The Kindred's Curse Saga, #2
Glow of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 12
Overview
Luther interrupts Diem and Henri, forcing Henri’s escorted exit and confronting Diem about the political fallout of her engagement. To prove his motives, Luther reveals his secret record of smuggled half‑mortal children and Auralie’s aid. He urges Diem to delay publicly claiming Henri, and Diem accepts Aemonn’s escort bargain for silence.
Summary
Luther enters as Diem and Henri are intimate, prompting a tense scramble to dress and a guarded exit for Henri under watch. Diem bristles at Luther’s interference, but he cites the realm’s scrutiny and Aemonn’s leverage over Henri’s identity. Luther reports Aemonn’s price for silence: escort and first dance at the Ascension Ball.
Diem admits she accepted Henri’s proposal and intends to attend with him. Luther, rigid with contained fury, leads her to his chambers to speak privately. There, amid a shrine to Lumnos, he offers a small ledger documenting children of mixed blood he secretly smuggled to safety—his penitence—and marks of those he failed.
Luther explains this treasonous work and reveals Auralie aided him by ferrying children to safer realms. He apologizes for the earlier kiss, denies prejudice, and warns that if Diem presents Henri as betrothed, the Houses will kill him before the coronation. He urges her to survive the Challenging, claim full authority, then plan a safer path together.
Torn between love and duty, Diem accepts the political reality. She agrees to Aemonn’s bargain—taking him as escort to keep Henri secret—while privately grieving and postponing any public claim on Henri until after her coronation.
Who Appears
- DiemQueen of Lumnos; confronted by Luther, torn over Henri, accepts Aemonn’s escort bargain and delays announcing her engagement.
- LutherPrince and Keeper; interrupts Diem and Henri, reveals smuggling ledger, aided by Auralie; warns Houses would kill Henri; urges delay.
- HenriMortal fiancé; forced to leave under guard; angered by court power dynamics; his safety becomes the chapter’s central stakes.
- AemonnPrince; leverages knowledge of Henri, demands Diem’s Ball escort and first dance in exchange for silence.
- AuralieDiem’s mother; secretly helped Luther smuggle half-mortal children, linking her disappearance to covert work.