Page 256 of Burn of the Everflame

I let go of Luther and walked to Taran, kneeling beside him. “Taran,” I said gently. “Did something happen?”

He was silent at first. Eleanor pulled up a stool and sat on his other side, and Luther joined us, laying a hand on his shoulder.

Taran looked around, taking each of our outfits in. “The phoenixes were my idea. When I was a boy, and my father was”—he flinched—“hurting me, I used to find a sigil of House Corbois somewhere in the room and stare at the phoenix as hard as I could. It made me feel like I could survive. Like no matter how bad it got, I’d come out stronger, just like that damn bird. I told Zal I wanted them everywhere at the wedding. I wanted my father to hear about it and know that I’m the real phoenix. He’s just the ash I left behind.” He gave a half-hearted smirk. “Zal loved it. He said he’d decorate the ceremony with white Hanoverre roses so we could piss both our fathers off.”

We all laughed, but Taran’s smile fell away too soon. He pushed out a long exhale. “I went to see my father this morning. I thought maybe . . . I guess I hoped that he . . .” He looked at my mother. “It’s not that I don’t want to be a Bellator. I’m proud to wear your name.” His eyes shifted to me. “I just thought, maybe . . . if I gave him one last chance . . .”

“I understand,” I said, and I did, in ways I was still struggling to make peace with myself. Family could take so many forms—born, adopted, found—but no connection survived all good reason to walk away like those born in blood. “What did he say?”

Taran squeezed his eyes shut like he was trying to keep the memory away. “He said Zal’s using me. He said the Hanoverres didn’t want him, so Zal had to make himself a Corbois, and I’m just the idiot who let him. He said everyone but me can tell that Zal only cares about himself.”

“He’s wrong,” Luther growled.

“I know,” Taran said, nodding. “He doesn’t see the Zal I see. But when I told him Zal loved me, he asked me why.” His head sank lower. “I couldn’t think of a single reason.”

Though the room was quiet, I was certain I heard the sound of four hearts breaking in unison. Eleanor and I shared an anguished look as Luther’s hand clenched around Taran’s shoulder.

“You know,” my mother said softly, “I used to ask myself the same thing about my Andrei. He had the most promising career a mortal ever had in the army, and he left it behind for me—a young, unwed mother, carrying another man’s child. I was certain he would eventually realize he’d made a horrible mistake and leave. One day I couldn’t take it anymore. I fell to my knees and I asked him, ‘Andrei, how is it possible that you love me?’” She set aside the scissors and leaned down to rest a hand on Taran’s chest. “Do you know what he said?”

Taran met her stare in the mirror’s reflection. “What?”

“He looked at me as if I’d gone mad, and he said, ‘My darling, how could I not?’” She smiled fondly. “Taran, you have so many good qualities. You are a kindhearted, honorable man. You are honest without being cruel—a very rare trait.”

“Whenever anyone is sad, you’ll do anything to cheer them up,” Eleanor chimed in. “You always find a way to make people smile.”

“You keep your word,” Luther said. “You’re the one I trust when I need it most. And when I felt alone in this palace, you were there to remind me that I at least had you. I know you feel as though I protected you, cousin, but there were many days you were the one protecting me.”

“And me,” I said, thinking of all the times Taran fought to keep me and Luther together when fear had me running away. “You treated me like your sister, even before I was. You looked out for me. I owe you more than I can repay.”

“As do I,” Luther agreed.

Eleanor nodded. “As do I.”

“As do I,” my mother said. “Not just for what you’ve done for Diem and Teller. I’ve seen you with my Guardians. You kept making efforts, even when they were unkind. Now, they light up when you come around. They opened their hearts to you, and that finally made them understand why Vance’s path is wrong. There’s no telling how many lives that might save.” She walked around and stood in front of him, taking his face in her hands. “Why does Zalaric love you? My darling, how could he not?”

At last, Taran’s back uncurled and grew straight, and he gave a single nod. “Okay. I’m ready.”

“Good,” Luther said. “Because I came up here to tell you that Aemonn just arrived. We reminded him he wasn’t invited. He insisted on having one conversation.”

Taran scowled. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

Luther gave him a solemn look. “You aren’t the groom he wanted to speak with.”

57

DIEM

Taran blanched. He leapt to his feet and ran to the edge of the terrace. A moment later, he whipped back around, looking ill. “Zal’s gone.”

“I can still feel his aura,” Luther said. “They probably just stepped inside to speak.”

Taran flew for the door. “I have to stop him,” he shouted.

Eleanor grabbed the scissors and ran after him. “Taran, your hair!”

“You don’t think Aemonn would try to ruin today, do you?” I asked Luther. “Surely he doesn’t hate his brother that much.”

“Aemonn has a history of meddling in his brother’s affairs.” He drew me in for a quick kiss. “I better go with him. If Taran gets Aemonn’s blood on his suit, Zalaric will charge House Corbois a fortune for the cleaning.”