Page 238 of Heat of the Everflame

“They certainly tried their best.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Must you make enemies everywhereyou go?”

I crossed my arms. “And what have youdone while I was gone, Remis? Have you found my father’s killer?”

“I’ve had my hands full with other things.”

“So you’ve found homes for all of Lumnos’s orphans? Made sure no one goes hungry in Mortal City? Repealed all the laws treating mortals differently than Descended?”

He glowered. “No, I have not.”

“Then tell me, other than conspire with Fortos to flood the realm with army soldiers, what exactly have you done?”

“I’ve been trying to prevent a war,” he shouted, his composure finally fracturing. “Can you imagine what the Twenty Houses demanded after the attack? The Hanoverres wanted to burn Mortal City with everyone in it.” He slammed a fist on the arm of his chair. “And I’m the one who stopped it.”

We glared at each other in silence, each of us simmering in righteous indignation.

His anger broke first with a long sigh. “Those soldiers are here to keep peace, Diem. Believe it or not, I do not wish to see any mortals slaughtered.”

I balked. “You don’t?”

“The other Houses wouldn’t either, if they weren’t so blinded by their prejudice.” His voice turned irritable. “Please, you think anyHanoverreis going to cook their own food, clean theirown clothes, and wash their own floors? Our realm needs those mortals to function.”

My surprise turned to scorn. “They’re human beings, Remis, not cheap labor.”

“Regardless, I’m trying to keep them alive. My orders have not been popular. If the Twenty Houses discover I have no magic to enforce the laws, those soldiers will be the only thing stopping House Hanoverre from taking this realm by force.”

“Why should I believe you? Don’t think I’ve forgotten the threats you made before the Challenging.”

He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I confess, I said some... regrettable things. At the time, you couldn’t use your magic, and a Challenge seemed inevitable. I did not expect you to survive it.”

It was hard to fault him for that—even Ihadn’t expected to survive it.

“Until things calm down, this is for the best,” he went on. “If you are not in power, the Crowns and the Twenty Houses may stay their hand. And with war looming, the realm needs a strong leader.”

I arched a brow. “And I am not?”

A withering stare was his only response.

The reproach in his eyes was too much like my own father’s, and my gaze dropped to my lap.

“I could force you,” I said quietly, my words proclaiming a confidence I no longer felt. “I could make you step down. Or kill you, if you refuse.”

“You could,” he agreed. “The army would invade, the Houses would revolt. You could start a civil war. Are you willing to get that much blood on your hands to seize power?”

A lump stuck in my throat. Remis knewallmy weaknesses, apparently. And now he was expertly wielding them against me.

“It’s only temporary,” he soothed, eyes crinkling with barely suppressed triumph. “Just until the Crowns agree to completethe coronation ritual. If you stay out of trouble, they may withdraw their objections when the war is over.”

I almost laughed. If he thought I was causing troublenow, he would be apoplectic at what else I had planned.

But I did have one thing working in my favor. If Alixe’s theory was right, delaying my coronation much longer would break down the realm borders and wreak havoc across the continent.

I rose and paced the room. “I’ll go along with this charade and let you play King, but only on two conditions.”

“I’m listening.”

“Make Alixe your High General. She’s more qualified than Aemonn, and her loyalty is to the realm, not either of us. I’ve told her you’re right about the coronation. She’ll respect your authority until it’s complete.”

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