Page 129 of Heat of the Everflame

Alixe and Taran waved, so I led us back down the stairs and into the market. “You’ll come to Lumnos, then? Nothing would make me happier than emptying a Corbois coffer or two for you.”

“I think I need to know more about this mysterious new Queen first. Do you know her well?”

“No,” I blurted, a little too fast. “I’ve only met her once or twice.”

“Luther seemsveryfond of her.” Zalaric was watching me intently. “And he’s convinced she’s a friend to the half-mortals.”

“Then it must be true. He knows her best.” I glanced at him. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Sure, but I may charge you for it.”

“The scar on your neck—why did you keep it? Surely there are Fortos healers here who could have removed it.”

“I considered it, but I always remembered the Prince who saved my life. I told myself if he wasn’t ashamed of his, I shouldn’t be ashamed of mine. And besides...” He tipped his face to me with a knowing look. “I find scars quite sexy, don’t you?”

My cheeks heated. “Yes, I do.”

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

We caught up to Alixe and Taran, the latter of whom was hurling obscenities at a merchant who had declared him too much of acute little dollto buy any of the weapons at their booth.

Zalaric sighed dramatically. “I suppose this is my fault, so I have to fix it, as well.”

“Must you? I want to see everyone’s faces when a little girl chokes a grown man half to death.”

Zalaric chuckled as he strode on ahead. “There you are, Theresa. Why are you arguing with that nice man, my pretty poppet?”

“I hope Taran remembers he can’t actually kill Zalaric or we’ll never get home,” Alixe said.

I’d like to see him try, I thought.

She laughed. “Me, too. It would be a hell of a match.”

I frowned. That was... odd.

She gestured for me to follow, then led me to a secluded corner. “I never got a chance to thank you properly for making me your High General.”

“No thanks needed—you earned it. You’re the best person for the job.”

She nodded low. “Your trust honors me greatly.”

“I’m sorry for putting you in a difficult spot with Luther—with both this and what happened in Ignios. I hate that I’ve come between you two.”

“He’ll get over it.” My brows rose in surprise, and she gave a wry smile. “I love Luther like a brother. He’s taught me so much, and I can only hope to be half the leader he’s been.”

“But?” I prodded.

“But... what you said to him was right, and I respect you all the more for seeing it. Under Ulther, the realm and its people were always Luther’s priority. That’s what made him such an admirable High General. Under your reign, though, he is...”

“Distracted?”

“Not at all. With you, his focus iscrystalclear.”

I frowned. “It’s just in the wrong place.”

Her expression turned pensive. “When you first took the Crown, Luther told me a war was coming and you were the only one who could lead us through. He claimed you were hand-picked for that purpose by the Blessed Mother herself.”

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