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should put all four of your heads on a pike for treason. I just assaulted the Queen, and you cowards stood there and watched me do it. The next time someone lays a hand on her and you don’t kill them where they stand, I’ll carve out your eyeballs and feed them to the fucking hounds. It doesn’t matter if it’s me or the Regent or Blessed Mother Lumnos herself. Do your damn jobs and protect our Queen.”
“Is there any more pleasing sight than two beautiful women basking under the Lumnos sun?” a man drawled in a voice as smooth as satin on bare skin.
Practically giddy. His smile stretched from ear to
accept.” Luther tentatively edged closer and helped me to stand, his hands gently curling around my arms to hold me steady. “You accept what?” “I’ll claim House Corbois,” I said hoarsely. “But only if you protect my friends and family for as long as they live. Even if I die in the Challenging.” My hands began to tremble. “Promise me that, and I’ll do it.” “Diem...” His voice was soft and painfully tender. He arched his head down in an effort to catch my gaze. “What’s wrong?” Everything.
drained my magic last night trying to keep the palace from coming down on our heads. You should be proud—normally it takes me hours to burn out. You ran through my reserves in minutes.”
“Only when it’s mine.” The warmth drifted... lower.
His answer came without missing a beat. “That if a man made you doubt whether his love for you would survive anything, he does not deserve you.”
“Only until after the Challenging,” he amended. “The other Houses know I will aim to keep power within House Corbois. That will focus their negotiations on more selfish concerns for them or their Houses...” “...instead of issues that concern the entire realm, such as the mortals,” I finished, slowly understanding.
My heart squeezed—Sorae was kneeling. This incredible creature was claiming me as her Queen, offering a fierce vote of confidence when I needed
“If I die in the Challenging, will my funeral get all of this pageantry, or will you just toss me in an unmarked grave and move on to the next?” I asked. Taran gave a thoughtful hum. “Well, you’ll already be down there, and all of us will already be up here... we could throw some logs on you and make it a two-for-one event.”
“What do you want, Luther?” His eyes dragged slowly to me. He held me there like a butterfly cupped between his hands, fluttering against his touch and wondering if he would be my doom. Every hair on my neck stood on end as he turned his lips to my ear, his voice low and rough. “Something I cannot have.”
breathe. His hand curled into a fist, tugging at my hair—gently, but enough to pull a gasp from my lips and an arch from my back. He leaned into my ear. “If a kiss is the reward, my Queen, I’ll get on my knees for you whenever you want.”
friend. “You’re healed,” I cried, marveling at his sturdy body. “They took me to the healers in Fortos to speed my recovery.” His eyes cut upward to the Crown. “It seems we’re both much improved since we last spoke.”
His thumb stroked my ankle, tender and feather light. “Good girl,” he murmured. My thighs clenched. Diem one, Luther ten.
“He said he’s never seen anyone handle themselves so well with our family before. He said you were born to be Queen.”
“I don’t care if he’s in the afterlife. If he hurt you, I’ll find a way to make him pay.” My stomach fluttered.
“You threatened to cut my hand off within minutes of meeting me. You attacked the Royal Guards several times. You snuck around the palace alone. You ran into a burning, collapsing building. All while you apparently believed yourself to be a mortal. With respect, my Queen—” He returned my narrowed eyes and leaned his face to mine. “—your survival instincts are shit.”
“You dare accuse House Corbois?” I spoke so softly the room had no choice but to fall silent as they all strained to hear my words. Finger by finger, I curled my hand into a closed fist. “You dare accuse House Corbois?” I repeated. “It is not House Corbois that I am acc—” “It was House Corbois that sent the King to
Maybe I could become one. Luther tipped his forehead until it lay flush with mine, our eyes closing as we bathed in the charged air humming around us. “You are my Queen, and I am your sword. Point me at your enemies, and watch them fall. Lead this world, Diem, and I will follow you—into war, into death, into the tundra of hell itself.” He took my palm and set it against his chest, just above the patch of unscarred skin that lay beneath his jacket. “You are the fate my heart was spared for. As long as it beats, you will never fight alone.”
He let out a shuddering sigh. “And I have failed. Completely, irreversibly failed. I don’t just want a piece of you—I want them all.” His thumb raked across my lower lip. “I want every breath, every laugh, every tear. Every taste of your mouth, every inch of your skin. I want to kneel at your feet, soaked in the blood of your enemies, then worship your body until you scream my name.” His hands slid to my hips and tugged me closer. “Yes, Diem, I want to serve you—in every way a man can.” I couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe.
She pulled back and tapped the medallion at my chest bearing the House Corbois insignia. “Everyone says this phoenix represents dying and coming back as something new, but I disagree. I think it’s a symbol of surviving when the world burns down around us. It’s a reminder that no challenge can destroy the parts of us that truly matter. We’re not reborn in the flames. We’re revealed.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I choked out. “Henri’s a good man.” His features turned grave. “Even good men can lose their way.”
I cannot tell you what to do with your life, my darling Diem. But whatever you choose—be smart. And above all, survive. Your life is far too precious to me to be wasted.
He traced the edge of my jaw. “Forgive me. They all need to see it.” “See what?” I rasped, barely able to speak. “Who will come for them if they dare to come for you.” Then his lips were on mine. And nothing else existed. There was no Crown, no Challenging. No arena of spectators
“Burn, my Queen. Glow so bright, the darkness trembles.”
