Page 96 of Glow of the Everflame

Luther’s eyes narrowed menacingly.

“Go on then.” I jerked my head toward Eleanor and flashed him a wicked grin. “Earn my favor, Prince.”

A grumble rolled around in his throat, his smile flattening to a thin line. With a deep breath and a brief lift of his eyes to the ceiling, he crossed the room to his cousin.

“Eleanor, please accept my—”

I scoffed. “Oh no, that won’t do at all. You nearly made my dear friend cry. That calls for some serious groveling.” I dipped my head. “Down there. On your knees.”

He shot me a dark look. “With all due respect to my lovely cousin, the only person I’m getting down on my knees for isyou, my Queen.”

Taran cackled loudly. “Queenie, you hear that? Lu wants to get on his kn—”

Luther flicked his wrist, and a burst of shadow flew from his palm and smacked against Taran’s face, sealing like a gag across his mouth. Taran yelped and tugged at the dark patch as he let loose a string of muffled curses.

I crossed my arms, tapping one foot. “Eleanor and I are waiting, Prince.”

Luther growled and sank to one knee. He cut me a sharp look before reaching up and taking Eleanor’s hand. “Eleanor, cousin, I—”

“Use my title, please,” she corrected haughtily. “Advisor to the Crown.”

Giddiness exploded across my face. I flashed Eleanor a thumb’s up.

Taran finally ripped the shadow away from his mouth and grinned. “I never, ever want to forget this moment.”

“You three are enjoying this far too much,” Luther muttered.

“Keep going,” I prodded.

“Eleanor, cousin,Advisor to the Crown, I’m very sorry for my earlier rudeness. I have learned my lesson, and I am quite humbled. Forgive me?”

Eleanor tapped a finger against her chin and frowned. “Hmm. Diem, what do you think? Should I forgive him?”

I shrugged. “You could make him beg a little.”

“This is the greatest day of my life,” Taran breathed.

“You have five seconds before I walk out of this room,” Luther warned.

“Alright, alright,” I laughed. “Forgive him!”

Eleanor clasped her other hand over Luther’s. “Fine then. Diem says—oh, sorry, Taran and I know her as Diem, I thinkyouonly know her as Her Majesty—”

“Two seconds.”

“Diem says I should forgive you, and I cannot deny my Queen.” She leaned down and planted a kiss on his forehead. “All is forgiven, cousin.”

Luther rose to his feet. “I’ve changed my mind. Don’t come to the dinner. You getting to know any more cousins is not going to end well for me.”

“You’re only convincing her more,” Eleanor crooned, and my grin confirmed it.

Taran looped his arm through Eleanor’s, and they turned to leave. Luther shot me a brief, loaded smile before moving to join them.

“Wait—” I rushed over and grabbed his arm to pull him back. His cousins disappeared into the hallway, leaving us alone once more.

I threw caution to the wind and leaned up on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek, just above his jawline, letting my lips linger on the rough skin of his scar for longer than I should have. I heard his sharp breath in my ear and felt his hand press again to the bare skin low on my back.

I pulled back slightly and offered him a glimpse of my happiness, free of all guile, just as he had done for me. “Thank you for bringing my father. And for being a good sport. My favor is well on its way to being earned.” I dragged my teeth over my bottom lip. “And now when you claimIkissedyou, you’ll finally be telling the truth.”

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