Page 326 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“I’ll admit, your efforts have outlasted our expectation. But you lead everyone behind you to a slow slaughter.”

Behind the Spirit, Zaiana’s chest tightened to see Maverick. He stood there as cold and expressionless as ever, eyes fixed on Zaiana.

Zaiana said, “What you see is a realm that will always fight back. That does so with purpose in its heart.”

“I never expected you to become so weak to the hollow notion of aheart.Such sentiment doesn’t suit you, Zaiana Vesaria.”

“Is my father with you, or does he still cower behind his soldiers?”

Dakodas’s smile crawled her skin. “You are merely a carrier of the power that is his, and it will be returned.”

Zaianalaughed. “Mordecai is nothing but a warm corpse. A failure of plan you had to step in to revive.”

“Then you know it is for your kind we march, and you are a traitor to the dark fae. I’m looking forward to the spectacle they’ll make of tearing out your wings.”

Everything within her recoiled at the horrific notion. She fought a strong urge to glamor her wings at the mere thought. “You want the dark fae to dominate as the bloodthirsty savages history painted of us. We want peace too, and you destroyed that.”

“There will be peace when the war is won. Peace and power for the dark fae, never again to be undermined or cast out again.”

“You’re right,” Zaiana said, bracing her stance. She couldn’t contend with Dakodas’s power for long. Maybe if she had a ruin to amplify hers with. But she would give her all no matter the odds. “The dark fae will prevail alongside the humans and the fae whenwewin.”

Zaiana prepared for this to be her final fight, but she was ready.

For Amaya, who was a dreamer. For Acelin, Kellias, Drya, and Selain, who believed in her. For the better world they all wanted.

A golden flare illuminated the night above, so sudden and out of place it demanded everyone’s attention. Then, in the blink of an eye, that shooting comet plummeteddown,slamming into the space between Dakodas and Zaiana with the force of a boulder and the heat of the sun. Within the ripples of bloodred flames…stood Faythe Ashfyre.

The world held its breath at her arrival charged with so much vengeance and rage even Zaiana feared her in that moment.

Something had happened to bring Faythe here in a blazing storm of anguish.

Faythe didn’t speak. She barely let the world take in the compelling sight of her before her palm cast out and light erupted against the darkness Dakodas threw out in challenge.

Zaiana ducked like everyone else, shielding her eyes and bracing her legs against the gales of wind that pummeled into them from the catastrophic collision of magick. Many were thrown off their feet; some were struck and killed by tendrils of dark or light that spat out from the beam of their connecting magick.

The kind of power they gave to each other was enough to destroy this entire fringe with one wrong move.

“Fall back but stay in formation!” Zaiana yelled down the line.

The battle would resume, but for now, the field belonged to Faythe and Dakodas, who were ruthless in their attacks.

A white eagle flew overhead, catching her attention for how out of place it was. Until it swooped low, and from a small burst of light, Reylan Arrowood stepped straight into battle, alone on the enemy side.

Along their front line many started to notice him, his white hair stark against the night and his black-clad enemies. Though she thought it reckless, they charged forward, matching the bravery and valiance of their great general.

Zaiana nearly lost him through the throng of bodies, but a blue flare caught her attention, and Zaiana pushed through the soldiers more urgently.

Maverick was attacking him.

Damned fool,she thought with her heart speeding.

Reylan wouldn’t have mercy for all Maverick had done, and he was placing himself as the perfect target in front of Reylan, who slaughtered enemies with as much rage as Faythe had.

She followed the flickers of blue that drifted farther away from her. Zaiana would have to fly to keep up, but she realized Maverick’s game…

He was goading the general away from Faythe, and Zaiana knew, now he was within reach, Reylan wouldn’t give up until Maverick was dead.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

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