Page 6 of Heat of the Everflame

No wonder Luther had been so certain she would still be alive. With my mother’s background, she would know how to forage on the island for safe food and water, and as long as she wasn’t spotted by the army boats who patrolled the nearby waters, she would have been entirely undisturbed.

And that’s why he had promised to recover her by year end—he knew she would be there for my Rite of Coronation.

Warring emotions played tug-of-war with my heart. Frustration with Luther for not telling me, but terror that something might have happened to him. Resentment at mymother for setting this all in motion with her secrets, and a desperate need to see her again and know she was safe.

“Auralie asked that we spare the next Lumnos Crown only if it was a man with dark hair and a scar,” Cordellia continued. “You’re lucky Vance was able to get to you in time. After you were knocked unconscious by the explosions, he dragged you to safety and got you off the island while the Descended were distracted.”

Vance shot me a pointed look, his brows sky-high in expectation of my groveling thanks, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from Cordellia. “The man with the scar—did you see him there? Did he survive?”

“I cannot say, and there’s no way to know now. The bodies of the Descended were burned to prevent their healing abilities from taking effect.”

I swayed on unsteady legs as bile rose in my throat. It was the night of the armory fire all over again. Descended guards, dead and burning, for an attack I unwittingly brought about. Their blood on my hands, their corpses at my feet.

Only this time, the dead might not be strangers.

“Where is my mother? I need to see her.”

“I told you, she’s not here.”

“Take me to her.”

“I cannot do that.”

“Why? Is she still on the island? Just release me, I’ll find a way there myself.” I tore at the metal cuffs on my wrists as nervous men edged toward me with weapons raised. One of them got too close, and I swung my chains at him, sending the men shuffling backward.

Cordellia raised a hand and took a hesitant step toward me. “You need to calm down.”

“Is she in Lumnos?” I was becoming frantic, my words tripping over my tongue. “Let me go, let me get her—it’s not safefor her there. You don’t have to take me, I—I can make my way back on my own. Please, I need to leave.”

She shook her head. “Diem—”

“Let me go to her!” I shouted.

“You can’t,” Vance interrupted. “She’s in a prison cell in Fortos, awaiting execution. She was captured trying to protectyou.”

His words reverberated ominously through the chasm of my thoughts. I blinked at Cordellia and searched her face for some evidence that Vance was only riling me up out of petty revenge, but she pursed her lips and nodded.

“We’re working on a rescue mission,” she said. “We have allies in Fortos who may be able to help her.”

Though her expression was confident, all I could focus on was the slight catch in her voice. My short time as Queen had taught me something about wearing a mask of assurance when failure was all but certain, and I knew it when I saw it.

“I’ll go back to my realm and negotiate for her,” I said. “I can speak with the King of Fortos. Now that I’ve been coronated, he might listen to me.”

“You’re a brand new queen with ties to the mortal world. You have no leverage and nothing to offer in exchange.”

“And you do?” I shot back.

“Yes,” she clipped. “We have the island now. The Crowns will need access to it to complete their rituals. They can’t hold out for long—our sources tell us the longer they delay their ceremonies, the more unstable their magic becomes.” She gave me a hard look. “And we have something else they’ll need, too.”

I frowned. “What?”

“You,” Vance answered with a smirk. “They need all nine Crowns to complete the rituals. We’re not giving them back the island, not even for Auralie. But we can give them you.”

“Good,” I said sharply, nodding. “I’ll do it. Whatever you need.”

Surprise dashed over both their faces.

“You’ll cooperate?” Cordellia asked.

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