Page 184 of Heat of the Everflame

She stopped herself, pursing her lips.

“Showed you my what?” I stepped closer. “What did Umbros tell you?”

“We’ll discuss that tomorrow.”

“Please, I need to kn—”

“Tomorrow,” she repeated curtly. “You’ve waited twenty years to know your fate, Diem Bellator. You can handle a few hours more.”

I huffed an irritable sigh. Yes, it was only a few hours, but I was sick of my future always feeling just out of reach. Close enough to fascinate me, terrify me, taunt me, inspire me, but never enough to take a firm hold.

“Mortals do have much freedom here,” I forced out, frustrated but resigned. “I hope future Umbros Crowns follow your example.”

She let out a short, loud laugh. “Oh, the next Crown isn’t going to doanyof this.”

“How do you know?”

“I know my successor, and I know their plans. Crowns can always sense their own heirs—though most are wise enough to keep it to themselves, lest they find their death arriving sooner than expected.”

My eyebrows danced, leaping and dipping, as surprise mixed with dismay. “But the late Lumnos King was certain Luther would be his heir.”

“The knowledge only comes near the end of a Crown’s life. Your predecessor was unconscious in his final months. Had he awoken and met you, he might have recognized you as his heir.”

The King did have a brief moment of lucidity the morning of his death—he’d seemed to know me, even recognize me. I’d believed he was crazy, lost to the delusions of his illness.

You, he’d gasped.You’ve finally come.

I straightened suddenly. “Wait—you said you know your heir now. That means...”

“My reign is coming to an end.”

“Yrselle... Gods, I’m so sorry.”

She gave a wry smile. “You’re more sorry than you know. We could have been quite the allies, you and I.”

My heart sank. “How much time do you have?”

“Impossible to say. The awareness of one’s heir can come months before death for some Crowns, mere minutes for others.”

“Is there anything I can do? Any way to stop it from happening?”

“Don’t be silly, dear. Fate cannot be changed. That’s why it’s calledfate.”

A heavy unease settled in my chest, though I wasn’t sure why. “Perhaps you might tell me your heir, so I may begin building an alliance with them now?”

She looked down, smiling to herself, then shook her head. “I don’t think that would be wise.”

“I’ll keep it to myself, I swear it.”

“That’s not what worries me.”

“Then what is?”

“You,” she said simply. “My successor will be your most difficult adversary. They will stand in the way of what you need to do. They will drive a wedge between you and those you love, they will cost you a terrible price, and there’s a strong chance they’ll put you in a premature grave. I fear telling you now will only make it worse.”

I blinked. “Can you ask them to...notdo any of that?”

“Wouldn’t matter if I did.” Her lips curled up. “Unchangeable fate, remember?”

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