Page 265 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“The ruin could have killed you! Did you ever consider that’s what it might take, but there would be no one to bring you back!”

The thought of losing him was too much in the wake of Marlowe’s death. Everyone around her was risking their lives, and she knew they all had a part to play in this war, but the fragility of all her bonds spun her mind with helpless terror.

Izaiah lost himself in thought. “You think I need to die and be brought back?”

Faythe jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t you even think about attempting that, or so help me, Iwillfind a way to resurrect you just so I can kill you myself!”

Izaiah pulled himself off the chair the same way he slumped onto it. He stood, wrapping his arms around her, before she could reprimand him more.

“I love you too, Faythe.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Zaiana

Zaiana followed the King of High Farrow, who walked alone after his mate had excused herself elsewhere. Nikalias surely knew she was following him, but he kept a casual pace, with one hand in his pocket.

When they were away from lingering ears, Zaiana called, “It was you in my mind all that time.”

He stopped, turning to her with strange amusement. “When did you figure it out?”

“Just now. Your mannerisms are subtle but quite particular.”

“You’re very perceptive.”

“Why have you been Nightwalking to me?”

“Like I’ve always said, I find you curious, and I like a challenge.”

“I was a game to you.”

“No. Games are fun. Trying to train your mind left a headache in mine.”

“Then why keep coming back?”

“The truth? Faythe believed you were important. When she spoke of you, I became fascinated and planned to only Nightwalk to you once. Discovering you were also a Nightwalker—a very weak one, but it’s there—had meveryintrigued.”

Zaiana’s teeth ground together, not liking how it felt like she were his subject to scrutinize. “Did you sate yourcuriosity?”

“Not nearly. You should know Tauria discovered something while she was in Valgard. Mordecai’s sister was a powerful Nightwalker—explains your weak essence since Stormcasting took a far more prominent root in you. Tauria also learned that through a long-diluted bloodline, my mother also can be traced back to Mordecai’s sister. Magick is its own meddling force, awakening her power as strongly in me all this time later.”

Zaiana’s thoughts spun with the new information. It didn’t mean much other than a sense of closure and clarity. She’d always convinced herself she didn’t need to know anything about her bloodline or heritage, but she couldn’t deny it settled something in her to discover more of her roots.

“If you think this somehow makes usrelated,you’re very wrong,” she said.

Nikalias huffed a laugh. “Would that really be so terrible to embrace?”

“It means nothing.”

If she didn’t know any better, she’d think his eyes drifting away for a split second was a wince of rejection.

“I don’t have any blood family left. I’ve never had a sibling.” He looked her over from head to toe and smiled. Genuine, warm, and jarring. “You wouldn’t have made such a bad one, I suppose.”

Nik turned on his heel, leaving her in the hallway.

She was rooted, replaying his last words, trying to figure out if he was being sarcastic. Why would he say such an outlandish thing?

Zaiana decided she wasn’t done with him and stormed the same way when he disappeared around a bend.

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