Page 42 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“We’ve been waiting for you, Tauria Stagknight.”

Her cover hadn’t lasted long.

“Though don’t expect a warm welcome.”

“What is your name, and where are we going?”

Tauria realized she should have asked both of these questions before she followed this fae out the shop and down several familiar alleyways. Her mind was only at ease becauseof how well she knew the labyrinth of Calenmoore, so she could make a quick escape if needed, and she had her magick and staff to achieve it.

“My named is Tallia, and you’re going to see that even though you abandoned us, we never lost our fight for Fenstead.”

Tauria’s whole body flushed hot. A marble grew in her throat since she couldn’t protest or deny the accusation of having abandoned them. There wasn’t a day since she’d left that she hadn’t thought of Fenstead and remained determined to reclaim it one day—but all this time, she was about to discover, there’d been a resistance lurking in the shadows.

Tallia approached a drain used to prevent flooding. She scanned both sides of the lane before crouching, hauling the heaving metal open, and looking up at Tauria expectantly.

This was one series of passages running below her kingdom Tauria had never ventured. She didn’t enjoy being underground.

“I assume you can’t be gone long.” Tallia sighed, impatient. “So if you want to start proving you’re still our queen, hurry up.”

Tauria may hold the title, but she’d lost the respect of people like Tallia. She understood, and this was her chance to start proving that her heart and her devotion would always be with Fenstead.

She climbed down the drain ladder. Her boots sloshed in the shallow pool at the bottom. These drains were hollowed-out cylinders, dark and cold.

Tauria followed Tallia, putting complete faith in her that this wasn’t a trap. It may be reckless, but Tauria didn’t have the time or the luxury to play it safe.

She soon picked up on voices, which sharpened all her senses, putting her on high alert.

“Keep quiet and just observe,” Tallia warned under her breath.

The next tunnel opened into an expansive space. The floors were grates of metal, with a pole as a barrier on the balcony. As Tauria eased out, tucking herself behind some people, she couldn’t believe the masses of bodies gathered several levels high in this underground system.

Those who spoke came from below, and Tauria couldn’t help her curiosity, slipping through the gaps between bodies to edge closer to the rail and peer over.

Half a dozen fae stood as the center of everyone’s attention. A gasp left her when she recognized two of them. General Saki Corrigan and Lord Berron Lumiah. They’d both been close with her father—she’d seen them often around the castle.

“Tauria’s return means nothing for us now,” someone from the crowd spoke out.

Her skin crawled to have intruded while she was the topic of conversation, but she needed to hear this.

“This is what we have been waiting for,” Lord Berron said calmly.

“One hundred years ago, not now.”

“Perhaps exactly now. One hundred years ago, we were broken and devastated. It was not the time to fight back but to rally the force we are today—for this moment.”

“We don’t need her. We’ve done just fine without her.Youshould rule, not her. You’ve been here all this time, not her.”

Tauria’s spine locked. A spark of hope had ignited at finding Lord Berron, who’d been so kind and encouraging to her, often referred to as an uncle. But if she found out he’d led this resistance with the motive to take her throne…

“Tauria Stagknight is our queen. Anyone who opposes that should speak now, as we are not on the same side, and I do not consider you an ally of Fenstead.”

Relief slackened her posture.

Tauria couldn’t stand here and watch them debate her integrity. She pulled down her hood. Gripping the pole, she ducked under it, leaning her weight over the edge as she slipped her shortened staff free.

“Loyal until the very end, Lord Berron,” she announced, seizing the heavy attention of the hall as it broke into murmurs.

He glanced up, and the moment he smiled she knew she never should have doubted him for a second.

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