A Trial of the Heart (Valdor #2)

Chapter Sixteen

T hankfully, I was able to change and gather my belongings while Idris called the pegasi from the surrounding hillside. We mounted and took off at a boisterous pace without ever once glancing back. I wanted to put as much distance between myself and Aelius as I could. Daxton and his stallion led the way, with Castor and Adohan close behind. Idris and I were last, bringing up the rear of our traveling party.

No one had spoken a word since leaving the throne room in Aelius.

The trial of the mind was over, but I still had two more to face. The riddle on the scroll describing the trial of the body replayed repeatedly in my head. I was desperately trying to decipher what clues we needed to focus on to understand the type of creature I had to face. Training and preparing for the wrong opponent could lead to death.

I was lost in my thoughts when Idris called out next to me. “Adohan… Adohan!” The High Prince of Crimson City pulled back on his reigns, urging his steed to slow to his mate’s side.

“What is it, my love? Is it the babe?” Idris nodded in distress. “Daxton!” Adohan called out into the wind. “We need to land immediately. ”

Daxton turned in his seat as he and Castor slowed. “It’s not safe until we reach the border of Silver Meadows. Can you hold out for a little longer, Idris?” The brave mother nodded as she folded over her stomach, laying against her steed’s thick neck.

I wasn’t sure what was happening, but the look on Idris’s face told me it was not good. “What is wrong, Idris?”

“I’m having … contractions,” she said through gritted teeth.

“How often?” I pursed my lips and glanced at Adohan’s panicked face. “Can you speak through them?”

“N-n-not. W-well,” she said through a grunt of pain.

Shit. This was not good at all.

“Dax, how much further?” I met his gaze and tried my best to communicate the severity of this situation without speaking the words aloud.

Idris had borne children before, and because they were twins, they would have likely come early. In this pregnancy, she carried only one, but her body knew what to do in labor. It would strike faster this time around. And if she was experiencing contractions, ones she had difficulty speaking through, the child could be on its way into the world.

“Can you teleport us to the border?”

Daxton nodded. “I don’t see another option.” Sensing my urgency, he steered his mount toward Adohan and Idris. “I can take us all to the river separating Aelius and Silver Meadows. It should be safe there.”

“Do it,” I instructed. “She needs to rest. I might be able to use my magic to help them. ”

“Everyone needs to connect,” Daxton said as Castor reached into his bag and retrieved a long rope. “Hold on.”

We each grabbed a portion of the rope, and we disappeared from the sky in a silver flash.The pegasi neighed and bucked as their hooves touched the ground instead of soaring through the open air. Adohan leaped off his mount and took Idris. He clutched his mate tightly, tenderly kissing her brow and cradling her against his chest.

“Castor, keep watch,” Daxton ordered, shaking his head to try to right himself from the strain of his magic. “We’re in our realm, but the border is not far.”

Castor withdrew his twin blades and marched toward the river, scouting the area for any sign of trouble.

“Bring her over here,” I instructed, unfastening my cloak and preparing a comfortable makeshift bed on the mossy earth for Idris to lie down on.

“Do you have experience bringing young ones into the world, Spitfire?” Daxton asked.

“Not much,” I replied, remembering the two births Latte practically dragged me to watch. In hindsight, I cursed myself now for not allowing her to bring me to more. “But I know enough about the signs and progression of labor. This baby is likely in distress and will come faster than the twins because her body remembers childbirth.”

“It’s too early.”

“I know,” I replied with a grim look. “But there might be something I can do to stop the labor from progressing…”

“Then do it!” Adohan roared, the plea in his eyes taking root in the center of my heart. “Please.” His last words were barely a whisper as silver lines appeared around the rims of his eyes. He was afraid. The proud high prince was terrified for Idris and his child. Through their mate bond, Adohan could sense Idris’s distress as his own. All his showboating and air of confidence was stripped to the side as he clutched his mate’s hands.

Idris’s face tightened, and I knew the contractions were getting stronger with each minute. High Fae babies grew in the womb for twelve months… She was only eight months along. For a human or shifter, delivering this early would be worrisome, but for a fae, this was utterly dangerous. She still had four months before the fetus was fully formed and ready to enter the world.

“Lay her down on her back with her feet resting above her heart.” I glanced around me, pointing to a nearby log. “Bring that over here. I’ve seen my pack’s healer try this before, and it worked to reverse the natural progression of the baby exiting the womb. We’re going to try and use gravity in our favor.”

Daxton rolled the log toward a soft moss-covered tree, helping elevate Idris’s legs and bottom while Adohan cradled his mate’s head. “This is an odd position,” Idris said between labored breaths.

“We’re trying to let nature help keep that baby inside you,” I replied.

“Clever,” Idris rasped. “I can feel the baby shifting.”

“Good.”

Without warning, I reached out my palms to place them on her hard, swollen belly. Adohan unexpectedly snarled and roughly grasped my wrist. Fire crackled in his palm as it danced across my skin, searing my flesh and causing me to scream in shock.

“Ahh! ”

Daxton responded in an instant. Faster than I thought possible, he surged forward and grabbed Adohan by the throat, throwing him against the base of the tree with his hand firmly around his neck. Ice coated the flames along the forest floor as Daxton’s rage combined with his power to overshadow Adohan’s magic. Both males pulled back their lips, exposing their sharp canine teeth while releasing low, threatening growls of violence.

“Idiots,” Idris groaned. “Adohan, you paranoid, overprotective male. Skylar is trying to…” She couldn’t finish her words as another powerful contraction rolled through her womb. This time, I was close enough to see the muscles around her belly contract as blood trickled between her thighs and stained her dress.

“Not good. Right?” Idris turned her warm brown eyes to me, full of fear for her unborn child.

“Dax,” Castor yelled, rushing to his brother’s side. “Let go of Adohan! Both of you are not right in the head.” Daxton darted his gaze to Castor before returning it to his grip on Adohan’s throat. “None of this is helping Idris or the baby!”

Daxton seemed to regain his senses and released his grip on his friend. The crimson prince gasped and rubbed his throat before widely meandering around Daxton and returning to his mate’s side.

“No, it’s not good, Idris,” I whispered, and she gave me a grave look of understanding. She knew bleeding like this, paired with the contractions, was dangerous. “But I can help.”

If there was blood, that meant the baby or the womb was in distress, and there was something causing the pre-term labor. I called upon my healing magic as my palms glowed .

“Sooner would be better, Skylar,” Idris groaned again as Adohan cradled her head in his lap. “Sorry, that’s just the panic setting in.”

Gently, I pressed my hands to her stomach and allowed my healing powers to flow through me. My magic sought out the baby, sensing its distress from Idris’s womb. I allowed my magic to heal the area around the growing baby, settling the trauma and speeding the infant’s growth. The child was underdeveloped, needing more time to grow, and I was able to use my power to aid in the maturing of its lungs and ease the unborn baby’s suffering.

“There,” I gasped as I lifted my hands. “The labor should stop now, but you need to calm yourself, Idris, so the babe doesn’t feel any more distress.”

“Calm,” she panted as she rested her head against her mate. “Right. Understood.” I knew the stress of seeing Adohan at the offering, the trials, and then the audience with Minaeve and Seamus was difficult for her.

“And you should restrict your movements as much as possible, perhaps a limited type of bedrest if you can manage.”I hated advising this, but it was the only thing that made sense. Walking and stress would progress her labor. Limiting both as much as possible would help ensure the baby and the mother would be closer to full term.

Idris tilted her eyes open toward me with a grim look on her face. “That’s easier said than done, but I’ll do my best.” She affectionately rubbed her belly, with Adohan linking his hand with hers. “Looks like we will be on research duty then.”

“Not a bad place to be,” I answered with a reassuring smile. “Books can be the best company at times. ”

Wanting to give them privacy, I stood and walked around the corner of the trees. They had just had an intense scare and needed a moment alone. We could afford to give them that.

“The baby, and perhaps Idris, would’ve died without your help, Skylar,” Daxton said. “Crimson City is in your debt.”

“Unfortunately, they aren’t out of the woods yet.”

“Quite literally,” Dax answered with a playful undertone.

I shook my head with an audible scoff, arching my brow as I turned toward him. “Really? At a time like this, you think it’s appropriate to make a joke? You almost ripped Adohan’s throat out a few seconds ago.”

“That was a moment ago, and the danger of it has now passed. There is no sense in dwelling on what happened.”

“But why did you react like that? Why did Adohan try to burn me?”

Daxton shifted his feet beneath him. Even though others would dismiss this small movement as nothing … I knew better.

He cleared his throat before speaking. “We all knew you were helping, but in his state of panic, you were a threat to his mate and unborn child. He reacted out of instinct to protect them, and as a result, he lashed out.”

“He wasn’t the only one reacting.” I stared him down, but Daxton didn’t answer or turn to look at me. I could see his mind working through something. What, though, I wasn’t sure, but I knew asking about it would lead me nowhere right now. His blatant avoidance of my prying told me to try again another time, so I decided to change the subject .

“Idris will have to remain calm to keep the labor from progressing, but I did manage to support the infant’s lungs and other vital organs. The baby may be born sooner, but she’ll at least be stronger now.”

“ She? ”

“Yes.” I smiled brightly. “Idris was right. It’s a girl … but don’t share that with anyone else,” I warned, reaching out to grab his arm with my right hand. “Let it be a surprise.”

Daxton smiled, glancing at my touch as the dimple on his cheek appeared, making my stomach flip and my knees wobble.

“I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the surprise,” he answered, placing his hand atop mine. “I’m happy for them and the newest addition to their family.”

We stood at the bend of the river, listening to the creatures of the night scurry about and the calm waters trickle across the meandering turns. His touch lingered as his fingers brushed the back of my hand, moving down to my scarred wrist.

Daxton’s voice trembled as if he were holding something back.“I’ll teleport them to my stronghold in Silver Meadows. Idris shouldn’t fly.”

“I agree.” I stepped closer to him, wanting to feel the heat of his body sink into mine. “Are you able to travel that far with multiple passengers? I honestly don’t know what limits you have on your powers and the queen’s siphon…”

“My station as high prince allows me to draw from the land I govern. My gifts are stronger here than anywhere else in Valdor despite the queen’s hold over me.”

I cringed at the mere mention of Minaeve. “I would move them soon. What do you think—” I stopped as Daxton, sensing my unease, wrapped a protective arm around my middle. I couldn’t help leaning into his hold. It felt so natural. Like I was home. Daxton’s presence calmed and centered me unlike anyone else in this world.

“I wish we had more time, Spitfire,” Daxton said as his lips discreetly graced the crown of my head. “I wish I had time to tell you everything .”

Hesitation lurked in the back of my mind, but when he held me like this—when he spoke to me like this—all my doubts disappeared. “There’s no time like the present,” I answered, interlacing my hands around his waist and placing my head in the nook of his shoulder. “I promise I won’t interrupt. I’ll only listen.”

His deep chuckle of amusement rolled through me, causing my heart to skip a beat. I tilted my head up to gaze into his luminous gray eyes, holding softness reserved only for me. His gorgeous features highlighted by the moonlight gave him an unnatural glow that quickened my heaving breath.

He bent to bring his lips to mine without warning as he cupped my face in his large, rough hands. I melted at the pure ecstasy of his taste. His lips parted as his tongue roamed my mouth, his whispered moan mirroring my rising desires. I moved to clutch his shirt in my hands, desperate to rip it away and feel the heated flush of his bare skin against my own. There were simply too many layers separating us from one another. He gently pulled back, and I immediately despised the absence of his lips. I wanted to kiss him until the end of time itself.

“There never seems to be an opportune moment… when all I want to do is let the world disappear and become lost in you.”

“Luck has never really been my forte,” I said with a sweet smile tinged with sadness. Daxton adjusted his hold, bringing me closer as a feeling of contentment settled within me. He reached up to gently tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, brushing his knuckles along my chin and down the nape of my neck. Goosebumps settled over my skin as his eyes darkened with a longing I knew all too well.

“Good thing we’ll always find each other then.”

“Very good,” he answered with a smug grin. “I know it will be hard … trust me.” He winked as I grinned wickedly, pressing my hips against his hardening length. He cleared his throat in surprise, followed by a satisfying dark chuckle escaping his lips as he moved in line with mine. “But we must resist falling into certain temptations when there is a potential for wandering eyes all around us.”

“Is that a reminder for yourself or for me?”

“Perfection doesn’t need a reminder,” he answered with a gleam in his eye.

“Right,” I teased, my playful smile mimicking his own. “I can see where your brother learned to inflate his ego.”

“Who said I was talking about myself?” Daxton leaned in closely, meticulously caressing the curves of my body so he wouldn’t miss a thing. “That is self-inflating.” His teeth nipped at my ear as he whispered, “Besides, I would much rather have you take that role instead.”

“Don’t tempt me.” I breathed heavily, the throbbing between my legs turning into an aching need.

“Why not? This is extremely … entertaining.” Daxton’s growl vibrated along my skin, reaching the base of my neck, where his lips hovered.

“Because I don’t have as firm a hold on my self-control as you do, apparently,” I said.

“And who’s saying that’s a negative trait to have? ”

“You. Literally one minute ago… you did.”

“Ahh, right,” he said, nodding and turning his gray eyes to me. The heat of his desire lingering in his stare made my body melt. “It’s hard to argue with such pristine wisdom.”

“You’re unbelievable.” I laughed.

“Why thank you.” His smile curled wildly across his comely face.

“Oh, Gods, Daxton!” I shouted, playfully smacking him in the arm and pushing him away.

Faster than I could blink, he spun me around, placing my back to his chest. He held me close as he bent to whisper in my ear, “I didn’t know you could see the future, Spitfire, because that’s exactly what I plan to have you screaming sooner rather than later.”

My eyes rolled into the back of my head as his filthy words spun me like a top. Gods, I wanted him.

“Daxton.” Castor’s voice boomed from the trees where we left Idris and Adohan. “We need to move out.”

Daxton tensed and immediately went on high alert, protectively draping an arm around me and holding me close to his side. “Did you have a vision?”

“No, but I didn’t need to. When I was patrolling the river, a group of Dryads informed me that Anjani’s spies have been lurking along our borders. They are requesting a meeting with you to discuss this issue once we’ve returned to Silver Meadows.”

“Anjani wouldn’t dare step foot into my realm without permission,” Daxton replied in a deep, calm tone that would terrify anyone within earshot.

“It seems our absence has weakened our defenses. ”

Daxton narrowed his eyes and released a displeased grunting sound from his chest. “I’ll have to speak to Gunnar and Zola about this.”

“This does mean, however, that outside the wards or the Summit, we are never safe from the queen’s wandering eyes.” Castor said with his eyes darting between us, and Daxton’s face fell grim. “If you recall, Skylar, Anjani is Seamus’s kin. She can create illusions and conceal her troop of spies from detection.”

“She’s the one who masked your ships when you entered Solace pack lands?” I asked.

“Correct.” Dax nodded.

“Would she dare enter Silver Meadows without your approval?” I asked.

“She can fucking try,” Daxton cursed. “I’ll inform Gunnar and send Zola to investigate this when we arrive. Then, I’ll seek out the Dryads along the city boundaries. Any deception lurking in my kingdom will not be tolerated. I will not stand for spies within my home.”

“Zola will have a field day hunting Anjani down,” Castor snickered. “Can I be the one to tell her of this mission?”

“If you wish,” Dax said before finding my worried gaze. “If her spies are following us, Spitfire…”

“Then we must continue our ruse.” I didn’t hide my displeasure, glancing Castor’s way.

“You’re not the only one,” Castor argued. “While I’m beginning to find your company tolerable Skylar, I detest the death looks my brother gives me after I have to touch you.”

I tilted my head and raised my brows toward Daxton, but he didn’t bother acknowledging me. He was all business right now. “Inside the palace, we have wards barring entry. But in the training ring and in the city, I’m afraid we will have to be cautious about how we are toward one another.”

“I hate this, Dax.” I looped my arms around his neck and pulled myself up to kiss him. He greedily returned my affection, lifting me off my feet. “I don’t want to hide.”

And that was the truth. I decided right then and there that any doubts I had would stop. Even if the queen detected no mate bond, I would take whatever time I could with Daxton.

“Neither do I, Skylar,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I want to make good on my promise to you the night before the first trial.” Heat pooled in my center as my heart quickened in my chest. “But I refuse to jeopardize your safety.”

“What if I no longer give a shit about my safety or what the queen might do to me if she finds out my dalliance with Castor is a lie?”

Daxton half-smiled before nuzzling into the nape of my neck, his lips grazing my heated flesh. “That’s why you have me.” He tenderly kissed my lips again, pulling me close to savor our fleeting moment.

“Not the best time, you two,” Castor announced, unbashful at interrupting us. “I’ll gather the mounts. Dax, you should teleport Idris and Adohan first and then return for us.”

“Watch over her, Cas?” Daxton asked as the warmth of his embrace slipped away.

“On my life.” Castor nodded as Daxton released me, never taking his eyes from mine until he was out of sight around the corner. “I don’t like this threat to our realm,” Castor muttered.

“Is Anjani truly that dangerous?”

“Yes. There’s no telling where she could be. Zola thus far is the only one who has been able to track her whereabouts. Those two have had a grudge toward one another for centuries. But if Daxton ever found her… let’s just say her death would have consequences that my brother would likely serve.”

“I, for one, would not want to be on Zola’s bad side.”

“Not many remain there for long,” Castor replied as we watched the silver flash of light around the corner. “Skylar,” Castor said in a softer tone, and it piqued my curiosity. “I need to ask a favor. And understand that I don’t ask this lightly.”

“What is it?”

He took a deep breath, leaning his back against the trunk of a thick tree, staring off into the winding river. “It concerns my brother.” I froze.

“What about him?”

“I need to—” Looking down, he fidgeted his feet and hands uncomfortably, taking me aback. “I’m asking you…” Castor began as his dark eyes snapped open to my amber gaze. “Please, don’t hurt him.”

“What do you mean?”

“My brother has guarded his heart in a gilded cage ever since Queen Minaeve imprisoned him in her hold. Those who truly see and know him understand his caution and still love him despite it. We understand why he must keep to himself and carry the burden of the crown alone. But ever since meeting you… he … He’s changed. Daxton is vulnerable and yet somehow more alive all at the same time.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“It could be,” he answered, sweeping his darkened gaze across my face. “But it could also lead to his demise, along with yours. You’ve given him hope, and that’s one of the most powerful weapons someone can wield. He has hope for a better life, a new beginning. That gift alone is enough to shatter the chains of the darkest dungeon, and it’s all tied to you.”

“What are you getting at, Castor?”

“He is my brother— and my high prince. My duty is to serve and protect him, even if he always seems to do that for me. I ask you to please… Please use caution and trust your instincts. Do not leap unless you are ready to fall, for I fear my brother already has.”

This… This was unreal. I knew I was falling in love with Daxton. In all honesty, I had been since we first met. But I wouldn’t admit that to Castor, not before I had the courage to tell Daxton myself.

“I understand, Castor,” I said. The muscles along his shoulder were taut, following his pinched mouth that unveiled his unease. I needed to do something. “How about this,” I paused watching him closely. “I’m willing to swear allegiance to Daxton, just like the other citizens who come to Silver Meadows from other realms. Would that ease your concern and gain your trust?”

“Perhaps.” He pushed off from the tree and walked to the water’s edge. “What words would you speak?”

“I vow to honor and protect Daxton Aegaeon, High Prince of Silver Meadows, with my actions and my words. To do all I can to guard his heart and protect his soul.”

Castor seemed pleased, giving me a single nod. “With magic, we will speak this together, holding the earth of our kingdom and binding it to the realm in which we stand.”

Drawing on the power that swelled deep within my animal, I repeated the vow with Castor as he gathered a fistful of earth and poured it into my outstretched hand .

“I believe you have sworn allegiance to Silver Meadows with this vow to our high prince. You now have citizenship and recognition within our realm,” Castor announced. “May the land recognize you as kin and treat you as such.”

With Castor’s words, a tether emerged from the ground beneath my feet, flowing from the sole of my boots to the top of my head. The winding and trickling waters through the river felt comforting, and the air twirling through my hair gifted me strength. The land and magic of Silver Meadows recognized me as one of their own.

“Castor, what did you do?” Daxton asked as he silently approached us. “Skylar?”

“I have sworn in a new citizen of our realm. Now, she can freely move about our kingdom, bypass the wards, and is recognized as one of us. She’ll be treated as such as well. I believe you mean to say, Thank you, Castor. ”

“I didn’t wish for her to swear allegiance if she didn’t want to, Cas. I was prepared to alter the wards or have her always enter the palace with—”

“I wasn’t forced, Daxton,” I interjected. “Please. Do you really think I could be convinced to do something like this if I didn’t want to?”

He pursed his lips into a thin line. “No, you wouldn’t.”

“I freely pledged my loyalty to you and Silver Meadows. And I would gladly do it again if asked. Besides, if the second trial is indeed in your realm, this extra boost won’t hurt. You said yourself you draw power from the land you govern… I imagine it is the same for your people as well.” I knew I was winning when Daxton didn’t argue. However, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. I needed to guide this conversation elsewhere.

“I think it’s about time you brought me to Silver Meadows and showed me your home, Daxton Aegaeon.”

Dax silently reached out and took my hand, looking at me with a mesmerizing gaze I couldn’t bring myself to turn away from. Electricity crackled along my skin when he touched me, our magic reacting to each other’s presence like it always did. Did he feel the same way I did? The queen warned me that an offspring of a mated pair would never settle for anything but a mate. Even with the lack of a mate bond, could Daxton love me? Was I enough?

“Let’s go,” Daxton said as Castor placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“Welcome to Silver Meadows, Spitfire,” Daxton said with pride beaming from his expression. The scent of mountain pine and cold air reminded me of him, and I realized he smelled exactly like this city… like his home. This was, without a doubt, where Daxton belonged.

Silver Meadows was tucked away within the sanctuary of towering mountains and a channel to the ocean along the eastern horizon. Starfall Island, which Captain Fjorda and the crew of the Opal called home, was breathtaking, highlighted by the morning sun. My eyes widened as the mountains to the west and south glistened with silver ores along their snow-capped peaks. The beauty of this realm took my breath away. Aelius and Crimson City had no hold over Silver Meadows.

The bulk of Silver Meadows was built atop steep rolling hills leading to three towering silver-streaked mountains to the north, where their main palace resided. The hanging valley at the base of the tallest mountain caught my attention immediately, and I made a mental note to visit there as soon as I was able. The gleaming silver mixed with the deep shades of green highlighted the natural beauty embedded into the wilderness.

Rolling hills were divided by a broad, winding river the color of the brightest turquoise and rarest sapphires. The waters snaked across the landscape, leading to the channel dividing the mainland from Starfall Island. Tucked between patches of thick wilderness with various brush and green pines, three distinct market squares emerged. The city’s buildings were crafted out of white marble intermixed with patterns of warm red and tan stone and wooden frames. I recognized that the same red sandstone designs from Crimson City adorned some of the rooftops, giving the city an array of alternating colors.

From our vantage point on the palace steps, I could see other sections dedicated to townhouses with green copper roofs and white chimneys. The fae lights illuminating the cobblestone streets dimmed as the pink and yellow sunrise kissed the landscape below.

“I can’t believe how beautiful this all is.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“Just wait until you see inside,” Castor boasted.

I turned where I stood, my head tilting upward, taking in the immense sight of a gray stone palace that loomed behind me. Built at the base of the three towering mountains, the palace resembled a rectangular fortress, with different sections branching off from the center.

“Our father designed this stronghold to host large gatherings and various visitors. Since our mother was from a different realm, he wanted to ensure she could invite her kin without fear of overcrowding. We fondly call it the Summit,” Daxton said .

“Even though it is not at the top of the mountain… it’s at the northernmost edge of the city, so it fits,” Castor added.

“What do you do with all your space now if you’re not hosting visitors?”

“We get creative,” Castor said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes. I did not want to imagine how Castor used the abundance of space in his home.

“Guest wings are near the base, with our main rooms on the center and top floors. Castor’s rooms are on the western side, while mine lie toward the eastern wing. The training area and healers’ quarters are also on the center floor, on the western side,” Daxton explained.

“Near the training and sparring grounds, I assume.” I glanced toward the mountain’s base, which held a large clearing.

“Correct. The formal throne room and gathering areas are unique. They are directly at the entrance. The library, of course, is at the far end of the eastern wing.”

My eyes widened as my excitement jumped. “Show me!” I practically squealed with delight. “Can you show me the library? Please. Please!”

“I never thought I would see the day someone was more anxious to read than you, brother,” Castor snickered. “She might as well get started researching the clues we have from the scroll.”

“Castor’s right,” I replied with a grin.“ For once ,” I added under my breath.

“Very well.” Daxton nodded. “Skylar, I’ll take you to the library, but then I must tend to my duties as high prince. It’s been some time since I’ve been home, and the news about Anjani and the Dryads needs to be addressed.”

“Don’t worry. Leaving me in a library surrounded by books is no trouble. Just don’t be upset with me if I put up a fight when you try to get me to leave.”

A small grin tugged at his lips as if he were almost as excited as I was to show me his treasure trove.

“Cas, find Gunnar and Zola. Tell them to meet me in the War Room with Adohan within the hour. I need to hear the reports they gathered while we were away and address any concerns our people have raised. Also, Cas,” Daxton said to his brother, “send word that I will meet with the Dryads’ leaders within the week.”

Castor nodded, giving us both a slight bow before making his trek toward the training grounds on the other side of the palace.

“Alright, close your eyes,” Daxton said, guiding me through the entrance. “I want the unveiling to be special. The library is one of my favorite places to dwell when I have time.”I smirked, unable to hold back my excitement any longer, and happily obliged his request. Before I settled my nerves, Daxton whisked us away.

“All right, open them.”

The two-story library in the Summit held stacked shelves filled with countless volumes spanning every topic imaginable. If I wandered from one side to the other, I would become lost within the spanning aisles and tempting tales. It was a reader’s paradise, unmatched by any I had seen. The smell of this place was bewitching, with sections leading to cozy corners tucked away from sight and the musty scent of aged books that seemed to transport me into a different time and place. I was transfixed by the amount of knowledge I knew this sanctuary held. Majestic marble columns surrounded the intricate frescoes adorning the arched ceiling, and rows of beautifully bound books were calling me.

“Daxton,” I gasped, “this is unbelievable. ”

His smile was serene as he guided me to the spiral staircase leading to the second floor. “The second level is the best place to begin searching for the creature you will face in the upcoming trial. There is also an area dedicated to different plants and other wildlife you might encounter here. I can show you different sections about history on the lower levels and possibly our archives in the city center if you believe it will help.”

“This will do for now,” I answered, half-hearing what he said—still mesmerized by the sheer size of the library. “Wait, there are archives as well?”

“Yes, this library is our family collection, began by my mother. But the archives in the city’s center are for all of us to share. They hold the scrolls of our history that are looked after and kept safe.”

“You must show me the archives later, but for now … this is a good place to start.”

“Very well. I’ll leave you to it then.” Daxton chuckled, realizing I was more than happy to be left alone. “I’ll come back for you as soon as I’m able.”

“I’ll be here,” I said, motioning to the stacks of manuscripts I was ready to rummage through. I traced my fingers along the spines of a few books along the first row, reading the various titles and deciding where I should start. “You gave a secret bookworm an entire library to themselves… good luck ever getting me to leave.”

“I’ll take that challenge,” Daxton answered, giving me an amused look that had my toes curling. “Good luck.” In a silver flash, he was gone.

I began diving into the section describing the different types of fae creatures, then decided to indulge in a volume dedicated to the land’s geology. The riddle described the creature’s lair, so the clue identifying it could lurk in where its cage was held .

The charm and allure of the library proved to be a good distraction. Most of the day had already passed, and the sun hovered closer to the seas in the west through the skylight windows.

I finished rummaging through a fae creature book and made notes about the landscape of Silver Meadows but then meandered to a different section dedicated to folklore. I grabbed a few titles and searched for a nook to curl up in and begin researching. In the second story, where Daxton had left me, I found a chaise in the corner, near a picture window. As I sat down, I realized his scent was embedded in this place. My animal stirred as I relished in the feel of him, even in his absence. I would wager that this spot, in particular, was his hideaway. Draped by a tapestry on one side with the other hidden by a large potted plant. It was perfect.

Kicking off my boots, I lay down on the large chaise and tucked a pillow on my lap to begin reading. I became lost in the pages, blissfully ignoring the lapse of time and diving head-first into the folklore tales of the Inner Kingdom. It wasn’t until the fae lights appeared that I realized what time it was. The snacks I stored in my pack were almost gone, but surprisingly, it hadn’t deterred me from my reading. I had almost finished the second book when I could no longer seem to hold my eyes open. Exhaustion tugged at every aching muscle and dark corner of my consciousness, and still, I could not bring myself to sleep. I leaned over onto my side, resting with the book still open and my eyes skipping over the words, trying desperately to keep awake.

I didn’t stir or flinch when the weight of the book disappeared because it was immediately replaced by his hand intertwining with mine. Daxton silently slid in behind me, tucking me in close to him with a hand possessively curled over my waist. It seemed so natural that I didn’t even think to second-guess how or why he was here.

“I see you found my reading spot.”

I smiled softly as I sank into his warm embrace. Somehow, his presence allowed the rest of the world to slip away. With him, everything was different. There were no lingering dangers or fears when he was with me. It was just us.

“You need sleep, Spitfire,” he whispered as his scruff brushed against my cheek. “Tomorrow will come soon enough.”

“What if I can’t sleep? What if I’m too scared to close my eyes and realize this is all a dream? That I am still locked in the labyrinth and my soul…”

“Your soul?” He was deathly still, his grip bringing me closer. “What happened in the labyrinth, Skylar?”

“I want to tell you… but it’s something I’m having a hard time believing myself,” I whispered. I still couldn’t believe I had dared to bargain my soul. I shuddered as the monster from the deep crept into my mind. Daxton reacted to my fears like they were his own, moving over me and cupping my cheek. I slowly opened my tear-soaked eyes to find his.

“Skylar.” His voice was calm despite the concern lingering in his gaze. “It’s over. You don’t have to—”

“But I do, Daxton,” I practically yelled as my facade of strength shattered. Daxton moved back against the chaise and cradled me in his arms. I sobbed for everything I went through—and everything I still had to overcome in order for our world to be free. “What if … What if I can’t do this, Daxton?”

“What if you can?”

I turned to look at him. His expression was so soft and comforting that it made my heart skip a beat. Gods above, he was so ridiculously handsome it wasn’t even fair. His hands softly stroked my arms before moving to my shoulders and making small circles against my back as he cradled me in his embrace.

“What if you can, Spitfire?”

His chin rested against my brow as I inhaled a deep, calming breath. His scent came crashing through my senses, the pine and winter mountain air reminding me of the open sky and wilderness that grounded me and my animal. A warm sensation spread through my chest, allowing the tether of a connection with Daxton to open and consume me.

“Can—” I stumbled forming the question on my lips. “Can you feel that?” I asked.

Daxton paused before answering me. “There are many things I’m feeling right now, but I don’t possess the experience needed to accurately express them. This… What I feel with you is foreign to me. Even in my past relations, I’ve never—”

“Never what?” I questioned, turning to look at him as my chest rose and fell in heavy labored breaths. What was he feeling?

“I’ve never been willing to be so open with someone before. It’s never been this effortless to do so. I have a tendency to keep even those I care for at an arm’s length, but not you, Skylar.” He paused and I held my breath, anxiously waiting for him to continue. “Since the day you scolded me for almost dying, I’ve been at your mercy.” Daxton’s smile was soft as he ran his finger across my cheek, his finger twirling in the ends of my hair.

My thoughts ventured to what Castor had said before I made my vow and allegiance to Silver Meadows. But ever since meeting you… he… He’s changed. I realized he was likely just as lost as I was, and to add the weight of the trials to all this? It was utter madness.

“I—I saw you in the labyrinth.” I confessed.

I watched Daxton’s expression stiffen, yet he remained quiet despite the endless questions no doubt rattling inside his head.

“You were there inside the labyrinth, and you helped rescue me from being eaten alive while dangling over a blackened abyss of doom.” I watched Daxton’s reaction carefully, yet he remained silent. “The labyrinthit … it was a living thing. And he created himself in your image, trying to trick me into leaving. I didn’t take the offer, though. Obviously.”

“How did you figure out it wasn’t me?” Daxton asked.

“Because the labyrinth couldn’t replicate the real you . There were tells, small mannerisms that seemed different.”

“No one can truly mimic perfection. They can try, but it will only end in failure.”

“Oh, Gods, don’t let your ego inflate like Adohan’s.” Daxton laughed and curled his lips inward, nodding for me to continue. “My animal didn’t react to your presence. Your magic seemed off, and you were joking at the time, but you tried to stab me.”

“Stab you?” he repeated, shaking his head with a more serious tone now. “Skylar, you know I would never…”

“Clearly,” I said with a half-smile to try and comfort him. “But that wasn’t what did it for me.”

“I’m intrigued to hear what my ultimate tell was.”

“You tried to force me through a portal and leave. You said that you were making this decision for me and that I had no choice.” I purposely omitted the part about the imposter confessing his feelings for me and the desire for us to be together. While I knew Daxton was fond of me and desired me, I was cautious. “In our time together, Daxton, you’ve never once forced me to do anything. You’ve respected my decisions.”

“And I always will.” He tucked my hair behind my ear, causing me to lean toward him. I desperately wanted to kiss him. Hell, I wanted to do more than just kiss him. Flashes of our previous night together flooded my memories, and hunger settled in my core.

“You need rest,” he said, biting his lower lip. My barrier was down, and I knew he could sense my arousal.

“Then don’t do that,” I said playfully, motioning to his bottom lip, which I longed to taste again. Gods help me… I wanted him in every way possible.

“What will help you sleep, Spitfire?”

“Stay with me?”

“As you wish,” he replied, leaning back against the chaise, allowing my head to fall onto his chest.

He rubbed my back and hummed a quiet tune I immediately recognized. It was the song he somehow sent me while I was in the hunter’s keep—the melody that wrapped me in a blanket of his strength and allowed me to overcome the darkest depths of my fears and possibly even death.

“Sleep,” he whispered. “I’ve got you, Spitfire.”