Page 183 of Heat of the Everflame

“As a matter of fact, we were. I have a bone to pick with y—”

I slapped my hand over Taran’s mouth. “He’s drunk.Sodrunk. Talking gibberish, really.”

“Nrrr,yrrrdrnnnk,” his muffled voice shot back.

The dark arches of her eyebrows lifted slowly. “If there’s a problem, please, allow me to address it.”

“No problem here.” I speared Taran with the fiercest glare I could manage. “Right?”

He glared back silently.

“In fact, I think Taran was just about to go talk to Zalaric.Right?”

His glare turned lethal.

I not-so-gently pushed him toward the group, and he reluctantly began to skulk away, glowering and mouthing:This isn’t over.

“Oh—Taran, was it?” the Queen called out. She smiled frostily. “Kill one of mine, and I kill one of yours. Understood?”

He glanced at Zalaric, then back at her. “Can I pick which one?”

“Taran,” I hissed.

“Fine,” he moaned, shoving his hands into his pockets and stomping away.

I half-smiled, half-cringed at Yrselle. “Don’t worry, he’s harmless. I think.”

“Oh, my warning was for his benefit, not mine. He may be a skilled fighter, but against our magic, even the finest warriors are brought to their knees.”

“So I’ve noticed,” I murmured, remembering how a single Centenary turned away a mortal army two hundred strong at my Ascension Ball. “I understand why the other Crowns fear you. Your Centenaries alone could turn the tide in a war.”

“I’m glad you recognize that.” She looked out, surveying the room. “You know, the others were quick to condemn me for culling my people down to one hundred. They called me barbaricand heartless.” She smiled bitterly to herself. “But they were secretly grateful. They wanted my people dead even more than the mortals did.”

I bit my tongue to hold back my opinion—that they were right, itwasbarbaric and heartless.

“It must have been difficult,” I said instead, “choosing which of your people to live or die.”

“Most were volunteers, actually.”

I balked. “They willingly chose to die?”

“It’s a long tradition in Umbros for our people to choose their own deaths. It’s a great honor, especially when done in service to the realm. Our elders and those whose magic was weak—they were happy to have a choice for a death that was meaningful. We have a Hall of Remembrance here with their portraits so their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

“And those who didn’t volunteer?”

“As Crowns, we’re called to do whatever is required to protect our people. Even when it pains us.”

Again, I held my tongue.

“Did you enjoy my library today?” she asked.

“Indeed. I could have stayed there all day. Oh—I still have your key in my room.”

She waved me off. “Keep it. Consider it an open invitation to visit whenever you like.” Her eyes gleamed. “There is much here you may find useful.”

“I was surprised to see so many books on the mortal histories. There were several in the markets, too. I thought they’d all been destroyed.”

“I never agreed with those policies. And I never implemented them in my realm.” She sneered and shook her finger at me. “I’ve been a good friend to the mortals, you know. Never treated them badly. The Blessed Father knows. That’s why he told me everything. That’s why he showed me your—”

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