Page 321 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Faythe would not let that happen.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Nyte in the tree line. Her heart thundered. He was here with the Ruin Dagger. These next moments would decide the fate of the world.

She exchanged a subtle look of acknowledgment with Nyte, then Faythe struck out at Marvellas with her power in a gold flare.

Marvellas deflected easily, but all Faythe needed was her attention. They erupted into a power battle that clashed gold with gold, shaking the peace and beauty of this sacred woodland.

Faythe felt the humming amplifier of the Ruin Dagger nearby, and she opened herself to it, expanding her magick to contend with the Spirit. Marvellas’s magick even in half pushed Faythe to her limits fast. She faltered for a second, and it was enough for Marvellas to land a blow to her shoulder. Faythe cried out, falling to one knee.

Reylan took over, using the power of the ruin too. Through their bond they shared magick, but his well wasn’t as deep as Faythe’s, limiting him.

Marvellas landed a flare of her magick to project him back too, with more force, slamming him into a tree.

Faythe was aware of Nyte in the shadows. She hoped he remained hidden, only watching, to wait for the right opening. They might only get one chance. Once Marvellas knew the dagger was here, it would be harder to strike.

She remained down, though Faythe fought the urge to lunge up and fight again. Faythe let the Spirit think she was weakened; let Marvellas approach in predatory strides.

When she was close enough, Faythe pulled her blade free, launching up with a quick vertical slice that met the resistance of clothing and flesh.

Marvellas stumbled back, bleeding in a long line from her navel and over her jaw and cheek. While she’d been down and Reylan had attacked, Faythe had been absorbing more of the ruin’s power into her body. It raged through her like a storm, and in the casting-out of her palm, the full charge shot toward Marvellas.

The Spirit was blasted back with such force no mortal would have survived it. It threw her into the caved-open Temple of Aurialis, burying her in the stones as she slammed against the back wall.

Faythe pulled out the other Aetherbond, sprinting to take her chance while the Spirit had to at least be disorientated for a moment. She scrambled over loose stone, her heart thrumming in her ears.Almost there.Marvellas was already coming around, pushing rocks off herself.

Marvellas freed herself from the rubble enough that when Faythe reached with the Aetherbond, the Spirit grabbed her wrist, throwing her off-balance. They fought in a clumsy struggle. Rocks dug into Faythe’s spine as Marvellas managed to crawl out, hovering over Faythe. Her nails slashed across Faythe’s face deep enough to bleed, but Faythe didn’t stop fighting with everything she had.

A blast of power knocked into Marvellas, throwing her off Faythe. It was Reylan. Faythe hooked her leg, positioning over Marvellas, and then…

Theclickof the Aetherbond locking over the Marvellas’s wrist sang to her with victory through the pounding in her ears.

Marvellas cried loudly as the Aetherbond silenced the rest of her magick. Reylan hooked an arm around Faythe’s middle, effortlessly lifting her off the Spirit and gaining them distance away.

“Now, Nyte!” Faythe yelled.

When he didn’t answer or appear, Faythe whipped her head to where she’d last seen him by the trees. He’d come out of hiding but was standing halfway across the clearing as if an invisible force had stopped his advance.

A daunting dread crept over her as she took in his stunned expression. Faythe walked toward him, scanning every inch of him, but he appeared unharmed.

“Nyte?” she questioned. Something wasn’t right.

He drew a shallow gasp, falling to his knees, and Faythe ran to him.

“What’s wrong?” she demanded, scanning him again.

“I think…I think I’m going back,” he said.

Faythe’s panic rose. “No. You can’t—not yet.”

When his eyes lifted to hers, they were almost gold. His true color infused his irises more, and she clutched his arms desperately, as if it would tether him to the body of Capitan Daegal just a little while longer.

“We need you. Marvellas is right there.” Faythe lifted his hand, gripping the dagger, pressing it to his chest with a plea in her eyes.

“I’m sorry… It was a privilege to know you.Family.I’ll treasure that even across realms, Faythe Ashfyre.”

Her eyes welled. “Family,” she whispered.

Nyte almost smiled, but his eyes rolled to the back of his head as he threw it back. Only for a few seconds, before the body of Captain Daegal slumped.

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