Page 246 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“I wanted to use what time I had left to make some kind of impact in the war, not search for a fantasy of a cure. And I…I tried to make you hate me so you wouldn’t hurt so much when I’m gone.” His hand slipped down over her collar as he listenedto the song in her chest. “Your heart is so full and beautiful, and I wanted you to keep it whole for when you finally give it to someone.”

“It’s yours. You took it long ago, and I took yours in return. That was an exchange our souls made before our minds could find a hundred reasons why we shouldn’t.”

She was so precious it hurt. Sohisthat he couldn’t believe it.

“I love you, Amelie Valaria Nerida Da’Naid. I have for some time.”

Her eyes widened, and he knew it wasn’t his declaration of love for her.

“How did you know?”

“Your father was the King of Fenstead. I came across a book once in the Livre des Verres. It documented frequent and consistent travels to Lakelaria taken by the King before Tauria was born. When I found you, you were a traveler of many centuries, wanting to stay hidden. So I knew you had to have a mother wealthy enough to potentially have spies. You were afraid when you learned who I was, because a link to another royal could get you found out quicker.” Tarly felt so much more alive from her presence and her magick that he sat up with more ease than he’d felt in weeks. He cupped her cheek then ran his fingers through her hair. His eyes marveled over every perfect inch of her. “It makes so much sense. You’ll make a spectacular queen, Nerida. If that’s what you still want to be called.”

She nodded, tearing up more. “To the people I’m Amelie, but I want to always be Nerida with you.”

“My Nerida,” he said tenderly.

He kissed her. Deeply and only once.

“My Sully,” she murmured against his lips.

That pulled a genuine chuckle from him, and he circled an arm around her, tucking her against him, never feeling so light from any burden than while she was in his reach.

“I want to hear everything that happened in Lakelaria,” he said.

“Then you have to tell me where you went. If you’ve been wandering around in self-pity all this time, I’m going to be very mad again.”

Tarly smiled though she couldn’t see it. He kissed her neck, running a hand up her spine. “I’m so relieved you’re here. I promise to stay by your side from now on. I promise tofightto stay here against the odds. For you.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

Nikalias

When Tarly returned, Nik was both surprised and unsurprised Nerida had found him first. They’d let Nik get a few hours of sleep alongside Tauria, but he’d expended it on an urgent call he’d felt from Zaiana through Nightwalking.

He was still dealing with the devastation of Marlowe’s death, now discovering Kyleer had almost met his end too. It was another blow to those he considered dear and friends. Nik didn’t know if becoming dark fae was a fate much better, and he was dangerously antsy to be reunited with Faythe and the others.

Faythe.He couldn’t begin to fathom how she was coping with her grief. She’d suffered and lost more than any of them, and he feared deeply for her well-being with these catastrophic events.

He felt deeply for Jakon too, haven grown somewhat close to him and Marlowe after Faythe first left High Farrow. Nik trusted Jakon as a close friend.

Tauria’s presence wrapped around him from behind, soothing some of his sharpness. Her delicate hands massagedhis shoulders before slipping around his chest. Her soft lips pressed to his jaw, and he drowned in the bliss of her touch and scent for a moment.

“Did you get any sleep at all?” she asked, already knowing he hadn’t.

He really needed it, but the never-ending movements of war made such a thing scarce.

“I’ll be fine. It’s you who needs the strength for today. How are you feeling?”

Tauria shuffled around on her knees until she was in front of him. Her face of sorrow spoke all. “I know war is unbiased to pure hearts, but Marlowe…how is that fair in any sense?”

“It’s not. Her death was senseless and brutal, but it won’t be in vain nor forgotten. Faythe will exact her vengeance on Malin, and we’ll help her take on the world that has turned too cruel.”

Tauria sighed, and he shared her burden of tiredness and fading hope. She sat back, fiddling with the loose ends of her wild, unbound tresses. “Can you braid my hair?” she asked.

Nik smiled. “The last time I did, you took it out immediately and called for a handmaiden.”

“They might have better skill, but I much prefer your hands.”

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