Page 392 of Heat of the Everflame

“I have to agree with fire-for-brains here,” the Faunos Queen said, leaning against her arch and boredly examining her nails. “We’ve waited long enough. Let’s try again some other time.”

“The Guardians may not let us come back another time,” I said.

Ignios’s orange eyes cut to me. “Why did they let us comethistime? Let me guess—it has something to do with you?”

I shrank back into the Lumnos arch to hide from his view. My Crown had appeared on its own once I’d stepped on the island, refusing to be tucked away. Though its changes had thus far gone unnoticed, I wasn’t eager to draw any more attention just yet.

“Why don’t you go ask them yourself, Ignios?” Faunos ticked her head to the cluster of mortals hovering just outside the Kindred’s Temple. “They look as ready for a fight as you do.”

Indeed, they did. The knee-wobbling relief I’d felt when they let us through without incident had quickly turned to trepidation. They brandished their glares with as much unspoken threat as their weapons. One wrong move from either side would set this place ablaze.

“So sorry I’m late,” the Arboros Queen said cheerily as she ascended the steps to the dais. “There was some, ah... delay while I was docking.” She tossed polite smiles to the other Crowns but carefully avoided looking my way.

“Arboros,” I called out. “I’m glad you’re safe, I was—”

“It’s good that we’re all safe, after what happened last time,” she cut in. “What a terrible incident that was. Don’t you agree, Lumnos?”

Her moss-green eyes widened as she gave me a loaded stare, her head shaking almost imperceptibly.

I managed an awkward nod. Apparently, my mother was wrong—Arborosdidn’twant anyone to know I’d seen her in the Guardians’ camp.

“How do we know this isn’t another trap?” Ignios asked. “The mortals know our realms are unattended.” He gestured to me. “She could be ambushing us like last time.”

“Lumnos didn’t have anything to do with that attack,” Doriel finally spoke up. “She swore to it on a bonded bargain. She’s innocent.”

“But her mother isn’t,” Meros muttered. He and Doriel exchanged a tense look.

“What are you two talking so much about?” Ignios demanded. “If there’s something to discuss, come out with it.”

Doriel’s attention slid expectantly to me. We were only missing Umbros now, but since her vote against me was a foregone conclusion—if she had even survived the attack on her realm—there was no point in delaying.

I drew in a deep breath. “Yes. Let’s begin.”

“We’re still missing three Crowns,” Arboros protested.

“We have everyone we need,” I said, hoping that was true. “I asked Doriel to call this meeting because I’d like to put a matter to a vote.” I shifted my weight. “I’d like to request a full pardon. For myself... and for my mother.”

The Meros King scowled.

The Faunos Queen snorted and shook her head.

The Ignios King laughed loud enough to be heard from Lumnos.

“I’ve committed no crime against the Crowns,” I rushed on. “In fact, I’ve committed no crime at all in any realm I’m not the Queen of.”

“You killed Fortos,” Ignios shot back.

Faunos snorted again. “Good for her. He was beastly—and not in the fun way.”

“She also freed half his prisoners, including all the rebels.” Ignios shot her a glare. “Even you can’t like that, Faunos.”

Her smirk faded, her yellow eyes narrowing on me. “No, I do not.”

I frowned. This was not going to plan.

“Fortos attacked me unprovoked. I was defending myself. As for the prisoners...” I squirmed. “It’s complicated.”

A round of groans and scoffs flew up.

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