Page 29 of A Flame of the Phoenix

But no one had been to Valgard, Mordecai’s stronghold. What secrets or revelations could she uncover in the land more elusive than Lakelaria? It was a highly tempting curiosity.

“It will still be here after a week or two, depending on my business over there.”

She made up her mind.

Tauria couldn’t pass up an opportunity to gain intel with a ticket straight into the heart of the continent’s enemy territory.

“You would trust me with you?” she tested.

“You came with me despite your dying mate. I’ve been thinking I was wrong about you.”

“What did you think before?”

“That you had conspired with Nikalias against me. But that would be averyfoolish thing to do, and you are no fool—are you, Tauria?”

“I warned him not to follow, but I knew he would anyway.” It killed her how easily the lies about Nik had started to flow.

To slither away from his close proximity, Tauria resumed her work, bending to scoop more books into her hands.

“I will assign staff for this.”

“I would like to do it myself, or—” Tauria swallowed her resentment to have to askpermission.“If you would allow it, I would very much like to recruit my own selection to help restore the library. And hire staff. Discover what noble houses might still be alive to resume an orderly court here. I was hoping to venture out into the city.”

The capital city of Calenmoore had no high walls like in High Farrow and Rhyenelle. Fenstead was a peaceful nation that had upheld its values of peace and acceptance when the war broke out. Even now, Tauria would not wish any barricades to be inplace, nor would she build them. She would fight for what her people believed in.

“It is not safe for you. Fenstead has long been left to a state of anarchy, I’m afraid.”

“Then why usurp my father’s throne and slaughter all those people to let a great kingdom fall to ruin?” she snapped.

It was rare for Mordecai to show any sympathy, but he did right now, even if only a flicker before he looked away.

“Eventually, Marvellas wants you back on the throne—as dark fae. You would not have been killed all that time ago when your kingdom was taken. The instruction was to capture you for Transition.”

Tauria stiffened against a shiver at the alternate fate that could have easily been hers.

“That’s really her end goal—for all of us to reign as dark fae?”

“We are the strongest species.”

“Because you feed on humans,” she said, unable to hide her disgust.

Mordecai came closer again, and Tauria’s grip on her books tightened.

“I have already told you, the dark fae are not all cruel, and humans can enjoy being fed from. At the end of this war, only resistance will be cut from humanity’s weakness.”

His certainty that he would achieve his dark fae reign grated on her nerves. While he wasn’t forcing her to change now, and she’d been adamant against it, she wasn’t such a fool to think she was safe from the Transition forever.

“When do we leave for Valgard?” she asked.

“In a week.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Then I should like to enjoy my kingdom before we leave,” she said to excuse herself from his company.

Tauria didn’t wait for a response. She placed the pile of her books onto the shelf, forced a pleasant smile to the high lord, and left.

Her thoughts were a storm, and her magick could hardly be bottled in her restless state. She played with wisps of wind between her fingers, which helped soothe her emotions all the way to her guest room.

---