Page 235 of A Flame of the Phoenix

For a few heartbeats, Faythe thought she would have to swallow her ego if they wouldn’t answer to her, but then they did. The lords who were removed from the hall called out their disagreement and profanities. All Faythe heard was the fading echoes of corruption leaving her hall.

Faythe opened her mouth to address the rest of her loyal council, but a piercing cry of beast not man, followed by a sharp pain within, made her gasp, whirling toward the long windows.

She couldn’t see Atherius, but the Firebird was in immense distress and pain. What alarmed her even more…was that Jakon was with her.

Faythe spun on her heel, sprinting without a second thought.

Bursting back out into the courtyard, Faythe was awash with horror. So much darkness battled flame. Atherius wailed and tried to shake off the shadow bodies that climbed over her in frightening masses.

“JAK!” Faythe yelled.

She couldn’t see him. He’d been riding Atherius, and now he wasn’t.

“Faythe!”

Relief threatened her balance as she spun to his answering voice drawing closer. He was out of breath, as panicked as she felt.

“They swarmed as soon as she landed. I tried to get her to fly again, but she wouldn’t go. She made sure I got away from them. Somehow, she’s attracting them to herself.”

“Like moths to a flame,” Reylan muttered, assessing the situation with his battle consideration.

Atherius cried out, and her pain slashed through Faythe again and again. She couldn’t lose her.

A battle yell tore from Faythe as she didn’t think, just acted on instinct, connecting to the ruin more deeply than before to summon light as blinding as the sun itself. Her palms pushed out, sending a flare of potent magick around the Firebird to engulf the shadow creatures that continued to race for her.

She managed to kill some, but it was hardly a dent in the shadows that seemed to keep manifesting. None of them charged for Faythe despite her attack. Somehow, Atherius made her fire the most desirable thing for them, but Atherius’s flames weren’t harming them. Screams echoed in the distance, alerting her that the army of shadows had infiltrated the whole city.

“What do we do?” Faythe asked, at a complete loss, turning to Reylan as her general for this.

“The shadows can only be killed if they don’t see the attack coming.” Reylan spoke to everyone as more Rhyenelle warriors began to gather to hear the instruction. “You need to work in teams. Pairs at the least. One has to attract, while the other attacks.”

Attract and attack. Bait and kill.

Their soldiers nodded, not missing a beat to spread the instruction and begin protecting the city.

Faythe threw out her magick again and again, trying with all her might to help Atherius, but there were too many.

“Teams,” Reylan said, pulling her arm back from releasing her next desperate flare. “You and me, Phoenix.”

She nodded but didn’t tell him how hot she felt. How sick and dizzy she’d become inside. It wasn’t the nerves or fear—it was the ruin weakening her mind and body, and the moment Faythe couldn’t sustain herself, it would take over completely to push her past her mortal limits.

Faythe had no choice but to be the bait since it seemed the shadow creatures still couldn’t see Reylan or thought he was one of them. She didn’t enjoy having to grab their attention and run around like a fool, throwing pointless attacks with her magick. Reylan was efficient, and they couldn’t dispose of more shadow creatures even if they tried.

They couldn’t grab the attention of those that covered Atherius’s body, climbing all over her. Faythe’s soul cried watching the brilliant embers of the Firebird become slowly smothered by complete darkness. She blinked back her tears, running around until she was staring into one of her brilliant amber eyes.

It was then, in the connection of their eyes, that Faythe understood.

This wasn’t a fight; it was a sacrifice.

Denial torched every fiber of her being. Reylan figured out the Firebird’s intention too as his strong arm hooked around her middle, pulling her back, just as she lunged forward.

Because Atherius spoke her goodbye in that pained stare she held on Faythe. Her goodbye…and her gratitude. To have found a bond again after so many centuries alone. To have gotten the chance to fly free and protect the kingdom of Rhyenelle once more before the end.

This end.

Faythe voice cracked and splintered. She fought against Reylan, who pulled her away as Atherius pushed herself up. Shadow bodies clung and climbed over her viciously, feeding on her magick and blood and feathers.

She didn’t shake a single one off, deliberately enticing as many as she could to her. Then she splayed her wings, launching herself into the darkening sky.

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