Page 348 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Faythe was silent for a moment. He scented the salt of her tears.

“That’s a beautiful idea,” she whispered.

They walked through the woodland in mournful silence. Faythe had planted a matching tombstone for Jakon next toMarlowe’s. Nik wished he’d been here when they’d fought Marvellas… He was racked with torment, wondering if things could have turned out differently if they’d just had more help.

It was hard to accept the two fearless, gentle humans weren’t coming back, but seeing their stones side by side, Nik wanted to believe their spirits lived on in these woods together.

“I want to come back as often as I can to visit them,” Faythe said.

“You know this kingdom will always be your home too.” His arm draped over her shoulders, pulling her into a side-embrace. They stood there for some time in reflective silence.

“You’re going to make a strong queen, Faythe. It’s always been in you, even before we learned of your heritage.”

“I don’t really know what I’m doing,” she confessed.

Faythe hadn’t grown up in court and around politics, but still, he had every belief in her.

“Just remember to always have Faythe,” Nik mused.

Faythe’s head angled back, hooking a brow of surprise at him. Nik smirked.

“Izaiah might have mentioned it. To live like death is a game, love is a prize, and danger is desire. It’s a mantra he’s taken on in full stride, coaching others by it.”

Faythe rolled her eyes, but the lighter mood relieved some of their burden for a moment.

Her head rested on his shoulder. “I’m so glad you made it, Nik.”

His arm tightened around her. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“It’s time,” Reylan’s voice interrupted gently from behind them.

As they turned, Nik playfully grabbed Faythe, pulling her into a crushing hug.

“You’ve had a mission to steal her from us since the moment you laid eyes on her. I don’t think I’m ready for you to succeed.”

Faythe was going back to Rhyenelle, and he didn’t know when they would next meet again. She laughed, trying to wriggle out of his grip.

Nik let her go, tousling her hair as she batted his hands away.

“Rhyenelle is always a stop beside Fenstead,” she said with a wink.

Nik smiled watching her leave with Reylan. He called one last time, “I’ll await my coronation and wedding invite!”

Faythe’s giggles as she leaned into Reylan settled in his chest before she disappeared out of sight.

Nik headed back toward the waterfall clearing, finding the most beautiful creature sitting by the lake, running her fingers along the surface of the water. Nik sat, tucking himself tightly in behind Tauria.

“Faythe is leaving,” he said.

“We already said our farewells,” Tauria said, with a hint of mischief that told him it might not be long at all before they saw her again.

“What’s next for us?” he asked, eager to dream of the bright future that opened up for them. Nik swept her hair over her shoulder, planting tender kisses down her neck.

“We rebuild.”

“Of course.”

“We have two kingdoms to restore.”

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