Page 204 of A Flame of the Phoenix

The captain smiled with cruel amusement, taking a step closer to the bars of her cell. “I can see why she despises you. Even before your grand rebellion in the dome, you were completely untamable. Something tells me many have tried to tie a leash around you.”

“Many things tell me you’re a powerless, low-life piece of shit. So get on with what you came here for.”

Daegal smirked, then his face turned unnervingly serious. He scanned her from head to toe, and she wanted to claw his eyes out. Then, when he shifted his attention to Kyleer, Zaiana rose to her feet.

The captain lifted a hand, curling his fingers around one of the bars. His eyes pierced into her, gripping her attention. “I need you to listen to me very carefully,” he said, hushed, in a tone unlike him. “I am not Captain Daegal. He’s dead. Faythe killed him to give me control of his mind.”

He carried on explaining an outlandish story of Realm-Walking and his collusion with Faythe. The most incredulous part that made her laugh out loud…

“You expect me to believe you’re her long-lost son?”

His eyes narrowed to a warning, casting a brief glance at the exit. “We’re alone for now, but you’d be wise to keep silent,” he hissed.

“Rainyte.”

“Just Nyte.”

Zaiana huffed—a humorless sound this time. She paced her cell, spinning his tale around in her mind. It was too outlandish to be believable.

Yet her instinct, which had always served her well, wouldn’t dismiss his claim entirely.

Her eyes roved over him again, taking in what seemed to have changed from the vicious captain she’d been in the displeasing company of a few times. His irises were lighter, as if the dark brown they previously were was struggling to contain the ethereal gold they should be if he was Marvellas’s son. His demeanor too seemed changed, less rigid and defensive, more lax, borderline arrogant now. The way he talked was smoother and confident.

“Even if I believe you, I want no part in whatever you’re up to with Faythe,” Zaiana said at last.

“That’s too bad. You’re very much a part of everything—you have been for some time, I believe.”

“Then what is your objective?”

“Getting you out of here seems like a good start.”

“I don’t need your help. Go find Faythe.”

“You’re an invaluable ally to her, and you’re in a cage.”

“I’m not her ally.”

His gaze shifted again to Kyleer as if that were proof of the contrary.

Zaiana amended. “I’m not anyone’s ally.”

“Taking on the world alone isn’t as noble as you think it is.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“I doubt there are many who know about you truly.”

His mere presence crawled her skin, and the way he spoke, like he resonated with her, was growing her intolerance.

“What do you want from me?” she snapped.

“Cooperation,” he said flatly. “I have a deal with Faythe Ashfyre to help where I can in exchange for her helping me to discover a way back to my realm. From your epic display to save your lover, her friend, I’d consider you an asset to the cause to stop my mother.”

Part of her still held onto reservation. This could be a trick. The tale he spun was elaborate, but what if it was an attempt to get her to lure out Faythe?

“I want you to do something to prove what you say is true—that you’re not Daegal, and you’re not working for Marvellas.”

“I’m all ears. It’s been getting dull around here without Faythe, and I don’t particularly enjoy the awkward presence of my unsuspecting mother while I’m in this body.”

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