Page 120 of Heat of the Everflame

“To be fair, wealldoubted—”

“You didn’t doubt that I would choose Luther when you gave me hell about it that day in Lumnos?”

“Fine, that one I should have seen coming.”

“What did you say to her in Lumnos?” Luther asked.

“Nothing,” Taran and I answered.

Luther’s eyes narrowed.

“If I’m on the Blessed Mother’s good side, I’ve got to milk it while it lasts,” Taran blurted, hurriedly changing the subject. “Maybe I should ask for a mate, now that you’ve overruled my father’s ban on mating ceremonies without his permission.”

My brows rose. “I didn’t realize you were such a romantic.”

“I’m not.”

Alixe snorted, and Taran shot her a scowl.

“I’mnot.”

“You swoon at every mating mark you see.” She gestured to me and Luther. “And you get bouncy every time these two touch each other.”

“Maybesomeof usare just happy to see our friends find the person they’re meant to spend forever with.”

A flush of emotion glowed inside me. I couldn’t stop my eyes from lifting to Luther, but his were on my hands, watching me work.

I gave Taran’s arm a squeeze. “You’ll find your mate, I’m sure of it. And when you do, she’s going to be a very lucky woman.”

He smirked. “Actually—”

A section of the bookcase shook loose and swung open with a loud creak. Taran shot to his feet and shoved me behind him, using his magic to conjure a dark axe in one hand and a spear of shadow in the other.

Zalaric prowled inside in his elegant, catlike way. His magical aura unfurled like a rich perfume, crowding the room alongside mine and Luther’s.

He paused in front of Taran and gave him a withering appraisal. With the flick of a single finger, a twinkling mist surrounded Taran’s hands and dissolved his weapons into smoke.

“What—I—how?” Taran sputtered. He reached for his real blade, but Zalaric was faster.

A cord of sizzling blue light snaked around the sword’s hilt as Taran’s fist closed on it. He yelped and snatched his hand away, shaking it like he’d been burned.

The corner of Zalaric’s lip curled up. Taran growled and lunged forward, promptly slamming face-first into a glimmering shield.

I had to practically scrape my jaw off the rug. I knew from our training sessions that Taran was a skilled fighter, quick and adaptable, but Zalaric had reduced him to a fumbling novice.

“Are you done embarrassing yourself?” he asked blandly, arching a slender eyebrow pierced with golden hoops.

I grabbed Taran’s arm. “It’s alright—he’s a friend.” I eyed Zalaric. “I think.”

Zalaric’s focus sharpened on my face, no longer covered by my cloak. He cocked his head, curiously looking me over.

Luther and Taran edged forward to block me from view. “What news do you bring?” Luther asked.

“I can get you out of Umbros without a Centenary checkpoint, but my contact can’t leave until tomorrow night.”

Luther shook his head. “We need to leave tonight.”

Zalaric shrugged. “Then I cannot help you.”

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