Here is a summary with spoilers of Glow of the Everflame
Diem Bellator, feeling overwhelmed by the glowing Crown that has appeared over her head, is convinced that her being chosen as Queen of Lumnos is a mistake. Her brother, Teller, encourages her to either find Prince Luther Corbois or tell their father, Andrei, about what has happened, but Diem is reluctant to face her father after their recent argument. Suddenly, Luther’s sister, Princess Lily Corbois, arrives and insists that Diem must have Descended blood. She informs Diem that she will soon face the Period of Challenging, where other royal houses can challenge her right to the Crown. If she survives, she must undergo the Rite of Coronation. Diem panics, especially thinking of her lover Henri Alban, who despises the Descended, and worries about how he will react to her new status. Lily and Teller suggest Diem stay at a cabin on the royal hunting grounds to figure things out.
At the cabin, Diem struggles to sleep, her mind racing. Luther soon appears, and their previous argument resurfaces. Diem demands to know about her mother’s disappearance, but Luther refuses to give her any answers. They ride to the palace, where Diem is both drawn to and angered by Luther, believing him to be responsible for the deaths of half-mortal children. At the palace, Diem meets the Corbois family, including Remis Corbois, who insists that Diem form an alliance with their house to protect herself from the other royal houses. Diem postpones her decision. Later, she confronts Lily for revealing her whereabouts to Luther, but forgives her after an apology. Diem also speaks with Luther, who assures her that he swears allegiance to her. Their conversation turns playful, but Diem hears a mysterious voice urging her to fight. Sorae, a dragon meant to protect the Crown, appears at her side. Luther reacts by scolding the guards for not protecting her, and Diem is left to reflect on her emotions alone.
The next morning, Diem feels a mix of sadness and nostalgia as Eleanor, a member of the Corbois family, offers to accompany her to breakfast. Eleanor shares helpful insights about palace life and Luther’s role as Keeper of the Laws. Diem learns more about her new position and the stakes of the upcoming Ascension Ball, where she will need to impress the other houses. Aemonn, another Corbois family member, suggests that she needs a Descended by her side to gain favor. Diem is shocked to discover that Luther is responsible for enforcing the rules that have led to the deaths of half-mortal children.
In the dungeons, Diem finds Teller and Lily awaiting her. Teller expresses his concern about the upcoming Challenging, where contestants will battle to the death using magic. Luther arrives, and Diem is consumed by an overwhelming urge to fight him. After an intense exchange, Diem gives herself over to the magic, realizing she is one of the Descended. She demands that Luther protect her family and friends during the Challenging in exchange for her joining House Corbois.
The following morning, Luther brings Diem breakfast and explains more about her magic and her mother’s past. He reveals that he had been helping Auralie spy on Ulther, the former king, but cannot tell Diem where her mother is for fear of betraying her. Diem, though uncertain, begins to trust Luther and feels hope when he promises to bring Auralie back in two months if she does not return on her own.
Eleanor helps Diem prepare for the Ascension Ball, offering advice on the various members of the Corbois family. She explains that Taran is sensitive and kind, while Aemonn is calculated and polished. Alixe is a skilled fighter and highly respected in the Emarion Army, qualities Diem admires deeply. After Eleanor leaves, Diem reflects on the Descended and feels a sense of isolation. She wonders if she can use her newfound powers for good, and feels that it may be her responsibility to save the mortals.
Later, Diem meets with Remis, who suggests that she let him take the lead at the upcoming House Receptions. He believes this will protect her from potential challenges by the other houses. Diem is unsure about this plan but agrees to consider it. As she wanders through the palace, she overhears servants gossiping about her, only to run into Henri. Their reunion is emotional, and Henri demands an explanation for the Crown above her head. Diem explains everything, swearing her love for him and asking him to become her King Consort. Henri agrees, and they kiss passionately, but their moment is interrupted by Luther.
Luther warns Diem about being seen with a mortal, fearing for Henri’s safety. After he leaves, Diem and Luther argue about her position, and Luther leads her to his chambers. He reveals a book listing half-mortal children he has saved, explaining that he and her mother, Auralie, had been working together to defend mortals. Luther urges Diem to take Aemonn as her escort to the ball to ensure the royal houses’ support, and Diem agrees.
Diem writes Henri a letter, urging him not to attend the ball for his own safety, though she assures him that she still loves him. She then meets with Teller and Lily in the dungeon. Teller shares his findings about the Descended, while Lily expresses concern that Garath, with his violent tendencies, might challenge Diem. They suggest Diem select a more powerful advisor than Eleanor, but when Teller asks to see Diem’s magic, she is unable to summon it.
As Diem and Luther prepare for Ulther’s funeral, she begins to recognize that her feelings toward him are more complex than she initially thought. They discuss the upcoming House Receptions, and Luther reaffirms his loyalty to her. At the first House Receptions, Diem meets members of House Hanoverre, including Iléana, who has shown interest in Luther. Diem feels jealousy, though she tries to deny any romantic feelings for him. The conversation shifts to the idea of love mates, a bond between Descended that prevents them from loving anyone else if their mate dies.
In a private meeting with Remis, Diem agrees to enter a “bonded bargain” with House Corbois, where they will support her in exchange for Remis’s magic. This deal is sealed with magic, and Remis reminds her to defer to him during the Receptions and to present her father as the late Harold Corbois.
Diem prepares for Ulther’s funeral, but when Eleanor notices that she is wearing black, a color considered disrespectful at Descended funerals, Diem is warned to avoid making such mistakes in public. At the ceremony, Luther reads a poem written by Ulther’s late mate, Rapheol. Diem is surprised to learn about the Descended’s unique love connections, and Eleanor, Taran, and Lily explain the strength and depth of these bonds. When Luther returns, he cautions Diem against trusting Garath, though she resists his advice, unwilling to follow his demands.
At the end of the funeral ceremony, Diem asks Eleanor about her interaction with Luther, insisting that she is not romantically interested in him due to her engagement to Henri. Eleanor is shocked by this, but their conversation is interrupted when Remis calls on Diem to light Ulther’s pyre using her magic. Diem tries but cannot connect with her powers when she sees her father, Andrei, and her friend Maura in the crowd. Sorae steps in and lights the pyre with her breath.
Later, Andrei visits Diem in her chambers, and they make amends for their earlier argument. He still claims to love her and wants to protect her, though he knows nothing about her birth father or Auralie’s whereabouts. Diem insists that Andrei act as her advisor, but Alixe warns against this, stating that Diem cannot be seen with another mortal. After Andrei leaves, Diem feels isolated.
Diem speaks with Luther about her inability to summon magic at the funeral. He worries that this will make the other houses challenge her claim to the Crown. As they discuss this, their tension grows, and they kiss. The moment is interrupted by Eleanor and Taran, who insist on training Diem in magic. They also invite her to dinner, and after they leave, Luther reaffirms his loyalty to her.
At the Corbois dinner, Diem feels uneasy, especially after seeing Luther with Iléana, which makes her question everything. She handles the dinner confidently, fielding questions about her origins, but is disturbed by how Remis treats Luther. Afterward, Diem searches for Luther but finds that he and Iléana have left.
Diem later runs into Luther, who is rude to the guards. After Sorae intervenes, Luther helps Diem when she trips and brings her to her room, where he massages her feet and asks how he can prove himself to her. Diem demands the truth from him, and Luther promises to protect and serve her. He leaves before she can kiss him.
In preparation for the ball, Diem practices dancing with Lily and Teller. Luther arrives and apologizes for his previous behavior. As they discuss their connection, Diem acknowledges that she is attracted to him, but reminds herself that all Descended are attractive. Luther hints at the significance of a shared vision they had, but they are interrupted by Taran and Alixe. During her lessons, Diem feels more isolated, realizing that none of them truly understand how she feels.
After practice, Diem meets with Eleanor, who tries to reassure her. Later that night, she studies Teller’s notes on the Descended, wondering if a war is imminent. Aemonn visits her and gives her a pendant with the Corbois sigil, promising to protect her during the ball.
On the way to the ball, Diem and Aemonn encounter Henri, who has come to the palace despite Diem’s warning. He believes the ball is the perfect time for the Guardians of the Everflame to attack the Descended. Diem orders Luther to lock Henri in the dungeon for his safety and vows to kill anyone who harms him. She then informs Luther about the Guardians, and he promises to stop their attack without bloodshed. Finally, Diem and Aemonn make their entrance at the ball.
As Diem and Aemonn enter the ballroom, Diem is awed by the grandeur of the scene. She takes in the guests and is greeted warmly by Eleanor, Taran, and Lily. Each of the royal houses presents her with gifts, including a cloak, a healing potion, and a magical compass meant to guide her heart toward its truest desire. When Diem greets the Queen of Umbros, she recognizes her as the woman who gave her a prophecy the day Auralie went missing. This unnerves her, but she shakes off the memory and continues with the greetings. When members of House Hanoverre and House Benette try to challenge her right to the Crown, Diem handles them calmly but privately realizes that House Hanoverre’s actions suggest they are preparing for war.
Later, Diem retreats to a private room for some wine and reflection. She overhears Iléana speaking to Luther, claiming that Diem isn’t the real queen and that Luther should be on the throne with her. Luther dismisses Iléana’s comments and reaffirms his allegiance to Diem.
Diem and Aemonn share their first dance, and Diem struggles to understand his intentions. When he questions her about Henri, she falters for a moment but is interrupted by Taran. Jean Hanoverre then challenges her, demanding she demonstrate her powers. The other houses join in, insisting Diem show them her magic, but Diem refuses, explaining that it would be too dangerous.
Later that evening, Luther asks Diem to dance. As they do, Diem tries to focus on their conversation despite the growing attraction between them. Luther talks about making a plan to help her survive the Challenging. He also reassures her about Henri’s safety and swears his commitment to helping her protect the mortals, reminding her that they can make peace between the mortals and Descended. Diem is overwhelmed by emotion and struggles to speak.
The following day, Diem attends more House Receptions, deferring to Remis as agreed. When the houses suggest expelling the mortals, Diem becomes enraged and defends them. Afterward, she speaks to Andrei privately, asking him to be her adviser, but he refuses.
Diem meets with Lily and Teller in the dungeon, asking Teller to be her adviser. He is hesitant to leave Mortal City, and Diem worries about losing everything she once loved. Just then, Alixe rushes in, telling Diem that Luther needs her. Diem follows Alixe on Sorae, only to find her old home in ruins. Andrei has been killed in an attack. Consumed with anger and grief, Diem unleashes her magic, creating a swirling fire around the house and Andrei’s remains. The fire burns her clothes but not her skin. Luther arrives and finds her in the wreckage. They kneel together, mourning her lost home and father.
Teller stays with Diem for a few days before returning to school. Diem continues her meetings, and during a session with House Benette, she loses her temper over Andrei’s death. She criticizes herself for being selfish but stands her ground when the other houses threaten to challenge her again. She declares that they cannot intimidate her by hurting her family and vows to defend her people at any cost. Afterward, Luther tries to speak with Diem, but she is furious. She accuses him of breaking too many promises and reminds him that he cannot protect her or her family, pushing past him.
Diem, Teller, and Maura hold a makeshift funeral for Andrei, with Luther, Eleanor, Taran, Alixe, and Lily in attendance. Since Andrei’s body is missing, Diem and Teller bury his daggers in the ruins of their old home. Maura recites the Rite of Endings. Afterward, Diem visits Henri’s home, where Mr. Albanon invites her inside. However, Henri isn’t there. Mr. Albanon reassures Diem that Henri loves her but admits he is concerned about the person his son is becoming.
As Diem and her friends leave, Henri and Vance, a Guardian leader, show up. They are still angry with Diem for compromising their attack and siding with the Descended. Diem tries to explain her actions, terrified of losing Henri. She insists that some Descended are good people and expresses her desire to help them. Henri suggests starting fresh and letting past misunderstandings go. Diem agrees, and they arrange to meet privately the next day. However, when Henri kisses her, Diem feels trapped and pulls away, running into the forest toward the palace.
In the dungeons, Diem continues practicing her magic with Taran, Alixe, and Luther, but she is still unable to summon her powers. That night, she meets Henri and Vance in the grove. They reveal plans to seal one of the Crown’s boats. Diem pleads with them not to do so, but they defy her, with Henri shrugging in her direction as he and Vance disappear.
Two weeks later, Diem feels nervous about the upcoming Period of Challenging. She has not yet mastered her magic, and despite attending more House meetings, she still hasn’t found a solution. After a training session with Eleanor, Diem is reassured by her friend’s shared struggles and declares that Eleanor is like a sister to her.
Diem meets with the smaller houses, feeling less tension, but is unnerved when House Byrnum begins proposing various marriages. They threaten to challenge Diem unless she sanctions Roderyck Byrnum’s marriage to Lilian. This angers Luther, and Diem fears the Byrnums’ wrath.
Diem later brings Lily to the healers’ center, fulfilling a previous promise. While there, they discuss Lily’s future. Lily suggests marrying Roderyck to keep peace with House Byrnum, but Diem doesn’t want her to make such a sacrifice. In the following days, Diem trains alone with Taran as Alixe looks after Teller, and Luther has mysteriously disappeared. Diem becomes increasingly frustrated with her inability to summon her powers. Taran teases her about Luther, but Diem insists that she is betrothed to someone else, scolding Taran for prying into her personal life.
At her meeting with House Ghislaine, Diem is disappointed to learn that Luther isn’t present. The meeting is uneventful until Remis reveals that Luther has been stripped of his titles and removed from the council, with Aemonn appointed in his place. Diem is horrified but struggles to find the right words.
Alixe and Eleanor walk Diem back to her chambers after the meeting, discussing their fears that Aemonn might dismiss them because they are women with lesser powers. In her room, Diem is left alone to reflect on the Receptions and the Challenging. Feeling lost, she asks her compass to point her in the direction of her heart’s desire. It leads her to her old home, where Luther’s sword lies. Realizing that she craves a home, family, and love, Diem is startled when Teller appears, urging her to fight for what she wants and to remember Andrei’s lessons on survival.
Diem later uses the Orb of Answering to ask if Auralie and her birth father are alive. The orb answers yes to both questions.
Eleanor and Lily help Diem choose an outfit for the Challenging the next day, encouraging her to look her best. During a final practice session in the dungeon, Luther reappears, apologizing for his disappearance. He insists he will reveal all his secrets after the Challenging and gives Diem a note from Henri wishing her luck. Luther also reveals he is considering a bonded bargain with House Hanoverre to marry Iléana, which would prevent them from challenging Diem. Diem pleads with him not to sacrifice his happiness for her sake.
During the practice session, Diem still cannot summon her powers but learns to create a protective shield. Afterward, she insists on visiting Mortal City.
Diem takes her friends on a tour of Mortal City, showing them familiar places, including the healers’ center and Henri’s home. When they arrive, Mr. Albanon informs her that Henri has left on an undisclosed mission. He wishes her luck at the Challenging, but Diem feels hurt and confused, realizing Henri didn’t tell her where he was going.
Diem prepares for the Challenging, donning a sleek leather outfit. She asks her friends for their opinions, and they all approve. Before heading to the arena, she and Luther encounter Aemonn, the same horse that Luther had ridden the day they first met. Luther reveals that he borrowed Aemonn’s horse at that time, and Diem realizes that Aemonn, not Luther, is the Descended Henri witnessed killing the half-mortal boy.
As they ride together to the arena, Luther stays close to Diem, and she feels comforted by his presence and aura. Before the Challenging begins, Luther reveals that Teller and Lily recently kissed, and they discuss their siblings’ budding relationship. Luther then gives Diem a new medallion with dark gray diamonds for eyes, contrasting the sapphire-eyed phoenix medallion Aemonn had given her. Diem, moved by the gift, kisses Luther, losing herself in the moment until Remis interrupts. Teller offers Diem words of encouragement before the battle begins.
The Challenging begins with representatives from the 20 houses challenging Diem. Finally, Luther steps forward and challenges her on behalf of House Corbois.
Chaos erupts in the arena, and a furious Remis accuses Diem of sharing the details of their bonded bargain with Luther. Diem realizes her mistake and wonders if Luther’s challenge is his revenge on Remis for robbing him of his powers. Remis demands to know Luther’s intentions, and Luther declares that the Crown is rightfully his. Diem panics and refuses to fight Luther, but her advisers insist she must, as he is the strongest Descended, and the houses will only respect her if she defeats him. Diem, however, wants to fight Rhon Ghislaine, the Descended who killed his own half-mortal child while Diem was forced to watch.
Diem pulls Luther aside, and he begs her to fight him. He confesses that he only challenged her because he planned to die by suicide, using his magic to make it appear as though she had killed him. Diem is overcome with emotion, but she refuses to let him sacrifice himself for her.
Diem challenges Rhon in the arena, where he taunts and attacks her with spells. Despite using her protective shield, Diem is unable to summon the strength to fight back. Rhon attacks her again, and she falls into unconsciousness, where she experiences a vision of a gray-skinned man who calls her the Daughter of the Forgotten and urges her to fight for him. Diem rejects him, vowing to rule for the sake of her people, not for his.
When Diem regains consciousness, she feels a surge of power and uses her magic to defeat Rhon. Before killing him, she announces that she will spare his life, but as she releases him from her magic, Rhon attempts to stab her. Diem kills him with her magic and then uses her powers to wrap the arena in branches, levitating above the crowd. She dares anyone to challenge her again, and all the houses pledge their allegiance.
After the Challenging, Diem meets with Luther, feeling truly happy for the first time since her father’s death. Together, they travel to Fortos’s island of Coeurîle for Diem’s coronation. On the way, Luther shares that he is also half-mortal, revealing that his biological mother was Florille, whom Remis had an affair with. Remis killed her, and Luther bears the scars of the attack. Diem is deeply moved by his story, and they continue talking about their connection and the visions they have shared. Upon arrival, they part ways before the coronation.
Diem approaches the Kindred’s Temple, a sacred site where Descended cannot use their magic. Inside, she is greeted by the kings and queens of other realms. As they ask her about her past, Diem becomes uneasy when she sees the Umbros Queen and is referred to as the Daughter of the Forgotten again. The coronation ceremony begins, but suddenly lightning strikes the temple, destroying the heartstone. The royals accuse Diem of being an imposter, and Diem hears a familiar voice behind her—her mother’s—telling her to run.
In the epilogue, Auralie waits near the temple, ready to return to Lumnos after the coronation. She clutches vials of flameroot powder she has stolen for Diem. As the ceremony nears its end, Luther grabs Auralie, demanding to know what she is doing. He is surprised to learn that she doesn’t know Diem is the new queen. Vance appears, and the two begin discussing their mutual missions. As lightning strikes the temple again, Auralie panics and tells Diem to run when she appears in the doorway.
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Diem Bellator, overwhelmed by the glowing Crown that has appeared over her head, believes her selection as Queen of Lumnos is a mistake. Her brother, Teller, advises her to seek out Prince Luther Corbois or inform their father, Andrei, but Diem hesitates due to their recent argument. Princess Lily Corbois arrives, asserting that Diem must have Descended blood and warning her of the impending Period of Challenging, where rival houses may contest her right to the Crown. Diem worries about her lover, Henri Alban, who despises the Descended. Lily and Teller suggest she retreat to a cabin on the royal hunting grounds to gather her thoughts.
At the cabin, Diem’s rest is disturbed by her thoughts. Luther soon appears, and their unresolved conflict reignites. She demands answers about her mother’s disappearance, but Luther withholds information. They ride to the palace, where Diem is torn between attraction and anger toward Luther, whom she suspects of harming half-mortal children. At the palace, she meets the Corbois family, including Remis Corbois, who urges her to ally with them for protection. She defers her decision. Later, she forgives Lily for exposing her location to Luther. During a tense moment, Diem hears a mysterious voice urging her to fight, and Sorae, a guardian dragon of the Crown, appears. Luther reprimands the guards for their lapse in protection.
The next morning, Eleanor Corbois offers to accompany Diem to breakfast, providing insights into palace life and Luther’s role as Keeper of the Laws. Diem learns the significance of the Ascension Ball, where she must earn the favor of the houses. Aemonn Corbois suggests she align with a Descended for credibility. Diem is shocked to learn of Luther’s role in enforcing the laws that led to half-mortal deaths. In the dungeons, she meets Teller and Lily, who discuss the deadly Challenging. When Luther arrives, Diem is consumed by a need to fight him. Accepting her Descended nature, she demands Luther protect her loved ones in exchange for her alliance with House Corbois.
The following morning, Luther brings Diem breakfast and reveals his past aid to Auralie, her mother, against Ulther, the former king. He promises to return Auralie in two months. Eleanor helps Diem prepare for the Ascension Ball, offering insights on the Corbois family members. Diem reflects on the Descended and her potential to aid mortals. Later, Remis proposes leading the House Receptions on her behalf, but Diem remains uncertain. While wandering the palace, she encounters Henri, who demands answers about her Crown. She professes her love and asks him to be her King Consort. He agrees, but their moment is interrupted by Luther, who warns against publicizing their relationship for Henri’s safety.
Luther shows Diem a record of half-mortal children he has saved, revealing his and Auralie’s efforts to protect them. He urges her to choose Aemonn as her escort for political advantage, and she agrees. Diem writes to Henri, urging him to stay away from the ball for his safety. She later meets Teller and Lily in the dungeons, where they discuss Garath’s potential challenge. When Teller asks Diem to demonstrate her magic, she fails to summon it.
As Ulther’s funeral approaches, Eleanor warns Diem against wearing black, an offense at Descended funerals. At the ceremony, Luther recites a poem from Ulther’s late mate, Rapheol. When asked to light the pyre, Diem falters upon seeing Andrei and her friend Maura in the crowd. Sorae steps in to complete the task. Andrei later visits her, and they reconcile. Diem insists he act as her advisor, but Alixe warns against it, as he is a mortal.
Diem confesses her struggles with magic to Luther, who worries this will weaken her claim to the Crown. As they discuss her fate, they kiss, only to be interrupted by Eleanor and Taran. They insist on training her in magic and invite her to dinner. At the Corbois dinner, Diem is uneasy, particularly when Luther interacts with Iléana, igniting her jealousy. After dinner, she searches for Luther but finds him gone with Iléana.
Diem later encounters Luther being harsh toward the guards. After Sorae intervenes, Luther helps Diem when she trips, tending to her and asking how he can prove himself. She demands truth, and he vows loyalty before leaving. Preparing for the ball, Diem practices dancing with Lily and Teller. Luther apologizes for his prior behavior, and their growing connection unsettles Diem. Luther hints at the meaning of a vision they shared but is interrupted before explaining further.
After reviewing Teller’s research on the Descended, Diem receives a pendant from Aemonn bearing the Corbois sigil, symbolizing his protection. En route to the ball, she encounters Henri, who warns that the Guardians of the Everflame plan to attack the Descended. She orders Luther to imprison Henri for his safety and vows vengeance on anyone who harms him. She informs Luther of the impending attack, and he promises a bloodless resolution. With the palace at risk, Diem and Aemonn step into the ballroom, prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.
As Diem and Aemonn enter the ballroom, Diem is struck by the grandeur. She is warmly greeted by Eleanor, Taran, and Lily, and receives gifts from the royal houses, including a magical compass to guide her heart. When she meets the Queen of Umbros, Diem recognizes her as the woman who once prophesied Auralie’s disappearance, but she pushes the memory aside.
House Hanoverre and House Benette challenge Diem’s right to the Crown, and while she handles them calmly, she privately suspects Hanoverre is preparing for war. Later, she overhears Iléana urging Luther to claim the throne, but he reaffirms his loyalty to Diem.
Diem dances with Aemonn, uncertain of his true intentions. When he questions her about Henri, she falters before being interrupted. Soon after, Jean Hanoverre demands she prove her powers, but she refuses, calling it too dangerous.
That evening, Luther and Diem share a dance, discussing strategies for her survival. He reassures her about Henri and their goal of peace between mortals and Descended. Overwhelmed, Diem struggles to respond.
The next day, Diem navigates House Receptions, defending mortals when the houses propose their expulsion. Later, she asks Andrei to be her adviser, but he refuses. She then meets Teller in the dungeon, requesting his guidance, but he hesitates to leave Mortal City. Their conversation is cut short when Alixe warns that Luther needs her.
Diem follows Alixe to her old home, now in ruins, and finds Andrei dead from an attack. Grief-stricken, she unleashes her magic, engulfing the wreckage in fire. Luther finds her amid the destruction, and they mourn together.
In the following days, Diem continues her meetings but struggles with Andrei’s loss. House Benette’s arrogance provokes her, but she refuses to be intimidated. Furious at Luther for failing to protect her family, she pushes him away.
At Andrei’s funeral, Diem, Teller, and Maura bury his daggers, reciting the Rite of Endings. Later, she visits Henri’s home, where his father assures her of Henri’s love but warns of his growing darkness.
Henri and Vance confront Diem, still angry about her alliance with the Descended. Though Henri suggests a fresh start, Diem feels trapped when he kisses her and flees.
In the dungeon, Diem continues training but struggles to summon her powers. Later, Henri and Vance reveal their plan to steal a Crown ship. Diem pleads with them not to, but they ignore her warning.
As the Period of Challenging nears, Diem still cannot control her magic. House Byrnum pressures her to approve Roderyck Byrnum’s marriage to Lilian, threatening to challenge her if she refuses. Luther is enraged by their demands.
Diem brings Lily to the healers’ center and urges her not to marry for political gain. Meanwhile, Luther disappears, and Diem grows frustrated with her magic’s elusiveness. Aemonn replaces Luther on the council, shocking Diem. Seeking answers, she consults her magical compass, which leads her to Luther’s sword—symbolizing her longing for home, family, and love. Teller reminds her to fight for what she wants.
Using the Orb of Answering, Diem learns that both Auralie and her birth father are alive.
On the eve of the Challenging, Luther returns with a note from Henri and reveals his plan to marry Iléana to prevent House Hanoverre’s challenge. Diem begs him not to sacrifice his happiness.
Diem takes her friends to Mortal City, where she discovers Henri has left on a secret mission. As the Challenging approaches, she dons battle attire, and Luther gives her a medallion, mirroring Aemonn’s past gift but distinct in its dark gray stones. Moved, Diem kisses him before Remis interrupts.
During the Challenging, Luther unexpectedly steps forward to challenge Diem on behalf of House Corbois. Chaos ensues as Remis accuses Diem of betraying their bond. Luther reveals his intention to die in the fight, but Diem refuses to let him sacrifice himself. Instead, she challenges Rhon Ghislaine, the Descended who murdered his own half-mortal child.
During the battle, Rhon overpowers Diem, and she loses consciousness. In a vision, a gray-skinned figure calls her the “Daughter of the Forgotten” and urges her to fight for him. Diem rejects him, vowing to rule for her people, not him.
Awakening, Diem unleashes her magic, defeating Rhon. When he attempts to kill her, she strikes him down, then rises above the arena, commanding the houses’ allegiance.
After the Challenging, Diem and Luther journey to Coeurîle for her coronation. Along the way, he reveals that he is half-mortal, his mother murdered by Remis. They grow closer as he shares his past.
At the coronation, Diem is uneasy when she sees the Umbros Queen again. Just as the ceremony begins, lightning shatters the heartstone. The royals accuse Diem of being an imposter. A familiar voice—her mother’s—urges her to run.
In the epilogue, Auralie waits near the temple, unaware Diem is the new queen. Luther confronts her, shocked at her ignorance. Vance arrives, discussing their respective missions. When lightning strikes again, Auralie panics and shouts for Diem to flee.
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