CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Phoenix caught the swift look and even swifter thought Jade sent him. He nodded slightly in acknowledgement. It was a risk they had to take. This had to end, and quickly. Jade’s plan was the only option. He heard her mutter kala as she cast a spell on the guards holding Zhi Hui and the Emperor, time-freezing them so the soldiers couldn’t physically harm their hostages but they still looked alert - enough to fool Zhudai for awhile, anyway. Now they just had to deal with the sorcerer once and for all.
“You’re wrong, Zhudai,” she said aloud. “Having people you care about is not a weakness. Being in a team makes you stronger. No-one succeeds on their own.”
Phoenix stilled, feeling the power of her words, realising their truth at last. Slowly, he nodded his agre
