Page 248 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Nik refrained from rolling his eyes before hooking Tarly’s good arm and hauling him up. “We’ll be close enough to hear if you call,” he said over his shoulder as he walked Tarly away.

The wolves stayed with Nerida, Tauria, and Edith.

Nik chewed at his breakfast, enjoying the peaceful walk with the crashing waves of Stenna’s waterfall. Tarly wasn’t always terrible company, he supposed. In fact, since he’d returned last night with Nerida, he’d noticed a change in the Olmstone prince—one Nik thought he could relate to.

“You had a mate who rejected you?” Nik said, realizing how insensitive it came out.

“Thanks for the reminder,” Tarly grumbled.

“I only meant… Shit, sorry. I guess I’m trying to say I’m glad you found a bond just as strong elsewhere.”

Tarly curved an apprehensive brow at him.

“Is this your attempt at atoning for centuries’ worth of being an ass to me now I’m dying?”

Nik’s mouth quirked. “Maybe.”

“It’s unnerving.”

He chuckled, tossing the stick after finishing his breakfast.

Tarly spoke again. “Do you think it’s possible for someone to have two mates? A second chance?”

Nik contemplated. “I don’t think anything is impossible, but I’ve never heard of such a thing. But people can find feelings for another as strong as a mating bond can inspire. That’s not uncommon.”

That didn’t seem to satisfy Tarly.

Nik added, “Is a mating bond really that important to you?”

“It’s not that,” Tarly defended. “It just…I can’t explain how I never felt this pull to Isabel. It was different, like I recognized her as mine instinctively, but the feelings took time. With Nerida, there’s a different kind of instinct. It’s like I’m in tune with her emotions, her actions…with her, it’s sometimes like we’re one person.”

Nik mulled over Tarly’s explanation. “Have you tried mating with her?”

Tarly’s cheeks flushed. “No.”

“That’s one sure way to know.”

“And what if it’s true and she is my mate?”

“What if she isn’t? Would it change your feelings at all for her?”

“No,” Tarly said immediately.

“Then just enjoy what you have. If you discover she is your mate, you can search for answers then, or embrace the blessing and forget about the tricks of fate.”

Tarly looked at him again like he didn’t know who was really walking beside him. “Who knew you could be kind of wise?”

“A lot of people know. My wisdom is a privilege.”

“Arrogant, as always.”

Nik didn’t see this coming, but Tarly had other sides to him he kept guarded from the world. Tauria had once said if he opened himself to see it, Nik would find he had more in common with Tarly than either of them wanted to admit. What he knew with absolute certainty: Tauria was always right.

Nik felt the tug of distress within him before any sound. His body whirled back, but they’d traveled through the trees and couldn’t see Nerida or Tauria anymore.

“They’re in trouble,” Nik informed him, already sprinting back with Tarly close behind.

“You can still feel Tauria without your bond?”

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