Heat of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, #3)

by Penn Cole

I rolled my eyes. “Love requires honesty, Brecke.” “Your mother keeps it from your father. She made it clear to all of us that he is never to be told. Do you really believe she does not love him?” “My father is dead,” I shouted, my voice echoing across the moonlit clearing. “He’s dead because of me. Because I was not prepared to be Queen. That chance was stolen from me by her lies.” I leaned forward, pulling the chains on my arms taut. “And thanks to the Guardians, she wasn’t even there to comfort her children as they mourned his death. So don’t you dare lecture me on my mother’s love—or her secrets.”

“So why did you quit?” He raised an eyebrow. “How did you know I quit?” “Oh, the King of Fortos might have mentioned to me that you disappeared with a large shipment of weapons—right after I told him you were a ‘good family friend.’” Brecke sucked in air between his teeth. “Oh. That’s bad.” I gave him a wry smile. “I’m sure he and my mother are having a nice long chat about it in her prison cell as we speak.”

“How did you find me?” I asked. He snorted. “If I tell you that, Luther might slice off my balls. You’ll have to pry the truth out of him, if you can.” My smile fell away. “I heard him out there. I think the mortals caught him.”

“Don’t you dare mistake compassion for lack of courage,” he growled.

“You know,” I teased as I struggled to secure my bandeau, “you’ve seen me unclothed so many times, when we finally get a night alone together, there’s hardly going to be anything worth looking at.” I stilled at the brush of his fingers against my skin. He pulled the straps from my hands and deftly secured the clasp. My back arched as his knuckles ran a slow trail up my spine. I held my breath as he brushed the hair away from my ear and leaned in close.

“Diem, when you and I finally get a night alone together, looking will be the least of what I do to you.”

“I told him I’d seen you when I came with Sorae. I said you looked healthy and in good spirits. It was a lie, but I hoped it would calm his worries.” “I don’t think he believed you,” Taran mumbled. Alixe smacked Taran’s arm. “What?” he protested, glaring at her. She shot him a pointed look, and he rolled his eyes. “You saw Luther when he got back. That wasn’t a man who just saw the woman he loves ‘healthy and in good spirits.’ We all knew she was in big trouble.” Luther’s fingers tightened around mine. “Stop talking,” he snapped. “Not helping, Taran,” Alixe mouthed.