Page 369 of Heat of the Everflame

Still, it was far from perfect. Though Descended could freely come and go, the city was closed to mortals except by invitation, and with mortals prohibited from the continent’s best schools, very few stood a chance at making the cut. Even in Sophos, classrooms were segregated to prevent mortal children from learning things the Crowns deemed “dangerous” for them to know.

As with any city, this place also had a seedy underbelly that its leaders refused to acknowledge. Teller admitted other mortals had warned him about venturing into dark alleys, where sex and drugs were on sale around the clock. For a mortal, losing their place here could mean losing everything—even their lives, if they had nowhere else safe to go. Many turned to mind-enhancing substances to keep up with their Descended colleagues, some ending up addicted and ruined in the process.

There was much to repair here, but also much to learn. I had to admit, the possibility of what it could become left me cautiously hopeful.

“I can’t believe you live here,” I said, wandering through Teller’s private suite. It was nearly as luxurious as the Lumnos palace and filled with futuristic contraptions. “Convincing you to come home will be harder than I thought.”

Teller groaned loudly. “Diem, I’m not—”

“We’ll discuss it after I’m coronated.”

“My feelings won’t change then.”

I shrugged. “We’ll see. I’m not letting you make a decision until you’ve talked to Mother.”

“Mother won’t change my mind, either.” He looked down, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’m happy here.”

“Liar.”

He frowned. “I’m not lying. You see how great this place is.”

“It is, and maybe you could have been happy here...ifyou’d never met Lily.” Teller winced. I gave him a sympathetic lookand laid a hand over his heart. “But you did, Tel. You love her. And now you’re scared of how that might end, so you’re running away.”

“A Bellator family trait,” Luther said under his breath.

Teller and I shot him matching scowls. He raised his hands in surrender.

“I’m not scared, D,” Teller said. “I’m just accepting the truth. I do love Lily, but she deserves more than I can give her.”

“Shedeservesto make that choice for herself,” I said.

Luther’s arm curled around my waist, hauling me away from my brother and up against his chest. “With all due respect, my Queen, let your brother be.”

“Thank you,” Teller grumbled.

I glowered and tried to shove Luther back, but his grip on me held firm.

He smiled warmly at my futile struggling. “When you truly love someone, you hold on and you never let go, no matter what stands in your way. If your brother isn’t willing to fight to hell and back to be with my sister, then he’s right—he doesn’t deserve her.” His mouth dropped to mine, silencing my protests in a passionate, possessive kiss.

Teller let out a heavy, despondent sigh, but when Luther’s hands began to roam across my curves, his nose wrinkled, his gloom turning to disgust. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

I moved to pull away, and Luther’s hand clutched the back of my head, holding me in place as he branded my mouth with his tongue. He kissed me like a man with a point to prove—both to Teller and to me.

Teller groaned and kicked our bag. “Here are your things. Please don’t defile my room too badly while I’m gone.”

The moment the door shut behind him, Luther let me go, licking his lips with a victorious grin.

I shoved him away. “You’re being an ass.”

“So is your brother.”

“His heart is broken. He didn’t need to see that.”

“I disagree.” He stalked toward me. “I think he needs to see exactly what it looks like when a man loves a woman unconditionally and won’t be torn away from her by any force, in life or in death.”

My thoughts emptied.

Those weren’t just any words.

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