Page 322 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Nyte was gone.

Faythe’s head bowed, and despite their hope disappearing with him, Faythe hoped he’d made it back to the realm he chose. That the family he’d found there had figured out how to bring him home, and he was safe.

The return of Nyte was a moment of joy in one realm, and a dire consequence in another.

Faythe’s eyes fell on the Ruin Dagger. All wasn’t lost, and she supposed it was fate to end up here again as the one holding it. As the one who had to end Marvellas’s terror once and for all.

“Rainyte…”

Marvellas’s heartbroken whisper pushed Faythe to her feet. The Spirit looked down at the body of Daegal with grief fallingon her features. Faythe’s fist tightened, and she ran the short distance toward the Spirit.

“NO!” Reylan yelled, lunging after her, but she was too fast, and his fingers barely grazed her arm.

Faythe’s arm rose, ready to bring down the dagger to strike true in Marvellas’s heart.

The Spirit’s hand lashed around Faythe’s throat in a choking grip, but that wasn’t what stopped Faythe’s blade. It was the invasion that pierced into her mind so quick and precise she didn’t have a second to reform her mental barriers.

Faythe clawed at Marvellas’s hand, her wrist, realizing with absolute horror…the Aetherbonds had released.

Marvellas’s eyes swirled like the surface of the sun, so ablaze with rage and grief that this was the most frightening depiction she’d seen. The air stirred around them, growing more violent with a charge of powerful energy.

Faythe understood then, even after all this time, Nyte was the one thing most precious to her. And she’d lost him again, releasing her from the Aetherbonds.

“I won’t let you get in my way a moment longer,” Marvellas said. A chilling, deep voice echoed over hers, making her all the more terrifying. A true Goddess in mortal form.

Marvellas’s eyes cast to the side briefly before her hand followed. Faythe yelled and cried, watching a devastating blow of power slam into Reylan, who charged, sword raised, to try to save her.

Oh Gods.

Faythe tried to use her own magick, but Marvellas had a hold of her mind, preventing her from reaching it.

Marvellas’s ethereal eyes met hers again, softening just a fraction as she said, voice quiet with sorrow, “Goodbye, Faythe.”

Faythe’s eyes rolled back at the crushing grip on her throat. She watched the eternal day and thought of all of her friends.Thought of Reylan. She didn’t want to leave them…but she’d failed.

In her final moments, it was Marlowe’s sweet voice that trickled through her mind, and tears spilled over her face.

“It’s not your time yet, Phoenix Queen.”

The title changed to a perfect imitation of Marlowe’s playful tone. Faythe’s whimper turned to another choke. She was going to die in a few more seconds.

At least I’ll be with you,Faythe thought in solace as she pictured her beautiful, brilliant lost friend. Marlowe had left behind so much in her wake to aid them in this fight, and it was a tragedy she wouldn’t get to receive the credit for all she’d done.

Air rushed down Faythe’s throat suddenly, and she was so eager for breath that she couldn’t catch herself when her body crumpled to the ground. Her vision came and went with specks of darkness, but she grappled her threads of consciousness, forcing herself to hold on.

Faythe looked up, finding Marvellas unmoving, her hand still raised as if she held the ghost of Faythe still.

The Spirit didn’t scream or move. Then, slowly, particles blew from her hand into the gentle wind. Marvellas’s skin wasdisintegrating.

Faythe sat back on her knees, watching in utter disbelief as the Spirit of Souls, Goddess of the Stars, turned into stardust. Marvellas looked down as her face half dissolved, and only one golden eye spoke her fear. Even the wicked feared death. Even a God.

“The light cancels out the dark,” Marvellas said—final words that stroked Faythe with a shudder.

She watched the Spirit fade away with relief building in her chest. But what was revealed behind Marvellas…

Horror pierced her being deeper than she’d ever experienced before.

“JAK!” she screamed.

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