Page 240 of Heat of the Everflame

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Luther’s eyes snapped to me. A chorus of groans and cries ofthank the Kindredrose from the others as they all sagged with relief.

He scoured my body. “Did my father attack you like Garath? Did Aemonn?” Swirls of hissing shadows coated his clenched fists. “Where are they? I’ll put an end to all three of them right now.”

“I told them what happened,” Alixe explained. She shot Luther a stern look. “I also told them you had it under control.”

“He’s trying to steal your Crown,” Luther snarled. “It’s traitorous. It’sblasphemous. Blessed Mother Lumnos chose you, not him.”

I walked over and set a hand on his arm, but even that didn’t calm him. His glare lingered on the door, violence smoldering in his eyes.

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

“I’ve rested enough. I should have been there. Garath is a dead man when I find him.”

“To be fair, I attacked him first.”

“I can’t believe I missed it,” Taran groaned. “Tell me everything. Every tiny detail. Did you hurt him? Was he embarrassed? Did he piss his pants? Ohmygods, did hecry?”

I grinned, an idea striking. My godhood stirred to life as I wooed it into doing something I’d never tried before.

I speared a thought into Taran’s mind:Do you want to see it?

His eyes went wide as he realized what I’d done. He nodded excitedly.

My mind swirled around the memory of what had just occurred. I opened my thoughts and let Taran take my place as the images played out in my head.

He let out a dramatic, breathy moan. The others stared at the two of us in confusion. “This is the greatest gift you could ever give me. This is better than drinking. This is better thansex.”

“I’m taking that personally,” Zalaric muttered.

I was so enjoying Taran’s bliss, I let the memory expand, showing him how I’d taunted the Hanoverres.

He barked a laugh, then stilled. His joy abruptly dropped away. “Oh, Queenie,” he said softly. “Your father...” He looked at Zalaric and blinked. “Andyourfather. Fortos’s balls.”

I yanked back my magic in a panic. I hadn’t intended to let him seethatdeep.

“What about our father?” Teller demanded.

“Nothing,” I rushed out.

His eyes narrowed. “More secrets?”

“No! It’s not... Tel, I just—”

He shook his head and turned away.

“Show me,” Luther insisted, shrewdly picking up on what I’d done with Taran. “I want to see exactly what my father needs to answer for.”

He reached for me, and I jerked back. Guilt gnawed at me for the surprise that flashed across his face, but my slip to Taran had left me feeling defensive and overexposed. The shame over my father’s disappointment was a part of me I wasn’t ready to share—not even with Luther.

I routed around the group and grabbed a cloak from my wardrobe as I strode toward the balcony. I tucked the Crown out of sight. “I’ll be back in an hour. No one die while I’m gone.”

Luther followed. “I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I’m rested. The toxin’s gone.”

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