Page 198 of Burn of the Everflame

His nostrils flared in response: Go away.

Lily gasped. “Teller, this is a serious wound.”

I crossed my arms. “Lily, since my brother refuses to obey his Queen’s orders, maybe you can convince him to let one of the Fortos Descended heal him.”

She nibbled her lip for a moment, glancing between us. “Oh . . . um . . . well, Your Majesty, it’s just that . . . Maura says that we’re supposed to respect a patient’s choices.”

My brother mirrored my crossed arms with a smirk.

Lily looked back at Teller. “I could make you a salve, if you’d like. It will help with the pain and the swelling.”

“There are others hurt worse than me,” he said. “I’m sure they need you more.”

“The mortal healers just returned from the arena. They’re tending to the others.” Her face fell. “But I understand if you prefer someone with more experience.”

“No,” he blurted out. “I want you.” His cheeks exploded with red. “To help me, I mean. With the salve.”

She brightened, nodding, then reached to unfasten his uniform. As her fingers moved over the buttons, her voice dropped to a murmur. “When they told me you were wounded in the battle, they didn’t know if you’d survived.” Her fingers slowed, her lip trembling. “I thought . . .”

Teller set his hand over hers, and their gazes met. My mating mark burned hot at the familiar emotion glowing on both their faces. Though I was struggling to feel much of anything—my heart felt like the frozen, empty wasteland where unworthy souls were forever condemned—I wanted a different fate for my brother.

His soul was worthy. Good. Unstained by the sea of innocent blood that flooded mine.

“Lily,” I said, “Teller’s going to have to disrobe for you to tend that wound. Why don’t you take him somewhere more private? His bedroom in the palace, perhaps?”

Luther growled behind me. Teller went pale.

Lily nodded emphatically. “Yes, of course, Your Majesty.” She stood and tugged on Teller’s hand, but he hesitated, and I wasn’t sure why. I knew my brother well enough to know he wanted to reconcile with Lily more than almost anything in the world.

But then he gazed out at the campfire, and his throat bobbed. I knew without asking he was thinking of the Sophosians who’d died. People he’d known, even if only for a short time. People who would have become his friends and colleagues and neighbors, had it not been for Doriel’s schemes.

People whose fate he might have joined. People whose fate that, perhaps, he felt that he deserved to join.

I couldn’t force Teller to heal, if he preferred to hurt. He was right—I’d be a hypocrite if I tried.

But perhaps I could help him in other ways.

“You know,” I said, “I bet someone else would like to check your wound.” I scanned the camp until I saw a splash of vivid red hair, then waved to catch her eye. “Mother! Over here!”

Teller shot to his feet. “Come on, Lily, let’s go.” He clutched her hand tight and practically ran for the palace, dragging Lily behind him.

“What is it?” my mother asked as she approached. She frowned at my fleeing brother. “Is Teller alright?”

“He’ll be fine. Have you finished logging the Guardian casualties?”

“I have. One hundred thirty from our camp.”

It was an effort to keep the air in my lungs. “So many?”

“We were prepared to fight mortals and godstone, not magic. Your Descended did their best to shield us, but when the second wave arrived behind us, it was every person for themselves.” She let out a long sigh. “I did not want to use our usual methods against Vance, but I fear we have no choice. Next time, we’ll come prepared with bombs.”

Next time.

I swayed unsteadily on my feet at the idea that what happened today could happen again.

My mother glanced toward the Ignios camp. “The others fared better. Hardly any Descended at all.” She made an effort to bury the bitterness in her words, but to my ears, the resentment was screaming.

After all my promises to make things equal, the mortals were still paying the heaviest price. I wondered for the thousandth time if I’d done the right thing in asking the Guardians to fight for me at all. I wanted to help the mortals, not force them to earn their liberation in tombstones and blood.