Page 97 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“Zai…” Kyleer warned.

Zaiana tsked her irritation. She tried to explain again. “A lion will always have more power than a man, but it can be tricked, taught, into submission. Magick is just a beast. You are the guidance, the smarter entity. Don’t let it devour you—figure out what makes it yield.”

Faythe leaned into Zaiana’s words as they became clearer, but she feared she was too far gone.

“A man wouldn’t jump headfirst into a lion’s den without experience,” Faythe said in daunting realization at what she’d done.

“No. That was your fatal error, so now you have to adapt to survive, I suppose.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s going to hurt all of us and cause a lot of wreckage, but I don’t think you have a choice but to sever the tie. Without a willing vessel, it will snap back into its containment, but not without rage in its defiance.”

“Break it. You’re right here and have the strength to do it,” Reylan coaxed again.

Faythe shook her head. “We need it intact to use it against Marvellas, and I will find a way to release you from it without breaking it.”

“There is no way. It’s either me or the world, Faythe Ashfyre.”

“Then I choose you!” she cried.

The words came out of her so quick and sure. Even when she repeated them, she did not reconsider. It was in that moment Faythe realized power didn’t make villains; love did.

One of the walls of the inn caved in, and so did part of the roof. Faythe recoiled, hands still braced on Reylan’s chest. His palm cupped her nape, their faces so close.

“Then choose me, my Phoenix. Break it.”

Reylan would never ask that of her. He was loyal and brave and would sacrifice himself if it meant the survival of his kingdom, his people.

This was not his right mind beneath her.

It was Marvellas.

Faythe let go.

All she knew next was endless chaos and weightless projection. Until she slammed into something solid in a punishing claim of gravity. It would have been worse were it not for Reylan, who held her tightly to him, shielding her with his whole body and taking the worst of the impact from the explosion.

The magick that had explored every internal piece of her was gone, and she breathed easier, peeling her eyes open to survey the destruction she’d caused. Yet in her selfishness she couldn’t even look around to face the consequences of her actions—all her attention fell on Reylan beside her, his arms limp around her.

“Reylan,” she choked. His eyes fluttered open to her relief, and she cupped a hand to his face. “I’m so sorry.”

“Faythe,” he whispered back.

“I’m right here.”

“We can’t let her win.”

“We won’t,” she promised. “I’m going to find a way to get this out of you and kill her with it.”

Reylan’s lips parted again, but he was too injured to release his next words.

Faythe forced herself up to face what she’d done. They lay amid the splinters of pain and tragedy. She hadn’t just collapsed this establishment—several surrounding buildings were caved in at various impact points because of her.

She didn’t know who she was anymore. Choosing violence for her own cause. She expected to see more casualties, and whilethere were bodies being pulled out of the icy wreckages, many more were cowering in fear. Had most managed to evacuate?

It didn’t matter. Lives were lost, and Faythe had claimed them with her newly tarnished soul.

Reylan was unconscious. His forehead bled, and dust coated his tanned skin. Faythe could run. It would be logical since he only had a mind to capture her and hurt her for Marvellas. Yet she shuffled closer, debris cutting her flesh and digging into her skin, until she was tucked into his body.

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