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The bugs Oh, sweet mercy
Where were they headed?
Amid the chaos, the Phoenix circled Josephina "You have only yourself to blame for this Well, yourself and your ed their fate, and so, they changed his They were only too happy to use me to punish him--and what better way to punish hi wife?"
"Leave Kane out of this It’s between you and me"
"The Moirai dropped me in your life at the perfect time You’re finally without your protector--and I’"
The Phoenix launched at her
Josephina spun out of the way, and the girl soared past her, dang it Instincts, she thought--she needed to override them She needed contact, even if it hurt
The Phoenix quickly gained her footing and turned, swiping out a hand covered withthe nails in her forearth The Phoenix didn’t seem to notice--yet As warain, and this tih took the brunt of the abuse This injury proved worse, but she was able to suck in even , Josephina wrapped her fingers around the girl’s wrists at the irl drew back for another strike, but y
Strengthening
The Phoenix weakening
Realizing what she was doing, the girl jerked away, out of reach "You dare try to thieve fro, the Phoenix dove at her Her arms crisscrossed as she atte any prolonged contact Josephina dodged, o
"So So, how about we take this up a notch?" Grinning now, the Phoenix walked a wide circle around her, flaround Those fla Josephina cough
Beyond the circle, she could hear Red cursing What Willia, she wasn’t sure The panicked murmurs and frantic footfalls of the Opulens had faded, but anyone reer They were her people now, she thought She’d left them without a leader, and they needed her They were hers to protect
"Very well, then," she said with a nod "Let’s finish this"
Ding, ding
Josephina threw herself into round two,to land just as many blows as she took When the Phoenix tripped over one of the cracks Kane had left behind, Josephina raced forward, dropped to her knees and skidded across the floor, stopping at the girl’s feet She grabbed her ankle and jerked her legs out froirl hit, she reached out to squeeze her ary
The Phoenix pushed her away, and jumped to her feet--only to stu she had to act now, even at the expense of her own life, Josephina barreled into her They fell and s the brunt of the ih dizziness swairl’s body, straddled her waist and gripped her by the neck Another streay entered Josephina Another and another The Phoenix tried to bat her away, failed
"Tink!" she heard Kane shout, just before he ran through the flames
As he crouched beside her, blisters popped up on his face, arms and hands The ends of his hair s questions, but sla her out
Buzzing with energy and heat, so irl up and tossed her out of the fiery circle, calling, "She’s all yours, Williarief, relief, sadness, joy, fear, heartache--Josephina pushed to her feet "I’ve got to put out the fire"
"Letto me," she interjected, and it was She feltconnected to it, its warmth her warmth "It wants to be with me" She reached out and the flames instantly leaned in her direction The ainst her skin, her pores opened up, as if she was drawing power from another person, and the flames were sucked into her body
"Tellher in his ar him, but didn’t release her
"I’muninjured You?"
"Same"
She scanned the throne room Bodies littered the floor Most were dead, soone--and so was the Phoenix
"What happened?" Kane croaked "I ca about defeat and death and destruction As I juive him the Phoenix"
Tears welled in her eyes, and she explained as best she could about White Kane paled, released her and fell back on his haunches
"I did it My actions, my decisions, killed her Unleashed her destruction In this realm In another realm An apocalypse has come And it’s my fault," he said
"No, the Moirai are at fault They sent the Phoenix"
"Because of me Because I failed to heed their prediction Because I attacked them in their home"
"Kane, no The only reason the Phoenix caet back at me If you want to blame someone besides the Moirai, blame me"
"No," he said with a shake of his head "Never you Petra’s hatred first brought her here Her stubbornness"
"Well, then, you see You’re not to blame"
His eyes narrowed "And you’re not, either"
She patted his knee "Okay, then We’re agreed The Moirai and Petra will carry this shame"