Glow of the Everflame

Luther Corbois is the prince of Lumnos. His father is Remis Corbois, his adoptive mother is Avana Corbois, and his younger sister is Lily. Luther’s birth mother is a mortal woman named Florille. He tells Diem the truth about his parentage near the end of the novel to explain why he is loyal to her, her mother Auralie, and the mortals. Luther has never felt accepted by his parents; Avana resents him, and his father punishes him for his past decision to secretly forge a connection to his birth mother, Florille. Remis even tried to kill Luther when he discovered this, but Luther’s powers were too strong. However, Remis did succeed in killing Florille, thereby robbing the young Luther of this essential relationship.

Luther is a devoted and loyal person who vows to protect and follow Diem as soon as the Crown appears above her head. Despite his constant pledges of allegiance, Diem remains skeptical of Luther’s loyalties, mainly because she questions what lies beneath his steely exterior. She cannot help but see him as the man who endangered her mother in the village alley during the events of Spark of the Everflame, and she now fears that he resents her for taking the Crown that he expected to inherit. Luther also goads Diem whenever he can, and the two engage in frequent battles of wits, often arguing, bantering, and flirting. They have intense feelings for each other, even though Diem is particularly hesitant to admit to them. Luther is far more open about his romantic interest in Diem, and his professions of affection confuse her, largely due to her lingering, misguided attachment to Henri. Despite Diem’s questions about Luther, she frequently remarks on his handsome looks and acknowledges her physical attraction to him.

Luther acts as an archetypal guide for Diem throughout Glow of the Everflame. Because he is intimate with the realities of palace life and the Descended customs, he helps Diem to orient herself to this version of Lumnos life. He stays by her side throughout the novel, protecting and advising her whenever he can. The two ultimately fall in love, and this passionate connection only intensifies Luther’s desire to protect Diem.

Teller Bellator is Diem’s younger brother. His parents are Andrei and Auralie Bellator. Teller and Diem have a close and loving relationship, and Diem tries to do everything in her power to protect Teller. Therefore, when she moves to the palace, she feels terrified by the idea that she is abandoning her brother. However, Teller starts spending more time at the palace, too, as he is pursuing a romantic relationship with Luther’s sister, Lily Corbois. Diem often meets with Teller and Lily in the dungeons, and these interludes help the siblings maintain their bond despite their new physical distance. Teller is a supportive and loving person who never questions Diem’s right to the throne. He urges her to accept her calling and never doubts the existence of her magical powers. As a static character, Teller offers Diem a sense of peace, safety, comfort, and reliability amidst her otherwise tumultuous world.

Remis Corbois is Luther and Lily’s father and Avana’s husband, serving as a reliable figurehead of the Corbois family. However, Diem soon realizes that Remis might not have her best interests in mind. She also notices how cruelly he treats Luther, and she later discovers that Remis tried to kill the young Luther after discovering his son’s determination to forge a connection with this estranged mortal birth mother, Florille. This revelation alters Diem’s view of Remis.

Remis pretends to protect Diem throughout the novel, but he does little to help her when the other houses contest her right to the throne during the Challenging. Diem is only able to manipulate Remis when she promises not to tell anyone that their broken bonded bargain has caused him to lose his magical powers. Remis’s presence adds tension to the narrative because Diem cannot always trust him, and his intentions are often shrouded.

Eleanor Corbois is one of the many Corbois cousins. Diem comes to love her when she first enters the palace. Kind and thoughtful, Eleanor immediately endears herself to Diem by offering advice and comforting her when she feels discouraged. Diem names Eleanor as her advisor despite the other family members’ protests. Diem values the idea of placing competent women in positions of power, and she wants to honor Eleanor by selecting her as one of her most trusted confidantes. Like Luther, Eleanor acts as another guide for Diem, and she also provides Diem with a source of comfort and stability amidst this new world.

Andrei Bellator is Diem’s adoptive father, Teller’s birth father, and Auralie’s husband. Diem and Andrei are estranged at the start of the novel due to a recent argument that has caused a rift between them. Ashamed of herself for arguing with Andrei, Diem is afraid to tell him that the gods have chosen her as Lumnos’s queen. She is convinced that he will reject her and accuse her of lying about her identity. However, Andrei shows Diem nothing but support and acceptance when he discovers the truth, proving himself to be the loyal and dependable father figure that Diem has always believed him to be.

Andrei dies under mysterious circumstances in the latter half of the novel, and his loss profoundly changes Diem. She is overcome by grief and sorrow, but she is also enraged that someone would kill him to intimidate her. His death marks a turning point in her Quest for Self-Discovery and ushers her over the threshold that separates childhood from adulthood.