XANTHOS barely had time to blink before Phoenix stepped in front of him, her arms folded across her chest. She wasn’t trembling, wasn’t crying, wasn’t screaming. She was worse than all three.

“Who is she?” She repeated, fixing her hardened gaze at him.

Xanthos froze. His mind had been a storm since he woke up on the ground. The last thing he needed was Phoenix’s accusations.

“What?” he muttered, his jaw tightening.

Phoenix stepped closer. “Don’t play dumb with me, Xan. ...