Page 256 of Heat of the Everflame

“Soraewillserve me,” Remis argued, “because youare going to order her to do it. If you don’t, she’ll be spending her future in chains.”

“No. She’s coming with me.”

“I heard about your plan,” he hissed. He stormed closer, lowering his voice. “Fortos? Are youinsane?”

I dragged my glare to Aemonn. “I gave you a chance, and this is the man you chose to be?”

A brief flash of shame surfaced before it twisted into something bitter and cruel, so much like his father. “You had me replaced as High General. Why should I be loyal to you now?”

“You’ll never be more to our fathers than a pawn,” Luther snapped at him. “Diem was the only person who ever saw good in you. You’re a fool to throw that away.”

Taran spat at Aemonn’s feet. “Coward. Always have been, always will be.”

Aemon jumped away and glowered at the three of us. He swallowed and straightened his jacket, then stomped off toward the palace, his chin hanging low.

I glanced at Luther.Can you get Sorae’s muzzle off?I asked into his thoughts.

His nostrils flared in surprise. He quickly gave a subtle nod.

Go, I told him.I’ll distract your father.

“Why do you care what I do in Fortos?” I asked Remis haughtily. I crossed my arms as Luther slipped away. “You’d be thrilled to see me finally meet my end.”

Remis scoffed. “You’ll be lucky if it’s only death. There’ll be no coming back from this.”

I shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out when I return.”

My eyes darted over his shoulder. Alixe had pulled her shortswords, and she and Luther were circling each other in a battle stance.

My muscles went stiff—surely she wouldn’treallyhurt him... would she?

“Don’t even think about bringing your mother here,” Remis warned. “The Crowns will make a bloodbath of the realm, and they won’t stop until you’re on the gallows.”

I rolled my eyes. “The other Crowns can’t hurt me.”

“You better hope they can, because if they can’t, they’ll hurt everyone you love in your place. Your brother. My son.” He jabbed a finger in my face. “If you do this, at least dothema favor and don’t ever show your face in this realm again.”

I held strong to my facade of arrogant indifference, but his words had a stone sinking in my gut. A quick glance confirmed Luther and Alixe were still locked in combat, their spinning bodies a blur of blades and magic.

“Is that a threat?” I shot at Remis. “Do you know what I do to those who threaten my family?”

“I am not the threat to your family, Diem. It’syou. It has always been you.”

I flinched. “If anything happens to my brother, Remis, you cannot fathom the hellstorm I will bring down on your head. There will be no place to hide from my wrath.” My eyes narrowed. “I don’t care whose fault it is. It will beyourhead that rolls. Understood?”

“Diem,” Luther shouted. “Now!”

I held Remis’s stare a beat longer, letting him see the depth of my vow, before breaking away and striding toward Luther. He sliced the straps from Sorae’s muzzle in between thrusting out volleys of glowing arrows that sizzled into the flesh of the surrounding guards.

I caught sight of Alixe and halted. She was lying on the ground, a pool of blood spreading around her at a terrifying rate. In a panic, I ran toward her. Luther lunged to snatch my arm.

“We need to leave now.”

“She’s hurt—I have to heal her.”

“If you do, Remis will think she was in on our plan.”

I hesitated, staring at Alixe. The healer in me rose to the surface, analyzing her injury, her blood loss, her chances.

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