Page 53 of Glow of the Everflame

A throat cleared in the doorway.

Luther was standing at the entrance.

ChapterTwelve

Luther closed the door behind him, staring directly at Henri. His eyes were cold and soulless, the consummate icy Prince. His jagged scar twitched like a bolt of angry lightning threatening to strike.

Henri rolled off me and hauled his pants up, his eyes bouncing between Luther and the floor. His face and bare chest were flushed a splotchy scarlet—embarrassment at being caught or fury at seeing Luther, or perhaps a mix of both.

The heat of shame coursed through my own cheeks. Neither man looked at me as I yanked my dress back to my shoulders and smoothed the skirts down my legs.

What Henri and I had done wasn’t wrong. I was a grown woman. I had every right to be intimate with the man I had just convinced to marry me.

So why did I suddenly wish I could take it back?

Henri grabbed his tunic and pulled it over his head. Luther’s sharp focus marked every movement

I remembered the blade hiding at Henri’s waist, and the murderous hate that had dripped from his eyes in the hallway earlier. This could too easily turn into a bloodbath.

I slipped off the bed and took Henri’s hand. “I’ll walk you out,” I said, my voice deceptively calm.

“I would not recommend that.” Luther’s tone was flat, his words clipped. He still wouldn’t look at me. “A guard saw the two of you enter. He’s waiting outside to escort Mr. Albanon from the palace.”

Dread broke through at the easy familiarity with which Luther said Henri’s name. I’d been so concerned with talking Henri out of slaughtering Luther—what if the feeling was mutual? If Luther recognized him from the day he’d killed that child, would he be willing to hurt Henri to keep it quiet?

I carefully positioned myself between the two men. “Can this guard be trusted? If anything happens to Henri,” I warned, my voice trailing off.

At last, Luther’s frosty glare slid down to rest on me, sending a chill down my spine. “It won’t.”

I took a deep breath and turned to Henri. “You should go,” I urged gently.

His eyes blazed. “Why should I go? I’m to be your King. These men should be answering tous.”

Luther’s spine stiffened so forcefully I could almost hear the steel-strong bones snapping beneath his bronzed skin.

“Please, Henri,” I pleaded. “Let me arrange some things first. I’ll send word as soon as I can.”

Though he nearly snarled with displeasure, he scowled and relented. I kept myself planted between them as Henri moved to exit.

I reached for his fingers, wanting to feel the familiar brush of his skin one last time, and his hand jerked away. He didn’t bother to look back as he followed the waiting guard around the corner and out of sight.

I stared down the hall. I could still feel his touch on my thighs, my lips still swollen from his kiss. But now, without the warmth of him against me, I felt...

Confused. Unsure.

The weight of Luther’s attention wasn’t helping. I didn’t dare look to see what judgment awaited me there.

“Whatever you’re thinking, keep it to yourself,” I snapped. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“You need to hear it.”

“My love life is none of your concern.”

“You are the Queen of Lumnos. Your love life is the entire realm’s concern.”

My jaw clenched so tightly my teeth creaked in protest.

“And you made itmyconcern when you—”

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