Page 159 of Heat of the Everflame

I turned and let my eyes wander. There were enough gowns here to clothe every person in Lumnos, with accessories to match. I wondered if Yrselle even bought them, or if the cloth market vendors simply showered her with gifts to stay in her good graces.

“Does that mean you also know what the Queen wants from me?” I asked, running my hand along the shimmering fabrics.

“I don’t. Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing myself.”

“Are you telling the truth, or are you taking advantage of someone you can finally lie to?”

“I don’t know. Am I?”

I peered over my shoulder and studied his smug expression, looking for the lie. Oddly, my godhood stirred, and I felt a sudden certainty he was telling me the truth.

I turned back to the gowns, grabbing a white gossamer frock that I hoped was too plain for the Queen to remember owning. I gestured for Symond to turn his back, and though he rolled his eyes in dramatic fashion, he obliged.

“Do you at least have any theories on what she wants?” I asked as I disrobed.

“Nowyou’retrying to getmekilled.” He was silent for a moment. “I know she thinks you’re valuable somehow. But don’t get any ideas—yourfriendsare not, and you’re not so important that she’ll spare them if they step out of line.”

I walked to a mirror and stepped into the gown. “Valuable how?”

“Whatever that riddle she told you means, she spends a great deal of time thinking on it.” He paused again. “Her Majesty has been Queen for many years. She survived the Blood War. I don’t think she desires to see Emarion have a second one.”

A knot of worry formed. If Yrselle was determined to avoid war, she might not be the ally I’d hoped for.

My gaze caught on a pair of eyes in the mirror—gleaming, lust-filled black eyes devouring the sight of my exposed back.

He grinned. “Couldn’t resist.” He kicked off the wall and strode toward me, then took the back of my dress in his hands. His knuckles brushed my skin as he drew up the fastening.

Symond leaned in, his breath hot against my neck. “I would say the Prince is a lucky man, but...”

Our eyes met in the mirror.

Abruptly, he turned for the door. “We’re late. Leave your clothes here, I’ll have them sent to your room. Or maybe burned.”

I grabbed a pair of silk slippers and clumsily slid them on as I scrambled to catch up.

“That dress is a lovely choice,” he said. “You look ravishing.”

“You’d say that to anything that breathes, Symond. I’m not sure the bar is eventhathigh.”

He gasped in mock offense. “I’m hurt, Your Majesty. I have quite exacting standards for my partners.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Then whatexactlyis it you’re attracted to?”

“Power.”

He stopped in front of a grand set of dark-stained oak doors carved with the Queen’s signature dragons, then pushed them open and swept inside. “May I present Her Majesty, the Queen of Lumnos.”

I took in a deep breath and walked inside. Yrselle was seated at the head of a long table laden with platters of food. A host of fawning Centenaries crouched around her, feeding her berries and pawing at her skin.

“Diem, darling, come join me,” she called out, gesturing to a chair beside her.

I took my seat while side-eyeing her entourage. They seemed oblivious to my arrival, entirely fixated on her pleasure. “Are they always like this?”

She cast them a surprised glance, as if she hadn’t noticed them until I brought it up. “Only when they’re not on duty. We take our work and our play very seriously here.” She leaned forward and smirked. “Most of them are as high as the clouds.”

I looked closer—though it was hard to see with their black irises, several indeed had blown pupils and glassy eyes. “And this is... by choice?”

“If I wish to bend someone to my will—” She tapped her temple. “—I don’t needdrugsto do it.”

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