Page 50 of Heat of the Everflame

“I know.”

I sat straighter. “You do?”

“I’ve known for a while. When you took over your mother’s role at the palace, I began to suspect. Then I saw you entering their meetings. When I heard you’d begun treating patients in Lumnos City, I assumed it was to spy. And besides—” His lips curved as he tilted my chin up. “—you’re terrible at hiding your emotions. Every time the Guardians came up, you’d get that same tortured, guilty expression you’re wearing now.”

He brushed his thumb over my forehead, smoothing away the crease between my brows.

“You’re not angry?” I asked.

“No. I’ve always known how much the mortals mean to you. It’s hardly a shock you would join the rebel effort.”

My body sagged as weeks of bottled tension melted away in an instant, replaced by a stunning kind of awe.

Luther had known.He’d known.

And he’d sworn to serve anyway.

His loyalty to me had always left me breathless, but this was something more, a faith that went beyond all sense and reason. I tried to tell myself it wasn’tmehe had believed in so strongly, but rather the goddess Lumnos. He’d devote himself as fiercely to any Crown she picked.

But my heart didn’t quite believe it.

“I thought I would be helping people,” I said, sighing. “I didn’t realize how far the Guardians were willing to go.”

“When your mother left for the island, she assured me they wouldn’t cause trouble. I was a fool to believe her. I should have seen the armory attack coming—and the attack at the Ascension Ball.”

I thought back on what Cordellia had told me and frowned. “I don’t think my mother ordered those attacks. The man in charge of the Lumnos cell now, Vance, he—” My back stiffened. I sucked in a sharp breath, my eyes going wide. “Luther,my blood.”

His hands tightened on my hips, but I jerked away and scrambled to my feet. “We have to go—we have to get back to Lumnos right now. We can’t wait—we can’t let him—”

“Diem,” Luther cut in, standing and clamping his hands on my shoulders to hold me in place. “Explain.”

“Vance—he took my blood. The day you came with Sorae, he was stealing it to use on the palace bloodlocks.” I clutched at Luther’s arms. “He’s going to sneak in and kill everyone. We have to get back before he does or... or—”

“Did you give your blood to him, or did he take it?”

“We need to get back. Teller, Lily—they’re in danger!”

“Did you give it to him?”

I blinked at him, not understanding. “I... he...”

“Did youwanthim to have it?” Luther cocked his head, his expression more curious than concerned. “Did you give it of your own free will?”

“Of course not,” I gasped. “He and his men held me down and cut me open.”

His eyes turned stormy. “Then it’s useless. Bloodlocks only work with blood that is willingly given.”

Air rushed from my lungs. I slumped against him as my hammering heart slowed its rhythm.

“Tell me what you know about thisVance.” He hissed the name like venom, the promise of vengeance rolling like thunder in his tone.

“He’s dangerous, Luther. I’m not sure there’s any line he won’t cross. And he’s not afraid to die.”

“Good. I’ll make sure he gets his wish.”

A shiver crept up my spine, and I looked away.

Luther said nothing for a moment, and then his hand rose to my face, his knuckles grazing my cheekbone. “You don’t want him hurt,” he said slowly, sounding surprised. “Even after what he’s done—you would spare his life.”

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