Page 313 of A Flame of the Phoenix

He tried not to count the seconds, but they drummed in his mind.

Then, there it was: another frayed golden thread floating in this darkening space. Tarly strained, pulling Tauria’s thread toward it, but the distance felt too great for the ends to meet.

“Help me,” Tarly gritted out, pushing his magick harder, but he needed Nik to reach back.

“I’m trying,” Nik said desperately.

His thread inched closer. So close. Tarly panted, giving everything he had, until he could grip onto Nik’s thread. Then, with a strained cry, he pushed himself a final time to bring the ends together and fuse their connection.

Energyerupted.It cast him out abruptly, which severed his magick output. Tarly was slammed back into his surroundings, caught by Nerida. It was like something physical had pummeled into him.

His right hand pressed to the floor, feeling the cool stone beneath it.

My right hand.

Tarly looked down at the sling he’d pulled his bad arm out of instinctively to catch himself. He lifted that arm that had lost all feeling and mobility, but…not anymore.

He examined his hand and flexed his fingers. The skin was still gray, but he could feel again. Maybe it was only temporary with magick still coursing through him, but Tarly rubbed his chest, feeling lighter than he had since the bite first happened.

“Your arm…” Nerida noticed.

She took his gray hand, running her gentle touch over the skin, and smiled.

“Nik…” Tauria’s voice was weak, but at the sound of it…

Tarly and Nerida turned their incredulous attention toward her.

He’d done it. He’d really done it.

Nerida whimpered, leaning into him, as the weight of relief bore down on them all.

“Her wound still needs healing,” Tarly said, lifting his hand again even though he felt exerted beyond his limit.

Nerida stopped him and retrieved her pouch. “You need to recover, or you’ll harm yourself. You did absolutely phenomenal work, Tarly. I’ll give her something for the pain, and I have some medicines that will aid natural healing. We need to get her somewhere warm and comfortable. But the worst is overcome, thanks to you.”

Tarly sat back on his knees, in complete disbelief over the power he’d used that had been dormant within him all along. Though he wouldn’t have been strong enough to save Tauria on his own, even if he had tapped into his healing before.

His sight fell on the empty Phoenix Blood vial, and he swiped it up. He was so beholden to Marlowe, yet he would never getto thank her. The loss of her struck all over again, and Tarly pocketed the vial as if it were a token of her he would carry.

Nik lifted Tauria carefully, following Nerida and Tarly out of the room.

He was beginning to let go of the adrenaline that had fueled him—until he was stunned to a halt just outside the door.

Fae and dark fae surrounded them, all clad in black uniforms, no sign of Olmstone purple. Leading them…was Chief Zainaid.

“You continue to find yourselves in perilous situations, it seems,” he said by way of greeting.

Tarly’s spine locked. Last he’d seen the chief, he’d explained his allegiance to Dakodas wasn’t true, but a lot could have changed since then, and his appearance now raised his guard.

“Have you come to apprehend us?” Tarly asked.

“I’m afraid so.”

There were too many soldiers for them to fight their way out. Especially with Tauria wounded and Nerida without her Waterwielding.

Zainaid noticed Tarly’s assessment. “Don’t make this a fight. The full moon rises in two weeks—you will not be held in the cells for long before your Transition. Four royals at once… Dakodas and Mordecai will be very pleased indeed.”

A shudder racked his body. Zainaid played his role so well Tarly was beginning to doubt his allegiance still held to his Wolverlon name.

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