Page 145 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Nyte gave a breathy laugh without humor and pushed himself up off the cot.

“You didn’t research too far into this, did you? Yes, Faythe. To either kill her or silence her power will kill the person who achieves it. You’re dealing withverypowerful magick. It always demands a high price.”

Nerida hadn’t mentioned that about the Aetherbonds. Though that news was devastating, it changed nothing.

“I’ll do what I have to.”

“Then what was all of this for? Saving your mate, who will follow right after you if you die.”

Faythe swore inwardly, knowing he was right. She was willing to do what it took to save her friends and their world, but Reylan wouldn’t stay here without her. Not unless she took his memory like Aesira had done…

She fell onto her cot with the dark weight of that option. The mere thought tasted like bitter betrayal to his devotion, but it would save him.

Faythe’s head fell between her hands, and her fingers threaded through her hair. Her mind began to spiral.

“I can do it.”

Her head snapped up to lock his gaze. Nyte’s expression stayed passive.

He said, “In Daegal’s body, I can use the weapon against my mother, and you can pull my consciousness back in time.”

Faythe turned the proposition over and over in her mind. It was a brilliant loophole, and hope sparked in her chest. She rose from the cot, standing face-to-face with Rainyte Ashfyre, son of Marvellas… Was it possible fate had finally fallen in their favor to grant this solution?

She didn’t want to die. There was still so much she hadn’t had the chance to experience.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to go through with it?” she asked. Her pulse raced to place the most trust she ever had in an uncertain alliance.

“Your only option is to find out.” His eyes flicked over her shoulder. “And your time to do so is now.”

Faythe’s heart skipped, and she turned, anticipating the vile image of Captain Daegal to appear. The footing sounded too light, however, and the scent she captured next exposed Zaiana before she slipped out of the darkness.

“Who is that?” Nyte asked. There was something in his tone that felt like shock.

“Zaiana,” Faythe said aloud, as it wouldn’t seem odd to answer with her name.

Faythe didn’t move, tracking the dark fae with slight curiosity to see if she might acknowledge Nyte behind her. She didn’t.

“She’s sent me for you,” Zaiana informed her.

“No Captain Daegal this time?” Faythe asked, keeping her tone disinterested.

“Marvellas wants me to supervise your attempts to break the ruin. She thinks I might be able toteach you.”

“Why doesn’t she make you break it?” Faythe grumbled.

“It would be a waste of my talents to die that way when you have it in you to break it and live.”

Nyte said, more as a thought to himself, “She’s fascinating, and I’m assuming quite powerful.”

He had no idea.

Faythe followed Zaiana out of the cell, leaving Nyte behind and focusing to rally her composure if she was to make her first attempt with the ruin. Above that, Faythe was yearning to see Reylan again. Even if he still looked at her like the enemy.

“How is Kyleer?” Faythe tried to inquire with the dark fae again. She’d been in turmoil over her captive friend.

“I took the task of watching you instead. You should be glad—the alternative would have been Maverick, no doubt.”

Faythe’s spine locked.

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