Page 44 of Heat of the Everflame

“No sign of them,” she announced. “They should have come through by now. They must have given up the search.”

“Or they went back to regroup and wait for daylight,” Taran muttered.

“Either way, we’ll be safe here for the night,” Luther said.

I almost whimpered in protest as he released me and stepped into the dim sliver of light spilling in from the opening. The heat from his body disappeared, the chill winter air taking its place, and the wet clothing plastered to my skin turned frigid.

“Maybe we should keep going and put more distance between us and the camp,” Taran suggested.

Luther shook his head. “We already have a long journey back to Arboros City to fetch our horses. I’d prefer not to make it anylonger.” He glanced in my direction, frowning. “If we don’t rest, we might not outrun them a second time.”

I knew his words were for my benefit. I started to step forward and argue, but my muscles had gone stiff in the cold. I had to grip the tree to keep from falling as my eyelids drooped.

Living in constant unease, being chained in place for days, my doomed attempt to sail away, the battle at the campsite—it had all worn on me far more than I’d realized.

My need to get to Luther had been a dam forcing me to stay collected. Now that we were together and I could see he was safe, my feeble walls had broken, sending a deluge of exhaustion and emotion coursing through me at a devastating pace.

My teeth began to chatter as the icy chill from my clothes seeped into my bones.

“Rest is good,” I admitted. “We can decide our next steps in the morning.”

Alixe nodded. “You all get some sleep. I’ll take first watch outside.” She gave me a shallow bow, then walked out of the hollow.

I winced at my aching muscles as I gathered what little strength I had and trailed her into the forest. “Alixe,” I called out, shuffling to her side. “Thank you for coming to my aid today. You’re an incredible fighter.”

She dipped her chin. “It’s an honor to fight in your service, Your Majesty.” She gave me an appraising once over, her lips curving with a half-smile. “You fought well yourself—better than many of my soldiers in the Royal Guard. And very bravely, risking yourself the way you did.”

I smirked. “Could you repeat that last part again—a little louder, so Luther can hear you?”

She laughed. “If it were anyone but you, Luther would commend them for being so selfless in battle. You’re a credit to your father.”

My heart swelled, her words as sweet as they were excruciating. When my thoughts turned their darkest, I often replayed that final conversation with my father—how disappointed in me he’d seemed, and how deeply that wound had cut.

I hoped that, wherever he was, he was proud of what I’d done in the Challenging—and I was determined to live a life that would make him even prouder still.

My throat burned with emotion, my energy too depleted to fight it off. I looked down to hide my watering eyes.

Alixe stiffened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I won’t bring him up again.”

“Gods, no,” I rushed out. “Please don’t say that. I don’t ever want him to be forgotten. Your words mean a great deal to me, that’s all.” I smiled as I brushed away an escaped tear. “You showed such respect to him at the palace. I won’t ever forget that.”

“It was my honor. I only wish I’d had more time to get to know him.”

I could not answer without losing my composure, so I took a shaky breath and shifted my weight. “You must think me foolish for asking you not to kill the mortals earlier when they were trying so hard to kill us.”

“It’s not foolish. I understand. And I agree.”

My eyebrows flew up. “You do?”

“I’ve been giving a lot of thought to that night before the Challenging, when you took me and Taran through Mortal City.” Her eyes lowered as she tucked her short blue-black hair behind her ear, her expression unusually troubled. “As Vice General, that city is under my protection. For me to know so little of it, and to see how many are suffering there, some in ways I had the power to prevent...” Genuine pain filled her expression. “Icannot tell you how ashamed I was that night—and still am. I’ve thought about it every day since.”

She frowned. “We Descended have isolated ourselves in our schools and our cities. Even in the army, the mortal units live and train separately. It’s no excuse, but because I neversawthe mortals, it was easy for me to convince myself they were doing fine.”

“You cannot solve a problem you refuse to look at,” I said.

“No, you cannot,” she agreed. “So I wanted to say thank you—for making me look. And I’m sorry I was not brave enough to do so on my own.”

“The mortals don’t need your apologies, Alixe. Or your shame. They need your action.”

---