Page 213 of Heat of the Everflame

My hackles raised, but Zalaric was unruffled.

“I’m a half-mortal,” he said matter-of-factly. “I escaped to Umbros as a child. I’ve been living there until now.”

“And he’s here at my invitation,” I added.

“You brought a Hanoverre bastard to Lumnos?” Remis hissed. “Do you have anyidea what they’ll do if they find him?”

“I know all about their pureblood pride,” I said, rolling my eyes at the memory. Even House Hanoverre’s sigil, a white rose with a single red drop, symbolized their obsession with keeping mortals out of their bloodline. Zalaric’s mere existence would be scandal enough—his invitation to the palace would be a drama for the ages. “He’s under the protection of the Crown, so they better notdoanything, unless they wish to declare war on me and on House Corbois.”

“Everyone has already declared war on us—or have you already forgotten what happened at your Challenging?”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten at all.” I smiled sweetly. “House Hanoverre best not forget, either.”

“And they don’t need to find me,” Zalaric piped up. “I intend to find them myself.”

Remis pinched the bridge of his nose and heaved out an irritated sigh, then looked again at his son. To my surprise, someof the heat cooled from his expression. “Why is she here?” he asked, pointing to Maura. “We should send for a Fortos healer.”

“Godstone doesn’t respond to magic,” I said. “Only a mortal remedy can stop it.”

“And she has one that will work?”

Maura and I exchanged a silent look.

I came around and inserted myself between Remis and the bed. “We’re giving her space to work—which meansyoucan leave.”

“I’m staying here.”

“No, you’re not.”

Remis didn’t budge. “It wasn’t a request. I’m staying with him.”

“The hell you are. He wouldn’t want you here.” Gloves of sizzling light coated my hands and forearms. “But you’re welcome to fight me for it, if you’d like.”

I flashed a cold smile to remind him of our shared secret—that ever since he’d lost his magic from our broken bargain at the Challenging, he was powerless against me. Againstanyone.

He flexed his jaw. “Luther and I have our differences, but he’s still my son. Whatever you think of me and my methods, I do care for my family. Everything I’ve done is to protect them. Even Luther would tell you the same.”

I glared at him, and he glared back, the room silent except for the magic crackling at my palms.

My resolve wavered. Family was my weakness—a weakness Remis surely knew and was exploiting at my expense.

But Luther despised his father. Remis had insulted him, threatened him,scarredhim. He’d murdered Luther’s mortal mother and nearly killed him in the process. If this truly was Luther’s end, he deserved to be surrounded by those he loved, not the man who’d caused him so much pain.

“Your Majesty?”

Lily’s soft voice called out to me as she walked to join her parents. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen. “Let them stay. Please? For me?”

Avana put an arm around Lily’s shoulders, and Remis clasped his daughter’s hand.

Thoughts of my own mother and father bombarded my wounded heart. I swallowed hard. “Of course, Lily. Anything for you.”

She threw me a grateful smile and, cleverly, led them away to a seating area far across the room.

I flicked away my magic and turned back to the bed. As I stared at Luther’s tainted skin, the darkness that covered it seemed to leech inside my own soul.

Teller and Taran appeared on either side of me. Teller put a hand on my shoulder, a gesture so much like our father. The gruff familiarity of it almost did me in.

Taran crossed his arms. “Lu’s going to be pissed he missed that showdown between you and Remis.”

---