Page 310 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Her eyes flicked over his head, filling with more fear. “Behind you?—!”

Nik twisted his head to find another image of Tauria, arm raised to strike him.

A blade flew through the air, lodging into her neck, and she gave a wail unlike any person or creature. The illusion the Dresair wore of Tauria broke off in fragments as its body contorted and writhed, shedding skin to unveil the dark, spindly body beneath.

Nik tore his sight from the gruesome scene to where the path of the blade had come from. He blinked at Tarly, wondering if this was a new vision.

A horrific nightmare.

Something hot trickled over his hand, drawing his attention back to the sword he held. Then reality…bone-trembling, world-shattering clarity started to settle in his mind.

This was no vision.

Tauria’s eyes rolled back when he dared to face what he’d done. He caught her head on his shoulder, and the worst panic of his existence tore a scream from his throat.

“Tarly, help me!” he yelled.

Nik didn’t know what to do. Tauria’s blood stained his hands from a fatal blow he’d been tricked into.

You’re so weak, the Dresair had taunted. And it was true, for how could he have mistaken his true mate for thatmonster?

Tarly kneeled by them, and he swore. “We need to get back to Nerida,” he said hurriedly.

“The blade…”

“Keep it where it is—she’ll only bleed out faster if you remove it.”

Oh Gods. Oh Gods. FUCK.

Nik was losing his mind to sleep deprivation now crashing into surges of adrenaline that sped his heart to a dangerous degree.

He couldn’t lose Tauria. No, he couldn’tlivewithout Tauria.

“Stay with me, love, please.”

He kept whispering his pleas though her eyes were closed. Nik tried to keep track of her heart, but his was too frantic, slamming in his ears.

Nik followed Tarly vacantly, only registering a change of illumination with how it stung his eyes to be released from the brilliant white surroundings and enter into a dimly lit room.He blinked desperately to keep his sights on measuring Tauria’s chest rising.

A loud gasp flicked his attention up to Nerida, who dropped a thick rope to cover her mouth.

“Help her!” Nik yelled.

He lay Tauria down on the ground.

“Nik, I…I don’t have my magick,” Nerida said quietly.

That realization slammed into him with the force of a warhammer.

Every second counted down to Tauria’s last, and without a healer…she didn’t stand a chance.

“Tarly,” he snapped. “You said you have healing magick in you.”

“I haven’t even tried to touch it yet!”

“You’re trying now.” Nik gripped his jacket, pulling him down. He didn’t have time to be nice. “Nerida, you must be able to guide him.”

“This wound…it’s grave. Even I would struggle?—”

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