Page 131 of Burn of the Everflame

“Shit, baby, that was so good,” the man across the room said between the sounds of clothes being tugged back into place. “We should sneak around more often.”

Luther’s eyes gleamed with amusement, as if to say: So should we.

The door flew open with a bang.

“Queenie, you in here?”

The woman shrieked as the ballroom lights sparked to life. Luther’s magic surged across my skin with the cloak of an illusion.

“Oh, uh—hello,” the man stammered. “We were just, um . . . you see, she and I were⁠—”

“I think we already know,” Zalaric’s voice droned.

“You two seen Her Majesty around?” Taran chimed in.

The man laughed nervously. “Nope, no one in here but us.” Two pairs of footsteps shuffled for the door. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll just, uh . . . .” His voice trailed off as the footsteps ran away.

“I thought you said they were in here, Zal.”

“I said Luther was in here. I haven’t felt Diem’s aura since last night.”

The haze of lust cleared, and reality came crashing down. My hand withdrew from Luther, and I shrank into my chair.

“She’s acting strange,” Taran said. “I don’t like it. When Queenie’s not good, none of us are good.”

“Luther knows her best, and he said she⁠—”

“Looking for me?” Luther said loudly, rising from his chair. His magic parted to reveal him—and only him.

Zalaric let out a surprised laugh. “Were you in here while those two were . . . .?”

Luther strode toward them. “Go ahead, Taran. Make your jokes. I know you’ve got them.”

Taran grunted. “I have nothing to say to you.”

I frowned. The Taran I knew would have the time of his life teasing Luther for eavesdropping on another couple’s romp.

“I thought you were going to find Diem with your compass,” Taran said, his tone cutting.

“The compass can’t find her. She must still be wearing the cuffs from the meeting.”

“You’re real calm about that. Last time she went missing, you bit the heads off half the palace.”

“She wasn’t missing, she was taken. I do not fear her needing time to herself, if that is her desire, but I will not let anyone take her from me unwilling ever again.”

Those words were meant for me—a reassurance of his devotion, and a vow to keep me safe. But there were some villains even my mighty Prince couldn’t defeat.

“She’s probably hiding from her new little brother,” Luther teased.

“Little?” Taran shot back. “I’m not little.”

“Why do you think I’m still here?” Zalaric purred.

I cracked a smile. I missed spending time with Taran. He always told me what I needed, if not wanted, to hear. It was the reason I adored him—and the reason I’d been keeping my distance.

Three sets of footsteps moved to leave, and the lights in the ballroom went dark. “You think Diem would cut off my balls if I called her Sissy?” Taran asked.

I would, I thought.