Page 149 of Queen of Legends and Lies
And I am not afraid.
I am more myself than I have ever been. Finally, I’m getting acquainted with the abilities that lay dormant in my soul. This was who I was always meant to be.
Not Xenon’s pawn.
Not Jasper’s hostage.
Not the Ash Queen.
Not the destroyer of lives.
I bring purification. I bring life.
Rose cries out, going limp in my arms.
Spots dance across my vision. I blink in an attempt to clear away the blinding afterimages. When I can finally see clearly again, I look down at Rose.
She stares up at me with wide blue eyes.
The corruption…it’s gone. Purged from her body by the cleansing fire and then blasted away without even leaving ash. Her mind is free. And now she’s witnessing these horrors firsthand.
A blessing and a curse.
“Lark? What’s happening?” Rose shakes with shuddering sobs. “I can’t see! Why is everything so bright?”
“Shh, it’s okay.” I stroke her hair with a glowing hand, certain it won’t harm her. This fire doesn’t obliterate everything it touches. This fire sears away that which is unhealthy or unholy. Somehow, I just know. “Everything’s going to be okay. Just close your eyes, sweetheart. Don’t look.”
Pressing my hand to the back of her head, I bury her face against my stomach, protecting her from this living nightmare.
It’s all I can do as the corrupted around us cower yet still refuse to give up, throwing themselves against my shields only to collapse in a growing pile of death.
Mesmerized by the sight, I stare in awe at the blazing white flames that shimmer around us. I’ve never seen anything like it. Never even dreamed that fire could burn this hot, this bright. But I know this is my light, these are my flames. I am aware of them like I am aware of the wings on my back beating the air around us.
The flames spread, enveloping my wings—the very extension of my being.
This is phoenix fire.
The magic of my true heritage, finally awakened after lying dormant for so long. Fire so pure and potent, it can burn away any corruption.
Even the tainted bones of a dark god.
Renewed hope jets through me, hot and fierce. I can do this. I can end this. For Rose. For Sterling. For everyone I love. For my kingdom.
I fix my gaze on Narc’s writhing, partially formed body and let the phoenix fire build inside me, hotter and hotter. The magic is so strong, so wild, I’m not sure how well I can control it.
But I’m going to give it three hells of an effort.
With all the strength left in me, I push it outward.
My shield turns into a mass of spinning blades that grow longer with every rotation. The fire roars out of me in a blinding torrent, swirling and twisting as it races toward Narc.
The god’s agonized shrieks overpower the crackle of flames. Eyril roots shoot out of the ground below and above him.
They thrash against the inferno like sentient beings trying to protect their master.
It’s no use.
Nothing can withstand the cleansing blaze of the phoenix.
