Page 389 of Heat of the Everflame

“ThehellI am.” He clutched my wrist. “No one’s taking her from me.”

“Luther, it’s just the coronation,” I soothed.

“I need to be with you. At your side.” His grip tightened. “Always.”

I might have laughed and baited him that one vague mention of becoming afamilyhad made him lose his mind, but he looked like a man ready to draw blood if he was denied.

I pried his fingers off my arm and laced them with my own. “Why don’t you escort me to the dock? Maybe Doriel will change their mind.”

“Doriel was very clear,” the attendant insisted. “The Prince is to stay here.”

“The Prince is free to roam Sophos as he pleases, just like all Descended, is he not?” I asked curtly.

Neither attendant had an answer for that. They shot each other another look, but said nothing more as they led us through the library and down its steps.

I frowned as I looked around at the relatively deserted streets. “I thought the army soldiers were supposed to be back from Umbros by now.”

“They were... delayed,” one answered. “They’ll be here by day’s end.”

“I hate to leave the realm unguarded. If we need to postpone the ritual until—”

“Doriel said it’s nothing to be concerned with. Come now, we must hurry.”

They shooed us into a small carriage that zipped us out of the city and through the grasslands, toward the sandy shores of the Sacred Sea.

As we rode, I forced my way through stilted small talk with the attendants while Luther gazed into the distance, brows drawn. He clutched my hand the entire time, his thumb sweeping back and forth like he needed constant reassurance I was still there.

When we arrived, Doriel was not at all pleased to see him. Their expression was clouded, and they shot their attendants a disapproving glare.

“You have to stay here,” I whispered to Luther. “Doriel’s upset. I can’t risk angering them more. I need their support with the other Crowns.”

Though it looked as if it physically pained him to give in, Luther gave a subtle nod.

I rose up and kissed him on his cheek. He leaned into my touch, curling his arm around my waist and pulling me close.

“I’ll wait here until you return,” he said.

“You don’t have to do that. Go back to the city. Go to the library and read. Better yet, go see my brother and apologize.” I shot him a hard look. “And convince him to come home with us while you’re at it.”

“I’m waitinghere,” he growled.

I rolled my eyes and gave him one quick, final kiss, then peeled myself out of his vicelike grip and walked down the pier toward the Sophos royal boat. As I boarded the rocking vessel, a guard grabbed my hips to steady me. Even from a distance, I heard the feral noise that tore from Luther’s throat. The guard blanched and quickly pulled away.

I beamed at Doriel in greeting. “Thank you again for doing this. And thank you for letting us use the library. It’s been a lovely last couple of days.”

They nodded, but said nothing more.

My head cocked. “I wish we’d had a chance to speak more. I haven’t seen you since the battle.”

“I’ve been very busy.”

The boat pushed off from the dock, so I looked back at Luther to wave goodbye. He looked utterly miserable as his hand pressed against his heart.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. He stared down at his palm, frowning, then looked up, his gaze sharpening on Doriel.

“Did you manage to fix the library roof?” Doriel asked.

My eyes snapped to them. “Yes, we did. It wasn’t too bad, mostly aesthetic. Luckily, no books were damaged in the attack.”

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