Page 160 of Heat of the Everflame

Yesterday had been reminder enough of that.

She flicked a wrist, and the Centenaries scattered to the exits, taking Symond with them. Her eyes raked over me. “There’s something about your appearance today. Something that disturbs me.”

My blood froze.I wrapped my hands over my chest in a pathetic attempt to cover up the borrowed gown.

“Ah. Now I see.”

I braced for impending death.

“Your Crown is missing.” Her head tilted. “That will not do. We are Queens, dear. We must look the part.”

I absently touched my forehead. I hadn’t worn my Crown since escaping in Arboros. It had been nice to walk the markets unnoticed and feel somewhat normal, even though my life was anything but.

I reached in and immediately sensed the spark of divine magic I’d tucked away. It was easier than expected—my body seemed to recognize it as something foreign, something not entirelymine.

I pulled it up through my chest and throat, up to the top of my head, until a warm heaviness settled on top of me—a glowing reminder of the burden that lay on my shoulders.

Yrselle’s eyes fixed on the space above my head and grew in size.

“Incredible,” she breathed.

I frowned. Surely she’d seen the Crown of Lumnos before. “Is something wrong?”

Her gaze snapped to mine. “Not at all. You wear it so well.” She lounged back in her chair. “My dress looks lovely on you, too.”

“Oh, uh, I’m sorry. Symond said—”

“I’ll have a few more sent to your room. Or do you prefer to select them yourself?”

“No! No... I trust your expertise.”

She nodded approvingly and gestured for me to eat.

“How did you find me?” I asked, loading a plate with fluffy whipped eggs and a ham gleaming with glaze. “I’m guessing Zalaric’s confession wasn’t really news to you.”

“No, it wasn’t. I told him nothing happens here without my knowledge. I tell everyone, and still, the fools think they can deceive me. He’ll have to learn the hard way.” She stabbed her fork into a roasted tomato. “Shame. I quite enjoyed him.”

My stomach dropped. Maybe Zalaric wasn’t as safe here as he thought.

“How is it that you’re able to know so much with only one hundred guards? Can you read everyone’s minds from here?”

She laughed. “Well I can’t go revealingallmy secrets, can I?” She grabbed her butter knife, then reached for the bread. “For you, I suppose I can share one tiny piece. You’ve felt the Forging magic, yes? When you released my representatives at your ball?” She paused, and I nodded. “That magic runs through everything in the realm. Every plant, every creature. Even the stone. When you’ve been Queen as long as I have, you learn how to use it to your advantage.” She shook the knife in my direction. “Though your spectacle at the coronation has made that more difficult than it used to be.”

“You knew what was going to happen with the heartstone, didn’t you? I remember—you were the only one who wasn’t surprised.”

“Do you know what I remember? You pointing and blaming me when everything went wrong.”

I cringed.

Yes. Ihaddone that.

She popped a piece of bread into her mouth. “You’re lucky I don’t care what the rest of those nitwits think of me.”

“Why did you vote against them to save my mother?”

She chuckled. “It made them furious. That would have been reason enough for me.”

I arched a brow. “Is that theonlyreason?”

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