Page 241 of A Flame of the Phoenix

He hadn’t feared death for a long time, so it was quite irritating for sorrow and disappointment to fill his chest now.

I’m not done here.

Was it the curse of all dying souls, no matter how prepared for death, to find unfulfilled desires they never strived for when their days were vast and uncertain? When time was their gift with no knowable countdown?

Wicked, tormenting thoughts.

Tarly might be losing his mind in his final hours. Believing he’d have days left broke a breathy chuckle from him now.

“You look like shit.”

His eyes, which had begun to close, flew open at that irritating, infuriating, but damn relieving voice.

He looked up as Nik’s footsteps left the soft grass and crunched over the rocks. But it was Tauria, her steps hurried after whacking Nik’s chest, who lit up his world.

They’d left each other after the horrific events of the near wedding in Olmstone. He’d betrayed her, giving up her escape location thinking it would save his sister, Opal, but he’d been double-crossed by his father and Mordecai, who planned to Transition her to dark fae anyway. His sister was now safe in a human’s farm home with her mother, far from here, but he’d never gotten the chance to explain this to Tauria and beg for her forgiveness.

So to his surprise, when she dropped down in front of him with nothing but concern over her delicate features, he didn’t know why she wasn’t upset with him.

Along with Tauria, Asari came bounding toward him. The white wolf sniffed him furiously and licked his face in greeting.

“You didn’t find any cure for this yet?” Tauria asked, assessing his graying skin, which had spread up his neck, touching his jaw now.

A feminine gasp drew his attention to a small dark fae who stood a little behind Nik.

“What type of creature caused that?” she asked.

“This is Edith. She’s a friend,” Tauria explained. She must have felt his tension and seen the weariness in his stare. He’d never encountered a dark fae on good terms before, and he didn’t let go of his reservation around Edith either.

“There is no cure,” he answered. Tarly’s hand cupped Tauria’s at his face. “I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

“I know why you did it. There’s no need for apologies now. We need to get you help, because we have so much work still to do, Tarly Wolverton. You’re not allowed to die.”

“It’s over for me, Tauria. But I need to ask for something…for you to carry a message to someone for me?—”

“You’re going to tell her yourself,” Nik cut in. He stood tall, cross-armed, with a deep frown, as if disappointed in him.

“I piss you off even by dying,” Tarly sulked.

“It’s you giving up that’s pissing me off. It’s pathetic.”

“Stop being mean to him.” Tauria reprimanded Nik.

“I’d be worried if he was anything else,” Tarly said. He was so tired, letting his eyes slip closed.

He only got a second of dark peace when a sharp slap across his cheek snapped him wide-awake. Tarly stared at Tauria in bemusement.

“You can’t sleep,” she said firmly.

Tarly tipped his head back again with a groan. The clouds were thick, debating a storm, but the sun glowed behind them, fighting to break through.

“Nerida should be here,” he said quietly.

Tarly assumed Nik would have told Tauria everything. Her features twitched, and she scanned along the bank.

“We hoped she would be, but we may need to make camp for a few days and hope she still makes it,” Tauria said.

“I don’t have days,” he said. He knew that in his core.

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