Page 155 of Burn of the Everflame

“Do you think it’s possible to keep our morals in a war?” I asked him. “If we’re willing to pick up a weapon and kill someone, does it matter how and why we do it, or are we all murderers just the same?”

“I think it matters. That’s why there are so many mortals choosing to fight for you instead of Ophiucae.”

I kicked him under the table until he glared up at me, then flashed him a smile. “Thanks, Tel. And about the flameroot—let’s keep it to ourselves. We won’t use it unless we have to.”

His shoulders relaxed, finally freed from their burden. “Have you told Mother what happened on the island?”

My smile vanished. “No.”

“Have you told Luther?”

I looked away. “No.”

“Don’t you trust him?”

“I do.”

“Diem, did Luther do something? Do I need to pretend to be the older sibling and go beat him up to . . . I don’t know, defend my sister’s honor, I guess?”

My lips twitched. “Luther would never hurt me. My honor is safe.”

He whooshed out a breath. “Thank the gods. He’d crush me like a beetle.” His relief shifted to confusion. “Then what’s going on? Why are you two spending so much time apart?”

I slammed my book closed and grabbed another. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m in the middle of a war. I don’t have time for a messy love life.”

“What’s messy about it? You love him, he loves you.” He cocked his head. “Is this like when I went to Sophos because I thought Lily was better off without me?”

Yes.

“No,” I said.

He held up his book. “Does what we’re looking for have anything to do with it?”

Yes.

“No.”

“Honestly, D, you’re the worst liar in Emarion.”

I threw my book on the table and stood. “I’m gonna go search the palace.”

He shook his head. “Sure, D. Run away, like always.”

“I’m not running,” I said hotly. “For once in my life, I’m facing reality. I’m doing the hard thing I don’t want to do, no matter what it costs me.”

“Is this because of what you have to do with Ophiucae? You’re worried you’re going to end up dead, so you’re trying to keep Luther from getting too close?”

Yes.

“No!” I yelled, my shout echoing off the stone walls.

“I knew I got the brains in the family, but I didn’t realize that left you with nothing up there but rocks.” He lowered his chin in a disappointed stare. “You have an entire army in Lumnos. You’ve got Descended, half-mortals, Guardians, the royal family, soldiers from Ignios and Fortos, everyone in Mortal City. Do you understand how many people have put their faith in you?”

My jaws ground together at the reminder of the thousands of lives sitting on my shoulders. “Yes Teller, I’m very fucking aware.”

“So how many more is it going to take before you have some faith in yourself?”

I couldn’t risk leaving Teller alone in a palace that might be teeming with hidden Centenaries, but I also couldn’t take one second more of the brutal mirror he was shining into my face, so I set off to wander the vacant hallways. Though the library was undamaged, other parts of the palace had not been so lucky. Ophiucae had used Montios magic to bring down the carved stone ceilings, reducing many hallways to rubble. The airy throne room where Yrselle and I had our first proper introduction was now open to the sky, her jade throne cracked in pieces on the ground.