Page 252 of Heat of the Everflame

His eyes shifted up above my head, his cross expression giving way to curiosity. “Your Crown...”

“It’s different, I know. It changed after the Rite of Coronation. I’m not sure why.”

“The new part of it...” His head angled to the side. “This is going to sound crazy, but it almost looks like...”

I let out a sudden groan as a wave of foreign pain and confusing shock knocked me to my knees.

“Diem!” Teller lunged to grab me.

I gritted my teeth against the visceral sensation seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at all. My skin glowed silver-bright as my godhood thrashed in search of some wound to heal, some enemy to vanquish.

“Are you hurt?” Teller asked.

“Not me,” I rasped. “Sorae.”

The bond between us was engulfed with her panic. Somewhere, she was under attack.

Her physical agony mixed with her fury. And terror—not for herself, but for me, for fear that her attackers would come for me next.

“I have to get to her,” I choked out. Teller helped me to my feet, and we ran together through the parlor. An excruciating pain splintered through my chest. I stumbled to the ground just as Sorae’s enraged howl carried through the terrace archways.

“Your Majesty,” Perthe cried, rushing forward.

I clutched my throbbing side. “I think we’re under attack.”

Perthe pulled his sword and coated it with a corona of shadow. “I’ll come with you.”

“No—stay with Teller. If something happens to me, get him to Mortal City. Maura will take him in.”

Teller’s face blanched. “Diem...”

I didn’t wait to argue. I pushed to my feet and ran to the balcony. Sorae was missing, but I sensed her presence nearby. My eyes slammed shut as I slipped into her head like it was my own.

The world was vivid and shimmering through her golden eyes. I was momentarily lost in an ocean of colors I’d never seen, shades of light too delicate for my human eyes to detect. I felt the thump of every heartbeat in the palace and caught the pungent scent of every man and creature wafting on the winter wind.

And intentions. They blazed in the air around each person’s form, a halo of their heart’s darkest hates or brightest loves.

And everywhere I looked, I saw a hunger tokill.

She was writhing on the ground outside the palace entrance, struggling to get free, though something held her still. Her wings were bent at an awkward angle that sent bolts of agony down both our spines.

In front of her, a barrel of apples lay overturned, some half-eaten. I could taste their cloying aftertaste coating my mouth. A circle of both Lumnos guards and army soldiers surrounded her with long, metal-tipped spears, some of which were lodged in bloody gashes across her hide. A few guards clutched chains as thick as my thigh, and when they pulled taut, Sorae’s throat—and mine—squeezed closed and gasped for air.

I yanked out of the bond, sending her a wave of calm and a promise to get her free, and bolted for the corridor.

“Move,” I shouted at the horde of waiting guards. “Get out of my way!”

They closed their ranks. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” a woman said, stepping forward. “We’ve been ordered by the High General to keep you in your chambers.”

“Those orders are empty. Aemonn’s not High General anymore.” I tried to shove past her, but the guards tightened around me.

“The orders weren’t given by Aemonn.”

I went stiff. “Alixe did this? She’s the one hurting Sorae?”

“The gryvern is only being subdued, not harmed.”

“I canfeelher pain,” I hissed. “And if you don’t get out of my way, I’ll make sure you feel it, too.”

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