Page 71 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Her sight flicked behind him, and he caught her meaning.

Faythe said, “You and I might be another crossing of paths neither of us expected tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

Faythe inhaled a long breath, tipping her head back. She engrossed herself in the flames, but she was lost to her own mind. “I’ve never been fond of chess—I much prefer cards—but it’s all I can see. A board of moves and countermoves. So many pieces to play, and winning cannot be without sacrifice.”

“What are you saying?”

He had a growing sense of unexplainable determination, and when Faythe spoke, he finally knew what he had to do.

“That you can either stay the king, hiding behind every other piece, or take the guise of a pawn and step into the real danger of the board.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Tauria

Tauria hadn’t considered the means of travel when Mordecai suggested she go with him to Valgard. It made sense he would fly with her, but her skin still crawled even now her feet were on the ground and she’d gained some distance.

At least she hadn’t come alone, and she was relieved when Mordecai even suggested she bring Edith along with her so she’d feel more at ease with familiar company. The dark fae had flown herself, slower than Mordecai could travel.

She had barely been able to take in the view of Valgard as dark sea turned to land beneath them, but what she did observe was how gloomy and barren these lands were. Unnaturally so. It wasn’t just in sight—Tauria felt it within herself. Sinking down, when her palm rested to the chilled, dry land, she couldn’t reach for any roots of life.

“It wasn’t always like this,” Mordecai said at her clear observations.

He’d landed them atop a parched hill, where she could see a stone city close by. It reminded her of Olmstone, but where thoselands had a breath of warmth and bright beauty, Valgard was overcast with darkness, like a curse.

“When did it change?” she asked, following him the rest of the way.

“During the Dark Age. People have since whispered that because of my actions, the Gods cursed my lands to this infertility.”

“How do you feed your people?”

“We still have fresh water supply, and they have learned to grow vegetables and feed for the livestock in domes of glass. There are several with your talent who inspire nature, and many others with abilities that help.”

“My talent… you forced florakinetics here from Fenstead?”

“My kind can be born with abilities too, though far rarer than the fae. But what might shock you is that there are ordinary fae who have lived generations here too, and humans.”

It didn’t answer her question, but it was a curious enlightenment. Tauria had long believed only the ruthless dark fae occupied this island. She didn’t know what it meant to discover that was not the truth.

She realized why Mordecai hadn’t flown them right to his castle. He’d wanted to show her the lands and begin to teach her more, perhaps sway her mind and her heart from what it had been taught all her life on the mainland. Tauria wasn’t going to be so easily convinced. She looked upon the sad soils of Valgard and stood beside the culprit of its downfall.

Edith followed a few steps behind them as they passed through his city walls. Every guard in black bowed their heads to Mordecai, but he paid them no attention. He walked casually but with a dominant presence, hands clasped behind his back and silently staring toward his black castle.

“What business is it you have here if Marvellas is on the mainland?” Tauria tried.

“You are familiar with the running of a kingdom. A ruler can only leave it in the hands of their council for so long. Otherwise we risk breeding usurpers.”

Tauria felt foolish for asking when she knew this, but in her defense, she didn’t know Valgard was a kingdom that still had political structure.

“Is your heir here?” she asked.

“No.”

She was getting no further with her burning curiosity about his child, but Tauria had come here with the hope to discover more about Mordecai and his heir somehow.

“If you are not wed, won’t your council challenge the legitimacy of them?”

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