Glow of the Everflame

Toward the end of the ceremony, Diem asks Eleanor about her interaction with Luther. Diem insists that she is not romantically interested in Luther because she is already engaged to a mortal. Eleanor is visibly shocked by this information. Remis interrupts their interaction, calling on Diem to light Ulther’s pyre with her magic. Luther encourages Diem to summon her magic, but when she sees Andrei and her friend Maura in the crowd, she cannot connect with her powers. Sorae swoops in and lights the pyre with her breath.

Andrei comes to see Diem in her chambers. They make amends for their argument. Andrei swears that he still loves Diem and only wants to protect her. He doesn’t know anything about her birth father or Auralie’s whereabouts. She insists that he act as her advisor, but Alixe arrives and warns Diem against this course of action. She states that Diem cannot be seen with another mortal, then escorts Andrei out. Diem feels isolated after Andrei leaves.

Diem consults Luther about her failure to use her magic at the funeral. He is worried that she was unable to summon her powers, and he suspects that the other houses will challenge her right to