Infinity Reaper (Infinity Cycle 2)

“I swear you’re going to turn on us any second and attack,” I say.

“It would probably be to my advantage to keep that fear alive, but I’m disastrous with any weapon. I pierced my own mum’s shoulder with an arrow.”

“Yeah, but how long ago was that? When you began training?”

Wyatt blushes. “That happened this summer.” His little snicker that follows reminds me of people who find something funny at funerals and are struggling to keep it together. “Anyway, Tala’s flair for combat suits her role as a field Halo, but I work more closely with the phoenixes themselves.”

“Then you should be more pissed off at me and everything I represent,” I say.

We’ve almost caught up with the others at the opposite gate when he rests his hand on my shoulder and stops me. “I’ve traveled the world meeting with countless organizers that specialize in alchemy, caging, slaughtering, and hunting to get them to cease all harm for their own personal benefits. I’ve met specters who either don’t value creature lives or believe they’re more equipped to do good with powers that don’t belong to them. You’re the first specter to say you want to end this too. Your first life may have started this mess, but you’re not stoking that flame, Emil.”

It’s almost as if I can’t feel every other Halo Knight’s eyes on me knowing I have one who believes in me.

“That said, to pay for Keon’s crimes against phoenixkind, you have to clean up all droppings from the grounds.” He cracks a smile.

I almost smile back as we rejoin the group, but things feel so tense between Brighton and Tala that I’m scared another fight is about to break out. Even if Tala throws the first punch, we’re the ones who will be blamed for bringing chaos to the Sanctuary. I doubt Wyatt will be able to vouch for us then. I stand at Brighton’s side, ready to hold him back if he gets bold.

“Anyone care for a tour of the castle?” Wyatt asks. “It’s been years since I’ve last been here, but it’s truly marvelous and—”

“This isn’t a field trip,” Tala interrupts. “While your parents may be living their best lives in London I can’t say the same for mine. If you can’t help these specters figure out this potion, then send them packing so we can fully focus on the Blood Casters.”

“Absolutely,” Wyatt says. Tala walks away without another word and Maribelle is ready to follow. “I’d give her a moment, Maribelle. Personally, I’d give her an hour because I’ve learned the hard way what happens when you try to be helpful.” Wyatt mimics getting punched in the face.

“I’ll take my chances,” Maribelle says as she jogs across the courtyard to catch up with Tala.

“Wouldn’t you all stick together? I thought you were all teammates,” Wyatt says.

“Think again,” I say.

“Friends?”

I let out a little laugh.

“Duly noted.”

Wyatt takes us into the castle. The great hall isn’t as big as I expected it to be, but its greatness is legit. I step inside a circle of bronze statues, admiring all these well-crafted phoenixes, and I back away when I notice a Halo Knight kneeling before one in prayer. Colorful banners hang from the high ceiling and whoever sewed the patterns did so lovingly; the gray sun with its golden feathers in particular is so beautiful I want to make it my phone background. Brighton confuses the sky swimmer at first for the century phoenix since they’re both blue but once I correct him he takes a selfie under the right banner. Not even being able to tell apart Gravesend’s breed from phoenixes known for flying underwater is the thousandth reason Brighton shouldn’t have her powers, but I’m staying shut because I don’t want to ruin this experience.

We pass a circular room with all sorts of weapons on the walls—staffs, crossbows, daggers—and two blindfolded women are having a swordfight. I’m so nervous as metal clangs against metal, but no matter how fast they are every sweep and jab of the sword never cuts into either Halo Knight. Wyatt explains that these extreme training methods are one of many reasons he has avoided taking on a more active combat role like Tala. Brighton swears he could endure all of this, but also doesn’t think it’s necessary to be well versed with weapons since he’s such a powerhouse. There’s a frightening truth there.

While crossing the bridge to the next tower, the second courtyard comes into view. There’s a young Halo Knight sitting on top of a blaze tempest, the phoenix with a body the size of a small hound. The blaze tempest has massive wings that carry them through the air and I’m so nervous the child is going to fall off, but they’re being supervised by an older Halo on their own phoenix.

Wyatt points to a corner where a sun swallower is breathing fire onto a large suit of armor that’s sparkling. “You see that there? My great-great-great-grandmother fashioned the very first armor for phoenixes.”

“She created Herculean Fea

thers?”

Years ago, I was in a flea market and stumbled onto a Polaroid of a phoenix with armor that perfectly fit its head and body. I thought this was some kind of servitude until I researched it at home and discovered the Halo Knights used these armors made of diamond and sun-dust to give phoenixes an extra layer of protection in battle.

“Incredible, yeah? I certainly didn’t live up to my family’s legacy when I failed to construct Herculean Feathers for Nox at age fourteen, but it was more practice than anything since Nox isn’t a war phoenix.”

Brighton watches in awe as the sun swallower’s deep orange flames keep everyone at bay. “This is incredible. How do we get our hands on some pet phoenixes?”

He’s the smartest, most clueless person I know.

“Phoenixes aren’t pets,” I say.

“Certainly not,” Wyatt says. “Just last week I freed a domesticated crowned elder from a woman in Tampa who was calling herself the Phoenix Queen. A phoenix’s home is their choice.”