Page 146 of Heat of the Everflame

Taran scowled at him, then at me.

Zalaric’s eyes rolled. “It’s a good thing that empty head of yours is so pretty, Tammy, because you—”

“My name is Taran,” he bellowed, throwing his fist forward into Zalaric’s face.

Only it didn’t hit his face.

At the last moment, Zalaric ducked out of reach, sending Taran’s fist colliding into a thick stone column with a fleshy, stomach-turning crunch.

“By the Flames,” I breathed. I reached for his hand. “Are you alr—”

“Is that the best you’ve got?” Zalaric taunted. “I’ve seen better punches from an armless newt.”

“Zalaric,stop,” I hissed. “This isn’t—”

Taran launched himself forward, and the two of them tumbled to the ground in a flurry of fists. I debated intervening, but despite being half Taran’s size, Zalaric was more than holding his own. And he wassmiling.

“Let them fight it out,” Alixe called out. “They’ll be fine.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head as I walked back to Luther. He was finally upright, now staring grimly at the Umbros throne.

“I think those two might kill each other before the Queen gets her chance,” I said, only half joking.

Luther’s chest rose in a long, slow breath as his hands squeezed into white-knuckled fists. “You gave me your word.”

Shit.He must have believed my ruse with Symond. “Luther, what you think you saw...”

“Was this always your plan?” His livid stare shifted to me. “Did you lie to my face, knowing you would do what you want anyway?”

I recoiled at the visceral hurt in his voice.

“Luther, Symond is not—”

“I don’t give a damn about Symond,” he snapped, “except that I’m going to rip his fucking hands off if he keeps touching you when you clearly don’t want it.”

I frowned. “Wait. Youknowthat I don’t...?”

“You promised me, Diem. No tricks. No Umbros Queen. But you knew Zalaric had betrayed us, and you did nothing?”

Understanding washed over me, quickly shifting to panic. Then horror.

His eyes narrowed. “Or was it a betrayal at all? Did you two plan this together?”

“No,” I gasped. “I didn’t... it wasn’t—”

“Incoming,” Alixe shouted from the balcony.

A slow, repetitive thumping grew louder as a dark silhouette formed in the setting sun.

Alixe backed toward me. “Gryvern.”

Luther’s posture switched dramatically. All hint of emotion cooled away. His spine snapped rod straight as he pushed me behind him and set his focus on the sky.

Taran looked over from where he was pinned to the ground with Zalaric straddling him. He set his jaw and shoved Zalaric off, jumping to his feet and striding toward us. At the last moment he paused, let out a quiet grunt, and doubled back. He grabbed Zalaric’s wrist and dragged him along.

“Stay behind us,” he muttered. He pushed Zalaric into my side and joined Alixe and Luther’s protective arc.

“You three do realize Zalaric and I are the ones with magic, right?” I asked. “It should be us protecting you.”

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