get away, some going so far as to turn their weapons on members of their own House to beat a path to safety.

That simply would not do.

I jerked my wrists, and the vines coating the arena walls multiplied. Thousands of tendrils whipped out and wrapped around the throats of every Descended in the amphitheater, forcing them to still.

“Your Queen has not dismissed you,” I scolded. My voice sounded different to my own ears. It was cold and ancient, deeply powerful, the timbre of some far more fearsome creature.

“The Challenging is not over until you have judged me and found meworthy,” I continued, spitting out the last word with disgust. “If there are any who believe my choice of Challenger was insufficient, or who doubt whether I am strong enough to rule... speak now. I will not give you a second chance.”

My eyes roved over the crowd until they paused on Jean Hanoverre. I crooked a finger, and the vine at his neck pulled taut, nearly yanking him from his seat.

“Well, Jean?” I purred. “Tell me, has my magicsatisfiedyou?”

He clawed at the dark cord at his throat. I squeezed it tighter until he was gasping for breath. He quickly nodded.

I hummed in mock consideration. “Perhaps I should kill every Challenger to ensure there is no doubt I could have outmatched any of them. Do you think that’s necessary, Jean?”

“No,” he choked out.

“No,what?”

“No,Your Majesty.”

My gaze trailed to his grandmother, Marthe. “Will House Hanoverre kneel to its Queen?”

She eyed me with cold consideration, a gleam of defiance still burning in her gaze. I had to respect her tenacity.

“House Hanoverre will kneel, Your Majesty,” she said finally.

“House Benette?” I called out with a glare toward Evrim.

Wisely, he wasted no time in dipping his chin. “House Benette will kneel, Your Majesty.”

I glanced over my shoulder to House Byrnum. I didn’t have to do more than lift an eyebrow before Ryx and Ravyn were on their knees and swearing their undying fealty.

I lowered myself to the arena floor. With a sweep of my hands, the dark, choppy sea of magic parted, opening up a path to the stairs. I strode toward them until I stood in front of Luther.

The joyful grin on his face nearly broke me, but I managed to preserve my menacing facade. I wrapped my fingers around the vine that led to his neck, gently tugging him down until his lips hovered over mine.

“And what of House Corbois?” I murmured softly.

His hand slid around the back of my neck and pulled me in for a deep, reverent kiss. “House Corbois will kneel, my Queen,” he breathed when we parted.

I released him from my magic and took his hand, and together we climbed the long staircase to the royal box.

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