The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 62
Overview
Shaken after learning the silvery-eyed foe is her father, Ophiucae, Diem retreats with Luther and Auralie to safety. Auralie reveals her past as a spy, her secret mission to Coeurîle, a relationship with imprisoned Ophiucae, and stabbing him when he sought newborn Diem’s blood. Diem connects this to the Temple stone and clashes with Auralie before walking away.
Summary
Diem reels at the revelation that the silvery-eyed man is her birth father and struggles with guilt over trying to kill him. After a frantic retreat led by Luther, the trio camps near Sophos. Diem demands answers from Auralie while Luther gives them privacy.
Auralie confesses she was once a royal spy who later aided the Guardians. Tasked by the Fortos King to secretly surveil Coeurîle for a year, she discovered a hidden godstone door beneath the Temple and found Ophiucae imprisoned, emaciated, and chained.
Lonely and moved by Ophiucae’s charm and ideals, Auralie fell in love. Lacking contraceptives, she conceived Diem. Ophiucae’s behavior darkened: he became vengeful and possessive, once turning violent when Auralie tried to leave. During a blood sun, Auralie returned to him to give birth, believing he had changed.
After the birth, Auralie caught Ophiucae poised over infant Diem with her godstone knife. He claimed Diem’s blood would break his chains. Auralie refused, fought him, reclaimed the blade, stabbed him in the heart, fled with Diem, and concealed the truth from the Fortos King and Andrei.
Diem realizes Ophiucae’s claim may have been true: her blood fractured the Kindred Temple stone at her coronation, likely enabling Ophiucae’s escape during the attack. Discussion of Auralie’s lifelong secrecy ignites a bitter argument about trust and responsibility. Overwhelmed, Diem walks into the forest, leaving Auralie in tears while Luther remains nearby.
Who Appears
- DiemProtagonist; shaken by discovering Ophiucae is her father, demands the truth, links her blood to the Temple stone, argues with Auralie, storms off.
- Auralie BellatorDiem’s mother; reveals past as spy, secret mission to Coeurîle, romance with Ophiucae, stabbing him to protect newborn Diem, defends her secrecy.
- LutherAlly and confidant; orchestrates their escape and shelter, offers space for mother-daughter confessions, quietly supports Diem.
- OphiucaeDiem’s birth father; once imprisoned beneath Coeurîle, charming then possessive, sought baby Diem’s blood to break chains, stabbed by Auralie.