Page 298 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“You’ve stolen something that doesn’t belong to you,” she said, twirling the small jeweled blade between her fingers.

“Wait,” Edith said, fear filling her eyes as she recognized her death approaching. “We’re sisters. We’re supposed to look out for each other. I have this power now and won’t pursue yours. We can make our father proud together.”

Zaiana smiled, but there was nothing kind in it. “One of the most important things I’ve learned is that blood doesn’t always make family. And you’ve stolen from someone in mine.”

Edith’s expression turned so dark Zaiana realized then her surrender was far from true. She attacked, fast and precise. Lightning crashed into water, and Edith was quick to learn to let go of the water before the lightning could conduct through to her body.

They came into close combat, clashing daggers. One to steal power; one to claim it back. The magickal blades chimed off each other, emitting a screech that made her wince, gritting her teeth with the surges of opposing energy that didn’t want to meet.

Edith’s sight cast over her head, and a water spear formed in her hand. The distraction gave Zaiana her opening, aiming the dagger for her heart.

Just as the blade plunged through her chest, an arrow sank though the center of her neck. Zaiana’s heart slammed.

“No,” she breathed, lowering Edith’s body as it fell limp in her arms. The jeweled dagger hissed, and a blue essence swirled around it, absorbing Nerida’s power, but Edith was dying quickly. “Not yet,” Zaiana growled.

The blue light began to slow with Edith’s last choked breaths. Then it stopped. Zaiana pulled the dagger free, unsure if all of Nerida’s magick had been taken back or if Edith had died too soon.

She let go of Edith’s body, taking in her wide, dark eyes held on the tree canopy. She had to pity her at least, knowing the madness of wanting to prove herself, especially to the wicked father they shared. Zaiana closed her lids and stood, feeling nothing for the half-sister she’d lost.

“Zaiana.”

The quiet call of her name made every muscle in her body stiffen. Whirling around, her eyes fell on Amaya on her knees.

Amaya’s green eyes lifted to her, and it was then she saw the spear of ice protruding from her chest with her small hand around it, drowned in silver blood.

Zaiana collapsed in front of her, assessing the wound and trying to smother her panic.

“You’re okay,” Zaiana said.Gods, how she hated the taste of lies.

The icicle was thick, so close to her heart that it might have pierced it. Amaya’s terror-filled eyes pleaded to be saved, but Zaiana didn’t have that power.

“Stay with me, Amaya. That’s an order.”

She still clutched her bow, another arrow resting to be fired. Amaya was so quick, so skilled and brilliant, and she couldn’tdielike this.

“Don’t move. If it was in your heart, it would have killed you instantly. If we can get a healer here before the ice melts, you’ll be just fine.”

Zaiana started to calm, finding her focus to save Amaya’s life in time.

“Amaya.” Tynan dropped down by her, his face a picture worse than her own fear. “Shit, I got ambushed for a few minutes, and then you were gone. Why did you wander from me? That wasnotour deal.”

“Zaiana…was in trouble.”

It wasn’t the time for scolding as much as Zaiana wanted to rewind time to yell at the darkling not to put her life in danger to intervene.

“You need to stay with her. Keep her as still as you can, or it will kill her.” Zaiana stood.

Then everything happened too fast for her to prevent it.

Amaya surged up to one knee, her bow extended in her left arm. Before Zaiana had even blinked, the arrow that had been nocked was gone. She spun, slammed by the sight of Mordecai so close, arm raised with the dagger Edith had, an arrow tipped with Phoenix feathers was lodged in his heart.

Mordecai pulled the arrow free, tossing it aside. He appeared fine until he tried to step toward Zaiana and stumbled, falling to one knee. He still gripped the dagger.

“It was you who sought that dagger all along,” Zaiana said, piecing it together. “You’ve had a bounty out for it, believing it was in Hilia’s cave and many humans and fae have captured Waterwielders trying to reach it. If Edith had managed to take my power, you would have killed her with that dagger to have the Stormcasting ability.”

“It is mine!” he yelled, coughing at the end and spitting blood. “That power awakened in my weakest and least deserving daughter.”

“Weakest? Look behind you, Mordecai. There is no spawn of yours who can defeat me. Send as many as you like.”

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