Page 31 of Heat of the Everflame

My whole body sagged with the weight of hopelessness.

“But,” she continued, “I’ve let them think we’re still considering it. Perhaps they’ll keep her alive long enough to see if she can be useful in getting the island back.”

I let out a long, relieved sigh. “Thank you, Cordellia.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I’m letting you return to Lumnos, but if the Crowns believe you’re working with us, your life may be in very real danger, even in your own realm.”

“My life has been in danger since the second I became Queen. If the Crowns want me dead, they’ll have to get in line.”

She flashed a smirk, though it faded fast. “I don’t know how long our people can hold Coeurîle. You need to get to your mother and free her yourself—soon.”

I nodded grimly. “I’ll find a way.”

“I’m sorry for the secrecy in sneaking you out, but my people would not have stood by and let you walk away. It’s better for us both if they believe you escaped.”

I looked at Brecke. “What about you? When Herkin wakes up...”

He gave a casual shrug. “My time here is over, too. Dell was kind enough to take me in, but the others never really took to me. My army service will always make me a Descended sympathizer to them.”

That was a sentiment I understood well—one I’d battled in my own way over my father’s legacy.

“Where will you go now?” I asked.

“A cell up north, I think. Things there are heating up. As long as I’m willing to fight, I doubt they’ll ask too many questions.”

Guilt nipped at my heels. Brecke had risked his life and his reputation to help me, and now he was being forced into a warzone to escape the fallout.

“You could come to Lumnos instead,” I offered. “The boat is small, but perhaps we could both fit. I can conceal you in the palace, or Henri—”

Brecke shook his head. “It’s too dangerous for me there. Lumnos is swarming with army soldiers. If any of them recognized me, they’d kill me on the spot.”

I frowned. “Why are Emarion Army soldiers in my realm?”

“A missing queen means an empty throne,” Cordellia answered for him. “Power won’t tolerate a void for long—it must always be filled by someone.”

Brecke nodded. “You should get back and begin your reign before someone else does it for you.” He winked. “Your Majesty.”

I smiled and reached out a hand. “Thank you for helping me, Brecke. I won’t forget it.”

He clasped my wrist. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about that favor you owe me for the blade I gave you when we met. I’ll call it in one of these days.”

I swallowed down the painful memory of how I’d burned the knife away in my meltdown after my father’s death. Perhapssomeday Brecke and I would share a drink while I told him the story of the blade’s demise—but not today.

Cordellia stepped in my path. “I have one condition before you go.”

She held out a flask, and I knew instantly what it contained.

“Haven’t I taken enough? My magic is already gone, and we just agreed that I’m going back to a realm where people want me dead.”

Cordellia’s hard stare left no room for debate. “I have to ensure your magic doesn’t return before I’ve had time to move my people to a new campsite. There are weapons in the boat. That’s all we get as mortals, so it will have to be enough for you.”

I snatched the flask from her hand, shooting them both unhappy looks as I forced down gulp after gulp of the disgusting liquid. I peered into the boat, noting a pair of dull grey metal blades, a bow, and a quiver of arrows.

“No godstone?” I asked wryly between sips.

“It took us centuries to collect the godstone weapons we have. They’ll be crucial in the coming war. We can’t afford to lose even a single piece.” Her eyes narrowed. “You already destroyed a gryvern bolt that dated back to the Blood War.”

“And I’ll destroy the second one, if you try to kill Sorae again,” I warned. I held up the flask. “You have your conditions, and I have mine.”

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