Page 332 of Heat of the Everflame

“This is about me and Luther.” I set my hands on her shoulders, letting her see the truth of my words in my gaze. “Believe me, it took him a long time to earn my trust. I put him through hell and back for months, but once I saw who he really is...” My chest warmed at the depths of my affection. “He’s so kind and thoughtful, and he’s entirely selfless. He’s more loyal to me than I deserve. He challenges me without trying to change me, and he sees me in a way no one ever has. When I’m with him, I feel safe and cherished and...” I glanced at him, surprised to find his mask down, his feelings for me laid bare on his face. “...and loved. He makes me feelloved.” I looked back at her. “And I love him, too.”

“Your daughter is everything to me, Auralie,” Luther said quietly. “All that I am, it belongs to her.”

Her brows dipped. She studied my face, then his, looking like she was scouring for any hint of a lie or exaggeration. She was silent for a very long time, then her shoulders fell, the fight seeming to go out of her in a rush.

“Be happy for me,” I pleaded. “I finally found a man worthy of my heart.”

“My sweet daughter.” Her eyes closed briefly. When they reopened, they gleamed with anguish. “This is so much worse than I thought.”

I frowned. “What?”

“He’s not using you to get to me. He’s using you to get to the throne.”

“What?” Luther and I said in unison.

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s made you fall in love with him so you’ll make him King Consort. He’s doing whatever it takes to hold on to power.”

The patronizing pity on her face set me off. I jerked out of her reach. “This is ridiculous.”

“He admitted as much on the bridge in Montios. He said you stole the Crown from him.”

I groaned. “By the Undying Fire, we werejoking.”

“You weren’t looking at him, Diem. I saw his face light up when you offered to make him a king. That’s exactly what he wants.”

“It’s not the throne—” Luther’s jaw snapped as he cut himself off.

“You tried to fight her at the Challenging, didn’t you?” she shot back. “You wanted to kill her so you could take it.”

“Gods, Mother, he didn’t want to kill me, he wanted todiefor me,” I said, throwing up my hands.

“I wouldn’t take Diem’s life even if the Blessed Mother herself demanded it,” he muttered.

She let out a long, exasperated breath. “Diem, I don’t doubt your feelings are real. You’ve always seen the best in people, and I know how convincing the Prince can be.”

I laughed, harsh and bitter. “You know, there was a time when I was jealous of the work you did together. I thought you knew him even better than I did. But after all those years, you don’t know him at all.”

I turned my back on her and walked to his side, taking his hand. “I’m sorry,” I murmured to him.

“It doesn’t matter. You and I know the truth.” His features were hard, but I couldn’t miss the shadow of disappointment.He might never admit it, but I suspected he’d hoped to become as much a part of my family as I’d become of his. I’d seen it in the way he treated my father and Teller, and even, despite their tension, in the way he’d treated my mother.

A fiercely protective instinct flared hot in my blood. “It doesmatter.” I glared at her over my shoulder. “This is the man I’ve chosen. The man I want to spend my life with.” His fingers tightened around mine at my admission, and though my heart quivered with a wild, scared energy, I didn’t regret it for a second. “You and Father chose to leave your past and focus on your future—well, Luther is my future. And if you won’t accept him, you won’t be a part of it.”

She recoiled. “I am yourmother.”

Angry, vicious words fought to break free, and I ground my teeth to hold them in.

“I know we have things to work through, but we’re family,” she said. “Family always comes first.”

My nails dug into Luther’s skin as I squeezed my fraying patience into his hand and bit back my thoughts.

She crossed her arms. “I’m only trying to look out for you. It’s my job to protect you.”

My temper shattered.

“And you failed!” I shouted back.

Her face dropped. “Diem—”

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