Page 372 of Heat of the Everflame

Tonight.

My focus landed on Vance just as he vanished down a side road. I glanced back at Diem—she looked calm. Determined.She was addressing Doriel with a commanding tone that had even the Sophos Crown nodding in submission.

I threw out shadows to suffocate scattered fires the dragonfyre had left behind, then took off in pursuit of Vance. However, the deeper I followed him into the back roads, the more it grated on me to let Diem fall so far out of my sight. There was little I feared more than not being there if she needed me.

That fear had corrupted me while I was dying from the godstone. My anger at the Kindred for taking me from her, my guilt at failing her like I’d failed my mother, my terror that Diem might sacrifice herself for me when my life was already forfeit—it had all taken its toll, and in turn, I had taken it out on Diem, Taran, and Alixe. I still had a long way to go to make things right with all three of them.

I was about to turn back when I caught a glimpse of Vance darting into a brightly colored building. I edged closer, and my stomach dropped.

A school. One for young children, judging by the toys and large print alphabets visible through the windows.

I staggered forward a step as a powerful aura slammed into my back. I recognized its malicious presence as Diem’s sire. If I could feel him this strongly, he must have landed—which meant my Queen could be in danger.

I glared over my shoulder, wrestling with indecision. There was nothing I could offer against Ophiucae that Diem couldn’t do herself. Though my blood boiled to admit it, I knew it was true.

And if Vance set his sights on children...

Diem would rather die than let that happen. So would I.

I snarled in frustration and burst through the schoolhouse doors. Vance had left behind dirty footprints that led me to a darkened back room. I threw up an orb of light to illuminate theshadows and found him holding a sword—mysword—against a teacher’s neck as toddlers cowered, weeping, behind him.

“Hiding from battle to target children?” I sneered, disgusted.

“Kinder to kill them than let them grow up to be like you,” he bit back.

“And what about that teacher?”

“What about her?”

“Did you bother looking at her eyes?”

Vance glanced at the woman—who, impressively, was spitting mad and not the least bit scared despite the blade at her throat. He swore as he noticed her oak-brown eyes.

“Doesn’t matter,” he snapped. “Mortals who help Descended are traitors.”

My eyes ticked down to the ten-pointed star glowing on his wrist. “You’re killing mortals to help a Descended. I guess that makes you a traitor, too.”

His face turned an angry, flustered red. He glanced at my hip. “You’re supposed to be dead.”

“The Kindred had other plans. Why don’t you let her go and come outside, and we’ll find out if you can finish what you started.”

Vance hissed a nasty laugh. “Oh, I’ll finish you alright.” He jerked the woman. “As soon as I finish her and these little Descended bra—”

His venom went silent as the shimmering barrier around him flickered and fell. His eyes bulged large.

Before I could strike, the woman rammed her fist into his groin. He doubled over, wheezing in pain, my sword dropping from his hand.

The children whimpered and shook, so I pulled a shadow across their eyes to block their view—I could sense where this was going.

The woman picked up my sword, then grabbed Vance by the ear, twisting it sharply. He yelped as she dragged him out, and I followed her to the street.

She shoved Vance to his knees. “How dare you attack little children?” she shouted, unleashing her rage in a flurry of kicks and slaps.

Vance curled into a ball. “Stop! They’re Descended, they deserve to—ow! Stop hitting me!”

I leaned back against the schoolhouse wall and crossed my arms, unable to hide my smile.

As Vance tried to clamber to his feet, she swung my sword at his leg. Her clunky form proved she was no trained fighter, but the blade was sharp and it got the job done. Vance howled as it sank through his flesh.

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