Page 244 of Heat of the Everflame

“Henri,” she hissed. “You know that isn’t true. We agreed to be honest when she came back.”

He clenched his jaw and looked away.

Lana stepped off the porch, tentatively approaching me as she chewed on her lip so hard I thought it might bleed.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” she said. “And I’m sorry you had to find out about us this way. Things weren’t handled as they should have been.” Her eyebrows slowly rose. “Perhaps that’s true onbothsides. Still, I’m sorry for my part in it. I never wanted to hurt you.” She took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening. “But Henri is mine. I may not be a Queen like you, but I care about him, and... and...” She swallowed. “And you can’t have him.”

I fought to school my stunned reaction. My eyes darted to Henri, who was looking at her warmly, clearly proud of her courage. It reminded me so much of how Luther looked at me.

“I, um... I appreciate your honesty, Lana,” I said. “I wish you both the best. I won’t get in your way.”

She whooshed out an enormous breath.

“I would appreciate a chance to talk to Henri alone, though. One last time.”

Lana looked back at Henri. He sighed and nodded, raking a hand through his hair. He reached out for her, and as she joined him, he tugged her hard and wrapped her in a showy, passionate kiss.

I averted my eyes, a strange discomfort in my chest. Even though I was genuinely grateful to see Henri find someone who truly cared for him, a part of me would always think of him asmyHenri, the boy that young Diem thought she’d have forever at her side.

But he wasn’t that boy anymore, and I wasn’t that girl.

“She’s a good fit for you,” I said after Lana left. “She’s the kind of woman I always thought you’d choose. Sweet. Sensible. Easy to get along with.” I smiled grimly. “All the things I’m not.”

He leaned a shoulder against the post of his porch, staring off into the distance with a glare.

“When did it start?” I asked.

“When did you and that Descended Prince start?” he shot back.

“The day of the Challenging. I came here to end our engagement the night before.” Henri snorted, and my temper spiked. “I felt so guilty that night. Little did I know you were in Arboros, planning to blow me up with bombs.”

He crossed his arms, saying nothing.

“I could have died, Henri.”

“We were careful. We made sure you weren’t hurt.”

“I meant the Challenging. Do you understand how close I came to not surviving it? And you, my best friend, the man who was supposed to love me—you couldn’t even be bothered to stay in the realm.”

His jaw worked. “You’re the best fighter I know. I knew you’d be fine.”

“Well I didn’t!” I shouted. “When I came to see you that night, I thought it was goodbye, Henri. Not just for our relationship. Forever.”

His anger faltered for a moment, but when his eyes dropped to the pendant at my neck, his glare returned.

“I was fighting for the mortals. That requires sacrifice—not that you would know anything about that while you sit in your palace with your shiny gold jewelry.”

My hand closed around it defensively.

“We used to make fun of the Descended, and now look at you,” he said. “Wearing their clothes, living in their city. You’ve barely stepped foot in Mortal City since it happened. Admitit Diem, youlovebeing one of them.” He made a guttural, disgusted noise. “I don’t even recognize you anymore.”

Every word felt like a stab, every angry curl of his lip a new gaping wound.

There was too much truth mixed in his words. Part of medidthrill at being Queen. At being powerful and having control, at wearing pretty things and making strong men kneel. Perhaps it was because I’d grown up with none of it, or perhaps I’d been told one too many times I was special, and like a spoiled child, I’d begun to believe it.

And to have that worst, most pitiful part of me pointed out so plainly by the man who had known me best...

I looked down, fighting the burning in my throat. “You didn’t answer my question. When did you and Lana start? After the Challenging or before?”

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