Page 234 of A Flame of the Phoenix

She stalked down the length of the table, and the only sound to echo though the hall was her steps and the wet chokes of Malin.

“Twice a king slayer,” one voice uttered. She found the old fae staring at her as if she were death incarnate. She quite liked that look.

Faythe ignored him, slipping her attention to Malin. “I’m hoping you can still speak to tell them all you conspired. How you let the Spirits of death and souls walk right into this kingdom, leading the slaughter of innocents and the death of your king.”

When he didn’t answer, Faythe took matters into her own hands. Reaching into his mind, she tried to force the confessions out of his mouth, but Nyte had cut too deep. All that left him with were barely coherent gurgles.

“As if we would believe his words when you puppet his mind,” another of the council said, more boldly than the last.

“Then believe mine.”

All heads snapped to unexpected intrusion.

Zaiana strolled in as though she were late to a social gathering. She looked over the table of seated lords withinsulting disinterest, then her purple irises took in Malin on the brink of death as if he were a mere insect.

Zaiana followed with, “I’m sure you all remember me. I like to think I made quite the impression when I infiltrated this place.”

“Before you were captured,” a lord countered bitterly.

Zaiana gave him a wicked side smile, not bothering to argue her surrender was intentional.

Faythe was distracted by the person who entered through the same door Zaiana did. Everything froze in time as she beheld Kyleer. Her anger. Her grief. Faythe was numbed by shock followed by a crushing weight of relief.

He’d survived.

“Ky…” His name slipped from her in disbelief.

Kyleer’s eyes flicked to her then, but he gave her no warm reception.

“He doesn’t remember us,”Reylan informed her.

Faythe’s heart withered.

Her friend had towering wings that were magnificent on him.Feathered wings,she noticed. All Faythe wanted to do was embrace him, overwhelmed with joy that she hadn’t lost another dear friend. It soothed some of the aching rage in her bones, helping her regain the control she was silently slipping to the ruin. Her chaos calmed.

Zaiana explained her role in tearing down the wall by the order of Malin Ashfyre, and the council looked between each other, not knowing what to believe. But coming from the mouth of the enemy, there would be no viable reason for Zaiana to lie.

One chair groaned against the marble floor as the lord stood. Faythe recognized him with a touch more fondness than anyone else. He’d been one to stand up for her before.

“There are many of us who have been waiting for your return, Faythe Ashfyre. You are the Phoenix Queen we chose, whom ourlate King Agalhor believed in, and we have not faltered in that loyalty. Forgive us if it has seemed that way.”

Pride swelled in her chest. She was home. As war-stricken and terrorized as her lands had become, but this was the first torch of hope for the end to bring new peace under her reign.

Another stood, with outrage contorting his face. He blazed at her, casting a hand toward Zaiana.

“She stands here with the enemy who killed our king! She is a masterful manipulator, and we cannot let her take over this court. Someone fetch a damned healer for our king.”

No one moved. Malin was counting down his breaths.Where is Jakon?He was owed this closure, and if Malin died so pitifully, she would aim her retribution at Nyte instead.

“Is there anyone else who agrees with him?” Reylan addressed the table with a hint of dark warning.

Another stood. “I never would have thought our most legendary protector would betray his king by falling for his pretty daughter.”

Reylan didn’t react. Neither did she.

In the tense silence, another four had risen to side against her.

“Take them to the cells under the castle,” Faythe ordered the guards littered around the room.

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