Page 88 of Heat of the Everflame

“I—I don’t understand,” I stammered. “I shouldn’t be able to do this. Ican’tbe doing this.”

A vicious tremor rolled down my back. Luther slipped a hand behind my legs and lifted me, cradling me in his arms. I clung to his shoulders, head buried in his neck.

“What’s happening to me?” I whispered.

He hesitated, then turned toward the beach. “We’ll find answers later. Right now, let’s go home.”

The Ignios guards had indeed seen us, but they had not run to confront us. Instead, they were waiting, watching—and casting a column of fire into the sky.

The flames reignited across my body as we emerged from the sea. The water had tempered the fire’s effects, but on dry land, it threatened to devour me whole.

I closed my eyes and wrestled against the urge to give in to its decadent release as Alixe and Taran joined us, their voices swirling in a flurry.

“What happened?”

“Is she being attacked? Is she hurt?”

“How is it not burning her? And why isn’t it burning you?”

“Her magic’s returning. She could be shielding.”

“Why aren’t the guards coming?”

“I don’t like the look of that fire pillar.”

“Neither do I.”

“We need to get to the border. Fast.”

“I’ll get her bag—you three go ahead.”

“I can walk,” I tried to protest, but it came out all flames.

I didn’t actually know if I could walk—or talk, or breathe, or do anything butburn.

Luther clutched me to his chest as they hurried down the beach. His muscles twitched beneath my touch, small grunts of effort catching in his throat.

“I can walk,” I said again, louder. I poured my focus into willing the combustion to subside, and the flames dimmed to a flickering halo.

Luther’s grip on me tightened. “Not yet,” he whispered into my ear. His throat bobbed. “I’m not ready to let you go.”

Shouting struck up in the distance behind us, then bootsteps, loud and steady. But not running—more like a march. Left, right, left, right. Growing louder and louder, nearer and nearer.

Thump, thump, thump.

No—not bootsteps.

Wings.

“Put me down,” I shouted. “Put me down!”

Luther set me on my feet, though his hands stayed fixed on my hips. I twisted in his arms to face Alixe.

“Go,” I yelled at her. “You have to go!”

Her eyes went wide. She looked up, scanning the sky, and I lunged forward to grab her arm. She flinched, then relaxed as my flames licked harmlessly around her.

“Remember what I said, Alixe. This is a battlefield, and I gave you a command.” My tone went hoarse and desperate. “Obey your Queen.”

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