Page 226 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“I’ll see your lies for myself,” she snarled.

Zaiana feared for Nerida. Her friend. In this moment when their lives all hung in the balance, Zaiana allowed the term of endearment to attach itself to the one fae she couldn’t stand by and watch being harmed.

When they’d locked her up, they’d taken her weapons. All but one. The most deadly, and the only one she needed.

Zaiana had Marvellas’s ruin tucked within her layers. Unbeknown to the Spirit, who’d believed all this time hers was embedded in Reylan Arrowood and Faythe would break it to save him.

It was covered in a suppressant material—all she had to do was reach it.

“I infiltrated the castle alone because I knew I could, but I have this place surrounded. You didn’t fool everyone in this kingdom when you took my mother’s place. There’s been a movement against you for centuries. You know that.”

The Spirit’s eyes flared in confirmation.

“No reign is without needing to weed out conspiracy and resistance,” Marvellas seethed. “I have just as many allies as you here, Nerida Da’Naid.”

“You underestimate the loyalty and intelligence of this kingdom. As if the people of Lakelaria wouldn’t notice or care that the gentle humans who once coexisted with them have slowly vanished. How our island has filled with outsiders that bring more coldness to the land than the weather.”

“This island would have crumbled under the weak reign of Iana Da’Naid. I saved your people and made the population of Lakelaria the strongest it has ever been. Over time, moreabilities will flourish. Waterwielding will grow as a powerful force to be reckoned with in the new generations.”

“So that is your goal then? You start with eradicating the humans for having no power, then you shift your target to fae with no magick?”

“In a world as cruel as this one, only the strong survive.”

“It is vultures as power-hungry and bloodthirsty as you who make it so cruel. “

Zaiana admired Nerida’s confidence and spirit in the face of her mother’s killer, the usurper of her throne, the continent’s greatest villain. She’d always thought there was more than met the eye with the gentle healer, but this was beyond her expectation.

Marvellas declared, “I am not the poison. I am the antidote.”

Zaiana caught the flicker of movement from outside—only a split second—before the arrow shattered the glass wall, heading with incredible speed toward Marvellas.

It was Maverick who stepped into the path of the arrow, which speared through his shoulder instead of the Spirit’s.

Then chaos erupted as the walls of the room came crashing down, inviting the rage of the winter weather outside to join the battle that ensued inside. At least Marvellas’s soldiers fought back against the Lakelarians who had come to avenge their nation, believing in their fight now more than ever with their lost queen returned.

This was not Zaiana’s fight. Not her battle. She had one objective, and that was to make Marvellas pay for all she’d done to her. And Zaiana had the one weapon that could end her once and for all.

She didn’t know why Reylan Arrowood had entrusted her with the Soul Ruin. He wasn’t in his right mind, but still, he’d harbored a secret rebellion against the Goddess who’d tried to manipulate him against his mate.

Zaiana pulled the serrated slate out from inside her leathers. It’s power hummed faintly. As soon as she removed the suppressant cloth, it would become a calamity to the chaos Zaiana charged within herself.

The room cried with soldiers’ final breaths. Steel sang around her. Magick coursed from different angles.

Zaiana only acknowledged one person. Her lightning raked hot over her skin, and her steps moved, urgent but slowed, in time with her sight as it locked onto the unsuspecting Goddess of Stars. Marvellas’s attention was on the charge of adversaries.

Maverick noticed her advancing as he clutched his bleeding shoulder, now freed from the arrow. He turned to her fully, and Zaiana’s retribution was ready to cut him down if he tried to stop her. His sight dropped to her hands as she pulled her wrists apart with gritted teeth, breaking the chain of her shackles.

It wasn’t Maverick who stopped her.

A firm grip on her wrist holding the ruin spun her around, and her lethal stare pierced into the caramel of Nyte’s.

“You played the part well,” Zaiana hissed, trying to yank her arm free, but he was stronger than her with the Niltain steel manacles still around her wrists. “Let me go before I kill you too.”

“Using that on her will killyou,” he growled, as if he thought he were doing her a favor.

Zaiana could have laughed. “I don’t care,” she snapped.

“I do.” Kyleer stood close behind.

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