Page 236 of Heat of the Everflame

It had been so long since I’d had one of these days, where the sorrow felt so fresh and so inescapably permanent. Days where I couldn’t stand to do much more than lay down and cry. It had been so long, I’d begun to convince myself that I had healed.

But this kind of grief didn’t heal.

Itwaited.

The world spun around me as I gripped the seat of my chair. I fought to catch my breath amid the pounding in my ears.

As the Hanoverres filed out, Jean stopped in front of me and leaned down until his face was near my ear. “Can’t wait to meet my long-lost son,” he whispered. “Tell little Zalaric I’m looking forward to our reunion.”

Everything stilled.

“You?” I rasped. “You’re...?”

He winked, laughing darkly, and followed his family out the door.

My eyes squeezed shut, though it did nothing to stop the visions of my father’s corpse. My godhood slammed against my ribs, roaring tounleashthe way it had that day, and my skin began to glow with a silvery light.

Guilt. Rage. Fear. Hate.

Cycling in a vicious, relentless loop.

“Diem,” Alixe said quietly, “are you alright?”

My heart was racing, my magic snarling. I focused on breathing—focused on keeping control. Focused on not reducing this entire palace to rubble.

“Do you know how hard we’ve been working to repair things with House Hanoverre?” Garath yelled. “You just arrived, and you’ve already managed to ruin it all.”

My nails dug into the wood of my chair as I fought to keep control. “You told them about Zalaric?” I snapped at Remis.

He eyed me, subtly backing away. “It’s better they hear it from us directly. If they found out through court gossip, there would be no hope for a truce.”

“That’s a decision Ishould have been included in. I’m the Queen.”

“Not yet,” Garath sniped. “Right now, you’re just a stupid girl with a Crown.”

My temper exploded—and so did my magic.

A crisp bite chilled the air as dark magic surged and coated every surface. Shadowy tendrils scaled up legs and twined around waists, their thorny vines encircling each man’s throat. The unfurling darkness choked out the sun trickling in through the window, and the room turned an inky black. Only the light from my glowing skin remained.

A vengeful moon and her violent night.

“There’s a bit more to me than just a Crown,” I growled, rising to my feet.

Garath’s lip curled back in a jeer, but before he could speak, the dark fronds stretched over his mouth and nose.

“Watch yourself, Garath,” I warned. “Unlike your usual victims, I fight back.”

I spared a brief glance at Aemonn, who was gaping at his father with a dumbstruck expression—though the corner of his mouth was the tiniest hint upturned.

Garath’s face reddened amid his fight for air. His hand jerked against my hold, and because I’d used up all my good judgment and restraint last night with Luther, I smirked and let his arm go.

His palm thrust toward me in a burst of bubbling, white-hot light. I quickly flicked a shield around Alixe, but I held Garath’s stare as I left myself exposed. His magic sizzled across my skin—then absorbed and disappeared.

His eyes bulged wide.

My smile spread wider. “Come on, Garath. You can do better than that.”

“Perhaps we should speak in private,” Remis rushed out. He tugged loose from my shadows—only because I allowed it—and positioned himself in front of his brother with hands raised. “This has escalated far enough.”

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