Page 352 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Soft laughter echoed around the table. The young princess had kept safe on a farm on the outskirts of Olmstone, thanks to Tarly and his human friends who’d taken them in.

For the next two hours, they shared how their kingdoms were faring and what still needed to be rebuilt. They were committed to helping each other where they could with resources and workers.

When it ended, Reylan led Faythe away.

“Where are we going?”

“I found something you need to see.”

They wound through the castle, which was still in a state of repair. Faythe stopped by a torn painting, her hand joined in Reylan’s, straining with tension.

Faythe found herself caught in a moment of reflection. “After everything he’d done…he was never hoping for redemption, was he?”

Maverick—no, Callen’s portrait was torn. Two scars across his face. Faythe made an urgent note in her mind to have it restored.

“I was almost the one to kill him…” Reylan trailed off.

Faythe squeezed his hand.

“It was like he was waiting for it. As if he knew I’d come and he’d already surrendered.”

“The goal that kept him fighting was fulfilled,” Faythe whispered.

She’d never expected to harbor any feeling for Maverick, but after hearing his final message, Faythe could at least understand him. He’d done it all for Zaiana. Faythe knew that kind of love. The kind that made villains out of people in its name. She’d sacrificed for Reylan and put the world at risk, and she had no regret.

“Except Zaiana rejected it all,” Reylan said.

“Her place among us will always be open. When she’s ready…she’ll come back.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Faythe turned to him, casting away the somberness with a grin. She poked his chest. “You’ve finally stopped pretending you hate her.”

He rolled his eyes, grabbing her wrist and pulling her flush against him. “There’s a kingdom that needs a leader before it falls to anarchy. I acknowledge she’s important.”

“You’re always the first to see Kyleer and ask about her the moment he returns.”

“I have to make sure he comes back with four limbs and two eyes after his dangerous monthly venture.”

Faythe chuckled, and Reylan smiled before leaning his head down to kiss her. She wanted more after their long day of talking kingdom politics and catching up with their friends.

Before she could push him against the wall, Reylan pulled back, grinning at her look of protest. “After,” he murmured, pressing his lips to hers once more before taking her hand and resuming their walk.

They headed down several steps, so Faythe assumed they were underground by now. She couldn’t begin to guess what he might have found in his many scouts of this castle as they decided what to use it for and what needed the most repairs after the century it had spent overrun by the enemy dark fae with no order.

The room he led her into was dark, and she coughed from the dust a few steps inside. Stuffing her nose into her elbow, she surveyed the shelves, which appeared littered with trinkets and artifacts. Deeper within, Faythe saw something large leaning against the far back wall, covered in an old sheet. It was what Reylan let go of her hand to approach. When he pulled back the sheet, Faythe jumped at her own reflection.

It was a mirror…sharp around the edges, with no framing.

“Is that…?” Faythe couldn’t be sure if she wanted it to be what she thought.

“A Dresair mirror, yes.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because my reflectionwavedat me when I first discovered it. Ask Kyleer—he almost ran out of here screaming.”

Faythe snickered. “I’m sure he’d have a different account of that.”

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