Page 34 of Glow of the Everflame

“Could I hurt them?” I asked.

“Possibly, until you learn to control it. Frankly, the fact that your brother’s heart still beats is owed only to his impressive ability to avoid pissing you off.”

“Then how are you still alive?”

That haddefinitelybeen aloud.

Luther’s joyless smirk rang with the promise of a battle. It was equal parts thrilling and immensely unnerving.

FIGHT.

“Leave us,” Luther ordered. Lily grabbed Teller’s hand, and they quickly scurried up the pitch-black staircase and disappeared.

I considered some horribly vicious jab about Luther’s commands, his titles, his very life being worthless under my new reign—but if I was being completely honest, all this talk of release had cracked open a tiny window of hope in my aching soul.

Once upon a time, I had been a person of happiness and joy. I’d laughed as deeply as I’d loved. I’d made lighthearted jokes instead of cruel insults or threats. I’d been patient and compassionate, quick to forgive.

This woman I had become now... Idespisedher.

She was strong, undeniably so, but in all the wrong ways. Strength could be fueled by love just as easily as hate. I had known that once, and I desperately wanted to find that part of myself again.

I wasn’t sure where that would leave me with my plan to tear down the Descended world, but I knew if I kept going like this, I would destroy myself before I could ever defeat anyone else—or end up losing myself to hate like Vance and the Guardians.

Luther and I glared at each other in wordless tension. His potent magic danced in his eyes, light and shadow twining like lovers embracing under the moonlight. Strands of darkness curved like barbed wire around his arms and chest while light slithered down the rippled planes of his torso, spiraling around his muscled thighs and leaving him encased in a glittering suit of armor.

Something stirred excitedly in my chest at the sight.

FIGHT.

“Why do you hold it back?” I asked, watching the magic pulse around him like a sentient force. “The Descended rarely use it when mortals are around.” My upper lip curled. “Afraid we might spot your weaknesses?”

“Ourweaknesses,” he corrected. My throat burned with the urge to deny it. “We don’t like for mortals to see our magic, if we can avoid it. It can be... disturbing for them to witness.”

“Since when do the Descended care about disturbing mortals?”

He began to circle me in a smooth, predatory pace. “Do we not allow the mortals of Lumnos to live undisturbed? The Descended keep to our own cities and palaces.”

Something about his voice sounded false. Rehearsed.

I laughed harshly. “How very kind of you toallowus to live on land that was ours in the first place.”

FIGHT.

A low rumble that sounded suspiciously like Sorae’s growl shuddered through the thick stone walls.

Luther continued his path behind me and moved out of sight. I stubbornly held my stance.

“The mortals are free to live as they please, subject to the laws of the realm.” Again, his words sounded hollow.

“There’s nothing free about a life under laws we had no say in writing and have no real power to change.” I scowled. “Perhaps it’s time for the Descended to learn how it feels to lose everythingtheyvalue for a change.”

I knew instantly I’d gone too far. Revealed too much.

Luther went preternaturally still, every muscle taut under the strain of his power. When he finally spoke, his voice was deadly soft. “You would be wise, Your Majesty, to keep those thoughts well-guarded. Even a Queen can bleed.”

Fight.

Kill.

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