Page 237 of Glow of the Everflame

I fought furiously to suppress my smirk. They shouldneverhave told me this.

“If it’s so important, shouldn’t it be more heavily guarded?” I asked lightly.

The Fortos King scowled. “It’s safe here. No one gets on or off this island without my knowledge.”

The Umbros Queen let out a soft chuckle.

“It’s not as fragile as it looks,” the Faunos Queen said. “It isn’t affected by weapons, hammers, magic, even gryvern fire. It can’t be lifted. Can’t even be touched, unless you want to lose a hand.”

I squinted my eyes curiously at the stone. “Why is it so important—what does it do?”

“The Kindred’s elemental magic is blood magic. Anyone who shares their blood inherits those abilities. But there’s also a second kind, a magic of life and death that flows through everything—the earth, the air, every plant and creature. The heartstone acts as a conduit between those two forces. It allowed the Kindred to weave their magic into this world and control how it can be used.”

“Why does the heartstone work here when our magic doesn’t?”

“Because that’s how the Kindred willed it,” the Fortos King snapped. “Now shut up so we can finish.”

“We can discuss it moreafterthe ritual,” the Sophos Crown agreed, pulling their shoulders back as they resumed their script. “The Kindred bid us to renew their spell by shedding our blood into the heartstone on two occasions—once each year, on Forging Day, and once upon the coronation of each new Crown.” They swept out an arm. “May the loyal children of the sacred nine pass through these portals in peace. Let us begin.”

The Sophos Crown walked through their archway until they stood above the insignia of their realm, then gestured to their left for the Meros King to follow. One by one, each Crown repeated the movement.

When my turn came to step forward, I again felt their eyes fix on me. I held my breath and stepped into the inner sanctum.

Immediately, the powerful energy radiating from the heartstone seemed to lift its head and turn its gaze toward me. The magic in the air clung to my skin, at first merely brushing with curious interest—then, gradually, the sensation began to change.

Its light caress became stronger, fiercer, hotter. Invisible boiling-hot hands gripped at me andsqueezed. I fought desperately to conceal my reaction with a false smile and a shrug, but in the midst of my panic, my eyes found the Umbros Queen’s, and I could tell from her grin she knew what I was hiding.

My hands fisted as I braced for her to expose me. I could fight my way out—the odds were grim, but I was likely the only one used to relying on physical combat. And I was fast—if I could get to Luther, we might stand a chance.

But as the Montios King hobbled forward and the Sophos Crown launched into another droning monologue, I realized the moment had passed. The magic was still making every breath and movement a painful battle, but I had escaped the Crowns’ scrutiny.

I dared another look at the Umbros Queen. She was still watching me with that infuriating smile, her eyes still gleaming with the silent taunt that she knew something I didn’t want her to know.

“...and as we welcome a new Crown of Lumnos, let the magic of the Forging be strengthened once more.”

The Sophos Crown strolled to the pedestal and pulled a short-bladed dagger from a sheath at their hip. The handle was set with a series of milky white gemstones. As they pulled the blade across their palm, the creamy stones turned a pale shade of rose matching the color of their eyes.

They held their hand out and squeezed it into a fist, allowing a crimson trickle to fall. The moment the blood hit the heartstone’s glassy surface, the obelisk above the Sophos portal glowed brighter, and the fire in its cauldron hissed, its pink-hued flames stretching higher into the sky.

The Sophos Crown pulled a handkerchief and wiped the blade clean, then turned to the King of Meros and beckoned him forward to repeat the process. This time, the dagger’s stones darkened to turquoise, and the glowing blue-green fire of the Meros portal roared with renewed vigor.

As the ritual continued around the circle, the excruciating assault from the heartstone’s angry aura did not relent, and my head pounded as it wore on my strength. My senses were screaming at me to leave the Temple and get as far from the heartstone as I could.

I gritted my teeth and held my ground. If the magic guarding the Temple had let me enter, then it must not be able to keep me away completely. I only needed to suffer long enough to complete the Rite of Coronation. The destruction of the heartstone, and the Descended monarchies along with it, could wait for another day.

Finally, my turn came, and all eyes again settled on me. I shuffled stiffly toward the center, feeling like I was trudging through boiling tar. When I reached the podium, I was nearly panting with effort. I glanced over my shoulder to the Lumnos portal, its obelisk dark and its cauldron empty.

“Child of Lumnos,” the Sophos Crown began, “may your blood now reignite the flames of your realm. With this ritual, your reign begins. May you serve your people well.”

“I will,” I murmured, and though the heartstone may have doubted my intentions, I meant that vow with all my heart.

I held my hand out, and the Sophos Crown dragged the jeweled blade across my flesh. My senses were already so overwhelmed by the agony of the Temple’s power that I barely felt the cut, though a tremor shook through my arm, knocking a single glittering droplet over the side of my palm and onto the glossy stone.

An earsplitting crack of thunder shattered the air. Out of nowhere, grey clouds rolled into place, blocking the sun’s light and blanketing the sky with a menacing shadow.

I shot a questioning look at the Sophos Crown. Their eyes were fixed on the blade in their hand, its opalescent stones now a smoky grey.

“Blue,” they whispered. “The stones should beblue.”

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