Page 82 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Mordecai was the first figure in the scene, so much more dominating and taller than her small perspective, and it was as if she were right back there. They were in a woodland, and though it was all staggered trees and ominous surroundings, she knew where she was: the Dark Woods of Galmire.

“This isn’t going to help,” Zaiana said quietly, because the mass expanding in her chest threatened to erupt.

“There has to be a reason we’re in this memory,” he said.

“Come, little one,”Mordecai said, but her child self was rooted. Frightened. The high lord reached out a hand, and Zaiana knew it was either take it or face punishment.

Zaiana’s hand rose to her chest as the darkling’s did.

“What is that?” she breathed.

It was so precious, but a building terror grew too much for the small chest it occupied.

“Your heartbeat.”

She shook her head. “It’s not possible.”

“I think we’re about to find out how very possible it is.”

“I want to go home,”her child self said, so timid and innocent she didn’t recognize herself.

“You are so brave, Zaiana,”Mordecai said, the gentleness jarring compared to the male she knew.

“I don’t remember this,” she said aloud.

“It was hidden, as if something has interfered with your thoughts before.”

Her child self was content with her small hand sliding into Mordecai’s. Zaiana wanted to believe this was a trick, a false conjuring made by the male himself, but it was so,soconvincing.

They walked for some time, until ahead another figure emerged, and Zaiana’s real breath inhaled sharply, along with the darkling’s.

She was so vibrant against the misty gloom.

Marvellas.

Fire against the smoke.

Her child self knew the sight of danger, and that this creature was not a friend.

“This is an extraordinary thing indeed,”Marvellas drawled, fixing wide eyes on her with fascination.

Zaiana’s hand shook at the fluctuating beat under her palm. She thought she knew the language of it, except this was like no other she’d heard before. This small, untamed heart was both full and broken.

“It’s not me,” she said.

“This won’t work if you’re in denial over what you see.”

The hand that landed on her shoulder as they watched shouldn’t have been a comfort, but it was. The male shouldn’t be extending such kindness, but she couldn’t shrug it off.

“Is it really necessary to use her for this?”Mordecai asked, and if she didn’t know any better, she would think hecaredfor the young version of herself.

“I only met Mordecai when I was past my second century,” Zaiana said, trying to puzzle together why she couldn’t remember this. “He came to watch the Blood Trials.”

“What is that?”

“I won. It was to pick the leaders of the Blackfair and Silverfair lines.”

“If she will be as powerful as you say, there is no better candidate to carry it,”Marvellas answered.

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