Page 262 of A Flame of the Phoenix

She spoke of it like it was nothing. As though she wasn’t the heir to the Valgard throne and Mordecai’s most prized daughter—hisweapon.

“You’re the heir to Valgard.” Tarly spoke the realization on everyone’s mind.

“I amnotthat,” Zaiana protested, eyeing everyone with a warning. “Whether you think that’s a good or bad thing, I will never be that.”

“Why would you resist what places you above everyone else? Haven’t you fought all your life to be the best?” Izaiah countered.

“You all may wear your crowns and think them pretty, powerful. I see nothing but a fanciful shackle to a land and a body of people for the rest of your days. I’ve been fighting for my freedom, not to be bound to another construct. That is not my choice.”

Faythe understood her reasoning and sympathized with her passion. Though she couldn’t deny Zaiana would make a brilliant monarch, and they had her on their side. For now.

Izaiah said, “If this is all true…Zaiana is more valuable to them than we thought. Mordecai will want you back, and now we have your insane sister to track down.”

“She’s mine,” Zaiana said darkly. “If there’s a dagger to return Nerida’s power, I will find it, and I will kill her.”

Zaiana had grown protective of the healer, and Faythe was too. The dark fae’s purple eyes slipped to Faythe, aligning their will to restore what Nerida had lost.

“We have bigger battles to fight. Don’t divert for me,” Nerida pleaded.

Tarly sat beside her, a clear comfort and source of strength.

Faythe said, “I wouldn’t consider it a diversion. All our enemies are circling, and we need to be as strong as we can be for when they strike.”

“The shadow creatures,” Nik interjected. “Any knowledge on how we get rid of those?”

Faythe winced. “They arrived after I broke the Death Ruin. There has to be a place they’re entering our world from. Though I don’t know what it will take to seal it.”

“A life, probably,” Nerida offered. “Or several. Maybe the Book of Enoch will have more answers on such ancient, lost creatures. It’s in my rooms.”

She stood, and Faythe read that her retirement from this meeting was more to do with her sadness and fading hope at discussing her lost power.

Tarly left with her. Faythe’s frustration and anger pricked her skin at seeing her bright, joyous friend so heartbroken.

“The Mortus Mountains,” Reylan said. Faythe slipped her eyes to him. “Also translated asthe Death Mountains.It’s aguess, but we don’t have much time for research. That might be where the split veil is that the shadows are emerging from.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Izaiah agreed.

“I’ll go. None of you know that place,” Zaiana said, pushing off the wall she was leaning her back against.

“I’ll go with you,” Kyleer offered.

While he had no memory of any of them, Faythe noticed how Kyleer was most at ease around Zaiana, often looking to her for assurance or guidance.

“You won’t be able to Shadowport within those mountains. I’ll be quicker on my own.”

A protest firmed on Kyleer’s face, but he didn’t voice it.

“I need your help to wield the ruin,” Faythe said to Zaiana.

“I think you need another plan. There’s hardly time enough for that.”

“No offense, but I don’t need as much time as you did to master it. I have the essence of two Spirits within me. I’ve wielded it’s power before. I just need enough guidance to be able to remain in control with the full connection and let it go afterward.”

Reylan added, “I can take some of the ruin’s influence from her, as we’ve tested already—likely more now we’re mated. We can do this.”

Faythe’s cheeks flushed at his mention of their mating. His bite wound on her neck pulsed, inspiring inappropriate thoughts. They were pulled away too soon after, and she was dealing with a new primal urge for him to take her for days on end.

“We’ll start when I’m back. I won’t take long to confirm or deny if the veil is there,” Zaiana said.

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