Page 269 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Reylan’s chest beat with pride beside his worry for Faythe. She was a fierce protector, and he adored that about her. It somewhat pissed him off to hear what Zaiana had provoked her with, but his Phoenix needed this. Needed to let her wings out and trust herself to harness the power she was capable of if she found the will to control it.

Zaiana was the only one who was unbiased toward Faythe’s feelings, able to pull things out of her they couldn’t bear to. And she had the skill to contain the ruin if things got out of control.

“This is quite fascinating,” Nik commented, watching them intently, with his arms crossed.

“Are you mad?!” Nerida screeched, clearly in distress with how the duo above were unrelenting on each other.

Reylan said, “With the ruin, I can seize both their power if I think they’re going to seriously hurt each other.”

At least, he thought he could.

“Just to remind you, I don’t have my healing ability anymore if you let this go on until one is falling from the sky,” Nerida grumbled.

Reylan dropped his attention to her with a wince, realizing now why Nerida was so upset. She was used to being able to help people and could immediately step in if something went wrong. Tarly slipped an arm around her in comfort.

“I’ll put an end to this,” Kyleer said, bracing with his wings to take flight. Reylan eyed them with awe and incredulity every time. Still not used to seeing them towering over his shoulders.

“Wait,” Tauria said. “You only risk getting hurt going up there. I can interfere from here.”

Everyone watched as Tauria retrieved her short staff strapped to her thigh, intrigued about what she was going to do from the ground. Her staff was unique, and Reylan watched in admiration as she kept her eyes on Faythe and Zaiana above while skillfully twisting the baton in a two-step sequence that expanded it to full length.

He felt the gentle interference of her wind ability. She twisted her staff and began to shift her feet in a graceful, focused dance. The wind grew stronger around them, starting to form a small hurricane, and Reylan matched the others, who had begun to step back, shielding their eyes.

Tauria was impressive with the force of the wind she could conjure. He was outside the wall of her hurricane, but still, he had to shift his stance to keep from losing balance. After she’d gathered enough, her hurricane started to tighten, drawing closer to where she still danced in the eye of the storm. Reylan had only seen small usage of the Windbreaker ability before, but this was a stunning demonstration of how lethal it could become, and how powerful Tauria Stagknight was.

When she was satisfied, Tauria shifted her leg back into a lunge, her staff angled skyward in both hands. The full force of wind she’d conjured shot up, blasting between Faythe and Zaiana. The gale was strong enough to knock both of them out of flight. Reylan’s heart leaped up his throat watching Faythe tumble down rapidly.

He walked toward her, tracking her while she flailed, trying to regain her balance, but her Phoenix wings had burned out. Reylan was running now, with fear marching in his chest that she wouldn’t conjure them back in time.

She did, but the distance she had left to find balance and fly wasn’t enough, so all she could do was slow her descent. Reylan caught her, and both almost went crashing to the ground, but he found his footing after the impact.

He cradled her, and their bewildered eyes met.

“Thanks,” she panted.

Reylan huffed with a smile, setting her down. “Want to tell me what that was all about?”

Faythe blew a lock of loose hair in her huff. “She’s the worst teacher.”

“My teaching isnotthe problem.” Zaiana glowered as she approached.

“You’re right, because this is torture, not teaching.”

“I knew you weren’t cut out for the discipline this would take.”

“We don’t havetime.”

“Then here’s to the end of the world, all because Faythe Ashfyre isn’t as special as she thinks she is,” Zaiana said bitterly. Reylan’s brows shot up when Zaiana’s purple eyes shifted to him. “Good luck with her.”

The dark fae began to storm off. Kyleer winced at the rest of them before he followed after her. Izaiah approached, studying Faythe.

“She’s actually quite patient and articulate at explaining the ruin’s power. You have a particular talent to enrage her.”

“Don’t you side with her,” Faythe mumbled.

Reylan couldn’t fight his smile of amusement. He knew Faythe’s impatience all too well.

The back of Faythe’s hand whacked to his abdomen when she sensed his amusement. He caught her wrist, pulling her flush against him. The fiery irritation in her eyes, along with her pout, was wildly attractive.

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