Page 147 of A Flame of the Phoenix

She gave Faythe no second to respond before she intervened. Reylan’s body tensed, and a pain sound escaped his gritted teeth.

“Stop hurting him!” Faythe yelled, taking his head in her hands, wild panic in her eyes.

His body relaxed, heaving deep breaths, and Faythe could hardly stop shaking from the pure bottled rage within her.

“We’re going to get through this,” she whispered to him. “I’m going to get you back.”

“I’ll need time to explain how she can open herself to the power without letting it dominate,” Zaiana interjected.

Marvellas’s attention swung to the dark fae. Impatience flexed in the Spirit’s jaw.

“If she dies on your watch, your life will be next, and it will not leave this world painlessly,” Marvellas warned.

Faythe didn’t expect such a lethal threat. As she passed Faythe like a red river, her knuckles reached down to brush Faythe’s cheek with a stinging tenderness.

“I’ll see you for supper.”

Then she was stolen by darkness, leaving Faythe alone with Reylan and Zaiana.

“I’ve faced many challenges in my grueling upbringing, but keeping you alive is by far the most infuriating,” Zaiana grumbled.

The dark fae relaxed from her strict stance, slackening her hands from their clasp behind her back. Faythe watched her,wondering if it was nerves she saw spilling over Zaiana now the Spirit was gone.

“This should be easy for you. It sure seemed that way on the Fire Mountains when you showed off your ability to wield the ruin.”

Zaiana’s purple eyes sliced into her with accusation. “I can’t do that right now,” she said, low and dark.

Faythe’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean it’s your fault I have no magick!”

Zaiana spun away from Faythe with that, pinching the bridge of her nose as if she hadn’t wanted to admit it. Faythe was stunned. She never would have guessed since Zaiana had seemed as frightening as ever.

“How is that possible?” Faythe asked, genuinely curious.

It should be a win for Faythe, shouldn’t it? But all it inspired was concern.

“If I knew, I would have recovered it by now,” she answered bitterly.

“So you can get it back?”

“I think so, I just…don’t know how yet. Which means I can’t contain the power of the ruin if you lose control again, just like I couldn’t when you recklessly exposed yourself to it at the inn.”

Faythe should have realized sooner.

Her sight fell back to Reylan, who remained utterly unmoving. She had to track his shoulders to soothe her panic that he was still breathing.

“What do I do?” she whispered in horror.

Zaiana gave a groan, pacing the small cabin behind Reylan. She appeared deep in thought, trying to figure out how to explain the complexities of where to begin with wielding a ruin.

“I really hoped I would never have to do this again,” Zaiana muttered under her breath.

“You were made to teach others?”

“No. Kyleer’s foolish younger brother was Nether-bent on attempting it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s killed him since I left.”

Faythe gasped, covering her mouth and standing. “The Light Temple Ruin,” she whispered.

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