Page 26 of Heat of the Everflame

“My mother?” I frowned. “I thought she and Vance were friends.”

There it was again—that fleeting, curious look on Cordellia’s face.

She schooled her features back to disinterest. “They worked very closely. He’s been a member of the Guardians nearly as long as she has, and his loyalty to the cause is beyond question. It’s why she chose him as her second. They were...are... dedicated colleagues.”

She stopped abruptly, and it seemed as if there was more she wanted to say. Perhaps out of wariness of me or loyalty to my mother, she held her tongue, and I decided not to push further. I knew well the burden of carrying my mother’s secrets. I could not fault her for staying silent when I still guarded so many of them myself.

“Diem,” she said after a moment, “do you still consider yourself a Guardian?”

I shrugged. “It hardly matters. We both know the Guardians will never welcome me now.”

“That’s not what I asked,” she said curtly. “I heard you call yourself a Sister when you first arrived. Did you mean that?”

I looked down, chewing on my lip. Though I wanted to answer her honestly, the truth was a complex thing.

“I agree with the Guardians’ mission—helping the mortals, ending the injustices,” I began slowly, choosing my words with care. “I’d happily shatter this Crown, if it meant the end of Descended rule. Whatever good intentions the Kindred might have had in giving control of the continent to their children, their experiment did not work. Power has corrupted them.”

She nodded approvingly. I took a deep breath before rushing through my next words.

“But I don’t agree that we should imitate the Descended to defeat them. We shouldn’t slaughter innocents or punish people because of their blood. The truly guilty must pay, of course, but...” I paused and looked back up at her. “I expected the Descended to be soulless and incapable of kindness, because that’s what I was taught. I never imagined I would discover good people.Compassionatepeople. People who disagree with the mortals’ treatment. As I got to know them, some have become my friends, my advisors...”

I choked on my words as I thought of what Luther, Taran, Alixe, Eleanor, Lily, and even Perthe had come to mean to me. The loyalty they had shown, even when I’d returned it with distrust. The faith they had in my vision for a new, better world.

“It’s easy to condemn injustice when you’re safe behind palace walls,” Cordellia clipped. “Without action, their compassion might as well be indifference. Good intentions don’t save lives.”

“They should have done more,” I agreed. “And we are right to demand they do more now. But is that a crime worthy ofdeath? Some Guardians will never be satisfied until every last Descended is in a grave. I refuse to accept that as our solution.”

Cordellia ran a hand over the long, thin braids cascading over her shoulders, her expression turning thoughtful. “I admit, I have seen potential for our kind to make peace. You’re not the first Descended that has helped us. There are...others. Some in surprisingly high positions.”

“Higher than a Queen?” I teased.

She didn’t respond, staring off into the forest, lost in her thoughts.

Eventually she rose to leave. I reached out a hand to stop her, though my wrist jerked back as my chains came up short. “I need to get back to Lumnos, Cordellia.”

“If you’re seen there, our attempts to trade you for your mother will be ruined.” She shot me a disapproving stare. “I thought you were willing to do whatever it takes to save her?”

“Of course I am. But...” I scrubbed my hands over my face and sighed, feeling suddenly unsure.

“The palace in Lumnos is secured with bloodlocks that can only be opened by the blood of the Crown and their—” I caught myself before the full truth slipped out—that my brother’s blood would have the same effect. “Vance now has my blood, and he wants them all dead. He’ll sneak in and kill them while they sleep.” I scowled. “Youmight not take issue with that, but—”

“I am not Vance,” she cut in. “I do not target innocent people.”

“You were happy to target the two who came to save me.”

“That gryvern has murdered countless mortals over the centuries.”

“Not by choice,” I shot back. “The Crowns ordered those deaths.”

She cocked her head. “Was it not her choice to kill my people today—or did you order those deaths yourself?”

The words struck like a blow. Luther had warned me of this once.

Gryverns are loyal to their Crown, but they can act of their own will. If you fear someone, or even dislike them strongly, she might take their life in an effort to please you.

Despite the blame I’d hung on Cordellia’s shoulders earlier, Sorae had killed those mortals for me—to protect me, to avenge me, topleaseme. All of them would be alive now, if not for me.

More blood to repay, more corpses to bury.

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