Page 252 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“Thank you,” she said, gathering her breath.

“How in the Nether did my blood open it?” Tarly stared at his hand, which Nerida was healing. The blue glow of her magick provided the only source of light in the tunnel.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I was curious about your lineage when I sensed the essence of healing magick within you that you didn’t even know about yourself. Your mother had it too—you knew that. I didn’t know for sure, as it wasn’t directly documented back in your family tree in any books I found, but through several links and guesses, I began to believe your mother’s line came from Hilia herself.”

The claim was bemusing.

“Wasn’t Hilia a nymph?” Tauria asked.

“Yes. But one of her children gave up her life in sea to walk on land—a Transition achieved by the Trident of Everseas that was lost a very long time ago. So her bloodline spread throughout land and sea from then on.”

“I know how it feels to have a secret lingering in a distant heritage,” Nik said.

Like the revelation of Tarly, Nik didn’t think his connection to the Vesaria bloodline meant anything more than finally having a trace to his Nightwalking.

“Do you think I could ever…usethe healing magick?” Tarly asked Nerida. “I mean, wouldn’t I have been able to by now?”

“I think it’s possible to tap into it, yes. After losing your mother and your…mate…it likely suppressed it deeper.”

Nik wasn’t eager to stay down here longer than necessary. He scanned down the dark passage, realizing they were a body short.

“Where’s Edith?” Nik questioned.

They all looked around, their fae sight adjusting to the pitch-darkness they were enclosed in.

“She has a habit of letting her excitement stray her away,” Tauria said, but even her tone turned wary at the dark fae’s absence.

“Let’s just hope the damned dagger is down here,” Nik grumbled.

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

Tarly

Discovering his bloodline could be traced to Hilia herself had Tarly’s mind wandering. He supposed it didn’t have much relevance beyond helping them into this cave, but if he lived through his dark fae bite by some miracle, the new fact inspired him to learn more about this essence of healing magick that was buried inside him. Tarly’s hand brushed Nerida’s as they walked through the darkness, the thought of it bringing them closer.

She smiled up at him, and it slammed in his chest every time.My mate.He couldn’t stop repeating it in his mind when they were close. Nik was right…there was only one way to be certain if the bond was real, and Tarly’s whole body was riled with carnal need at the thought of tasting her in more ways than one.

They came to the end of the passage, which opened up, illuminated by a source he couldn’t find. It was as if the very walls themselves glowed, and the air hummed with a warning energy that tightened his hand in Nerida’s.

There was a statue carved out of stone and claimed by sea moss, depicting a nymph with a long, curling tail, long hair covering her bare chest, and a circlet over her head. It had to be a memorial of Hilia, who held the legendary trident in her hand. A curved masterpiece of three lethal teeth turning to arrow points.

Droplets of water hitting stone was all that disturbed the silence through their collective breathing. Tarly surveyed the walls and the low-set roof with growing unease at the moisture that leaked through. As if the cave might collapse under the weight of the fall crashing all around this carved-out pocket of air. Off to the side was a second passage, but they’d already found what they were looking for.

Edith stood before a narrow altar, where a sparkling jeweled chest sat. Her hands reached up to open it?—

“Wait,” Tarly said. “We don’t know if it’s safe.”

“How else are we meant to find out?” Edith snapped, but her sweet smile flashed over her shoulder.

Tarly didn’t trust her. He didn’t know why, since Tauria seemed taken with the dark fae, but something about her unnerved him.

“I’ll do it,” Nik said.

He took one step, and Edith swiped up the box. They all jerked at her sudden brazen movement, tensing with eyes darting around as though the walls would cave in.

Tarly was about to relax until Edith flicked open the box, and only when she pulled the dagger within free did the cave groan.

Then all the light snuffed out.

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