Page 100 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“You’re not a book. They’re peaceful and quiet, with words of wonder and wisdom,” he said.

She didn’t want to know what that made her in contrast.

“You said you didn’t enjoy reading unless it was battle strategies,” she said.

“I’m touched you remember that.”

He was riling her up on purpose.

“I make it a habit to retain intel on all my enemies.”

“Even such trivial things?”

“Has it ever bothered you”—Zaiana decided to switch topic before she reached for his throat—“to always be second to Reylan Arrowood? To be known as such in title and to everyone around you.”

“No. Not at all,” he answered easily.

“So your ambition has a limit?”

“Just because I don’t seek to gain Reylan’s place or more doesn’t mean I don’t strive every day to better myself in my current role.”

She tried to understand.

“You don’t want to be a general? You’re content to never rise to anything more?”

“I wouldn’t say never, but it would mean leaving Reylan’s side, and I don’t want to do that. I fight side by side with both my brothers and serve my kingdom to the best of my ability—why would I want more than that?”

All Zaiana knew was the pursuit of greatness. To be better than everyone around her: faster, stronger, smarter. To rely on no one and care for nothing but her own rise and survival.

But there was a certain contentment in Kyleer’s experience that felt worlds apart from hers.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked thoughtfully.

She stared through the snow-darkened clouds with her thoughts, but her face firmed to steel when she looked at him. “That your ideals are pathetic.”

He took no offense. “Where is your next ambition, Zai? Who stands above you that you clearly want to overtake?”

“Everyone”was too arrogant and broad of an answer, but it was what swam in her mind.

“Anyone who stands in my way,” she settled on.

“Right now, who is most imminent? You’re a higher rank than your lover—that seemed clear enough.”

“Maverick isn’t that,” she defended too quickly.

“Then what is he?”

“Like you, a pretty distraction I wouldn’t hesitate to turn my dagger toward.”

“That’s what I can’t understand. Your tastes. I’m nothing like him.”

He was right but also wrong. There was one thing, a certain kind of darkness, that Maverick wore on his sleeve but Kyleer harbored deep within. The kind of darkness that touched hers. But otherwise, they couldn’t be more different. Where Maverick was cold, Kyleer was warm. Where Maverick was cruel, Kyleer was kind. Zaiana related to Maverick, and there was no denying the tragic bond between them from their wicked past, but she couldn’t shake being drawn toward someone who offered new perspectives on life.

She’d stopped walking, overwhelmed by her own thoughts, and she despised the commander for making her consider either of them in any regard.

“Are you all right?” he asked tentatively, having walked a few paces without her.

The snow began to fall, and she hated it, wanting to stop and attempt rest but in another establishment Faythe wouldn’t blast apart. Zaiana had also discovered as of late that she hated being at sea. She’d flown as much as she could, but the vessel was too slow compared to her flight speed, and she was tasked with keeping close watch on the irksome commander.

---