Page 249 of Heat of the Everflame

I mounted her back and turned my glare on the Fortos commander. “Know this—I am not afraid of the Emarion Army, and I am not afraid of the Crowns. If I hear of one more mortal goingmissingfrom my realm, every last one of you will repay their loss in blood. I am the gods-damned Queen of Lumnos. If my people suffer, so will you.”

Sorae arched her neck and snarled out a sapphire fireball that swirled into curling smoke.

I let my gaze linger on the soldiers’ faces until both they and I were certain I’d committed each one to memory. With a thunderous howl, Sorae stretched her wings and sent us airborne.

As we soared for the clouds, a ripple of movement drew my focus back to the ground. In the dirty, downtrodden square of my beloved Mortal City, one by one, the mortals lowered to their knees.

Chapter

Forty-Nine

Ihalf expected Luther to be waiting in the same spot I’d left him, keeping watch from afar, but when Sorae touched down on the palace terrace, there was no sign of him.

There was no sign of anyone.

My bedchamber was empty, door ajar, parlor silent. I tried to remind myself the others had their own matters to address. No reason for them to be lingering at my beck and call.

No reason for me to worry.

I quickly changed into the fighting leathers I’d worn during the Challenging. They’d brought me victory when I needed it most, and today, I’d take all the help I could get.

Though my plan to raid the armory had gone awry, the supply of blades Luther brought me on my first night as Queen was still stashed in hidden nooks throughout my room. Gathering them brought a faint, much needed smile. I’d hated him more than ever that night—and he knew it—but he’d still been protecting me, trying to keep me alive against all the odds.

That task was about to get much harder.

I strapped on as many blades as I could fit, then pulled my hair into a tight braid that circled my head just below thefloating Crown. I tucked my pendant safely under my neckline and strolled into the parlor.

“Your Majesty,” Perthe said in greeting from where he stood at attention by the suite door.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“The Regent came by. He was quite angry about something. He left with the High General, and the others followed.”

I frowned. Had Remis found out about my spectacle in Mortal City already?

“I thought you’d prefer that I stay with your brother,” Perthe added, inclining his head toward the closed door leading to Teller’s room.

“Yes, of course. I owe you a debt for taking care of him in my absence.”

“You saved my life. The debt is mine to repay.”

I winced. “Perthe, there’s something you should know. The night of the armory attack...” My eyes lowered. “I saved you out of guilt, not bravery. Weeks before, I made a stupid, reckless decision that made the Guardians’ attack possible. I didn’t know what would happen, but I cannot deny my share of the blame. You owe me nothing, and if that changes your desire to serve me—”

“It doesn’t change a thing, Your Majesty.”

I looked up. “It doesn’t?”

His sky-blue eyes crinkled with a kind smile. “I’ve been a member of the Royal Guard for many years. Risked my life for the late King many times. He was a good man, but he would never have run into a fire to save me, even if he was the one who lit the match.”

My chest warmed at his words. “Still... I don’t want you putting yourself in danger out of some sense of obligation for what I did.”

“Then let me do it to honor my oath as a Royal Guard. An oath I’d happily take again knowing the kind of Queen I’d be vowing to serve.”

I smiled and raised a fist to my chest. “You’re a noble man, Perthe. An honor to your family, and a credit to my guard.”

He inflated with pride and returned my salute, bowing dramatically low.

I took a hesitant step toward Teller’s room, then paused. “Is anyone...elsewith my brother?”