A Trial of the Heart (Valdor #2)

Chapter Twenty-One

S omehow, I managed to uncoil from Daxton’s arms, locate my discarded clothing, and creep silently out of his room without waking him.

The most difficult part was not cautiously placing my steps, silently getting dressed, or opening the door. No, the hardest part was leaving him. There was a pang in my chest that grew with each step I took down the hall. Gods above… The Mother and Father themselves blessed me with Daxton as my mate .

Last night, after Daxton fulfilled his promise, he cradled me in his arms while helping me wash away any remnants from losing my maidenhead. I was surprised at the stain, but then again… I didn’t just climb a small hill my first time. I took on the fucking Meja mountain herself.

When I told Daxton this, he chuckled and kissed me softly before joining me for a quick wash himself. The ease of our kisses and comfort in each other’s company was so natural you’d think we had been doing it for years.

After helping me clean up, Daxton, staying true to his word, promptly carried me back to his bed. We curled up together, silently closing our eyes and drifting into a calming sleep. Our limbs were so intertwined while we slept that I didn’t know where he began, and I ended. We naturally tossed and turned in the night, but we never once lost contact with one another.

Last night was everything, and I do mean everything he had promised me the night before the first trial. It was more than I could have ever hoped for … He was more than anything I hoped for.

I awoke in the morning with Dax’s head tucked under my chin, his face cradled against my chest, sleeping so soundly that someone might think he was dead. I couldn’t help curling around him, enjoying how the passing minutes ticked by slowly, basking in our combined scents, which now blended like burning cedar on top of an ice-capped mountaintop—frigid like ice yet blazing like fire.

When I turned to kiss his dark brow, stroking his thick, hair away from his face, I made an effort to memorize this blissful moment.

The only reason why I was leaving his bed was, of course, my stomach. I was starving… And I wanted to make a special meal for my mate.

Peeking through the slit of the drapes on the windows of Daxton’s room, I saw that the day was well underway. The arching windows on either side of the large balcony were draped with heavy curtains, shielding the room in darkness despite the daylight outside.My footsteps were thankfully muffled by the plush rugs leading to the doorway, aiding in my departure.

I didn’t bother leaving a note. I knew he would find me.

I couldn’t help the girlish smile from crossing my face as I walked down the vacant halls of the Summit in my bare feet.

My mate , I repeated almost a dozen times, unable to hide my glee. Daxton Aegaeon, High Prince of Silver Meadows, is my mate , I said to myself, still in disbelief that last night had actually happened.

I blissfully passed the large arched windows decorated with elegant silver and white trim leading to the grand staircase. I gazed upward at the unique skylight framing this section of the palace that highlighted the beautiful sky above. My hand glided over the railing, admiring the detailed carvings with a new set of eyes and a feeling of tranquility settling in my center.

When I reached the kitchens and pushed the swinging door open, all sets of eyes snapped up to me; their busy hands froze as they stilled. I hesitated uncomfortably in the doorway, not sure of what to do.

Lydia, the lead kitchen staff member, was the first to speak. “Skylar.” She stood up straight, matching my height with her shoulders back and head held high. I could see her nostrils slightly flare as a look of surprise flashed over her expression before quickly fading away.

“Good morning,” I said softly, trying to smile. “Or maybe afternoon?”

Lydia glanced at the other kitchen staff as they began whispering to each other with quick nods.

“That’s enough,” Lydia snapped. Her hazel eyes as sharp as the knives she wielded. I would have probably mistaken her for a Silver Meadows warrior if she didn’t have flour constantly splattered on her face and apron.

“My lady,” she said, turning toward me with a bow of her head.

My lady? Okay, what was going on? I stared blankly at her with an arched brow, unsure of what to do or say in reply.

“Would you like us to cook you something or to clear the kitchens?” Lydia asked, her head still bent low .

“Y-you don’t have to leave your workstations,” I stammered, not wanting to put anyone out of place. “Please don’t feel obligated to do something just for me. I was coming in to prepare a meal like I’ve done every day this past week. You don’t have to leave on my account.”

Lydia straightened and whipped her head around. “Clear out. Lady Skylar wishes to utilize the kitchen.” She returned to me, giving me a kind smile and another bow as the others filed out behind her. “We’re just cleaning up from breakfast, my lady. It’s no trouble at all. If you or High Prince Daxton need anything, alert us, and we’ll happily oblige your request.” With that final comment, she gave me a nod and swiftly exited through the kitchen’s back doors with the rest of the staff.

That was strange.

Right on cue, my stomach rumbled. I quickly brushed off their odd behavior and started creating one of my favorite breakfast dishes. It was pirozhki time.

I snacked on apple slices while my hands kneaded the dough before placing it near the heat of the burning stovetop to rise. I would have killed to have this kitchen back home. It was an absolute dream. Once the dough began proving, I got to work dicing onions and garlic, combining them with the browning meat, needing one hour for the dough to rise before I began filling the pastries. The spices were added next, allowing the flavors to soak into the meat and fill the space with a delicious chili scent that made me think of Julia and Solace.

My back was turned to the swinging door, but I knew who was standing in the opening before I even turned around. The scent of pine with a touch of burning wildfire and open sky drifted across the spice-filled air of the kitchen. My heart raced as goosebumps danced across my arms with anticipation .

“I seem to have not fulfilled my promise to you,” Daxton purred. His voice was heavy, dark, and full of sultry promises. My toes curled in response.

I pivoted to face him, accidentally dropping the spatula. My eyes widened as I swallowed a heavy wave of need that pulsed through me like a thundering storm, making me forget all my reasons for leaving his bed.

Shirtless, Daxton casually leaned against the doorway with his large arms crossed in front of his chiseled chest. My eyes scanned his perfect body, lingering on the loose, low-hanging pants that rested just below his hips, intersecting the deep V in his lower abdomen that my eyes could not waver from. The ache between my thighs pulsed with a demand to have him inside me.

“ Ahhh-hem ,” he announced, clearing his voice. “My eyes are up here, Spitfire.” I blushed and quickly tilted my gaze, biting my lower lip to keep myself steady. Dammit, I could feel the wetness building between my thighs already. “Fuck, Skylar,” Daxton cursed in a low voice that made the hairs on my neck stand straight. His muscles flexed as he inhaled a full breath, closing his eyes as he tilted his head back.

“What?” I playfully asked, bending down to pick up the spatula I dropped on the floor.

“You’re enjoying this. Aren’t you?” He groaned, opening his slitted eyes with a devilish smile. “You know … I should be scolding you for leaving the bed without me releasing you. Yet here I find you barefoot in my kitchen,” he paused, looking me over, “and still wearing my shirt?” He arched his brow. “Unfair.”

“There weren’t many options for me to change into. Or would you prefer I was naked in your kitchen? Is that the better choice?” I asked him with a mischievous smirk .

“Shifty little shifter,” Daxton snickered with a spirited heat dancing in his eyes. “I’m already arranging for your things to be brought to our room if you don’t have any objections to the idea.”

“Our room?” I stilled, turning off the flames to allow the meat to cool before stuffing it into the dough. “ Our ?” A serene smile spanned my face.

Daxton uncrossed his arms, pushed away from the doorway, and sat himself on the other side of the kitchen island. Leaning forward onto his elbows, he rested his chin on his knuckles, giving me a swaggering half-grin that told me more than it should.

“Didn’t miss that one, did you?” I shook my head, giggling at how casual this all seemed when, in reality, it was the exact opposite. “Regardless of our bond not being sealed or the trials, you are my mate, Skylar. I won’t hide my feelings for you any longer. In fact, I refuse to do it.”

“Good,” I answered. “It’s about damn time. Minaeve can go kick rocks barefoot for all I care.” His chuckle put me at ease. “We’ll overcome anything together,” I added in a more serious tone.

He flashed me a full, unencumbered smile and, in a silver flash of light, reappeared next to me. He wrapped one arm around my waist while the other tilted my chin upward between his finger and thumb. His ever-watchful gray eyes scanned over the features of my face before bending to kiss my brow, then each cheek, before finally finding my lips.

I sighed, sinking into the feel of him and wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer. As our kiss deepened, our breathing became heavy as I lost myself in the sweet taste of his lips. The ache in my center pulsed harder, longing and begging to be fed his magnificent cock once more .

“How are you feeling?” Daxton asked me, his own scent of arousal fueling my already blazing fire.

“Ravenous.” I sighed with a slight whimper.

“I knew I’d find you in the kitchen, and I didn’t need the threads of our bond to tell me that.” His lips ventured down to my collarbone, seductively nipping at the nape of my neck with his teeth. I threaded my fingers in his hair, clutching onto his shoulder with my other hand while my whole body trembled with pleasure.

Gods. He was intentionally toying with me, and I loved it.

“Still ravenous?” he asked, backing me up to the kitchen island so I was sitting atop the slab.

“Yes,” I answered, reaching for the hem of the shirt and ripping it off and over my head. “For you.”

Without hesitating, Daxton’s mouth immediately went to my breasts, devouring one of my nipples and making it harden before moving on to the next. My head fell backward, with my legs spreading wider to hold him close.

I shifted to the edge of the slab, his erection seductively grinding against my sex. He felt so fucking good I might shatter to pieces right there on the edge of the island. I was on the verge of coming from the friction of him alone. I wanted more, though. My yearning for him was almost indescribable, and I couldn’t wait another second before having him inside me.

“Gods above,” Dax snarled possessively. “I could fuck and come on your beautiful breasts alone, Skylar.” His hands caressed my curves as he continued to worship my body with his lips and glorious tongue. Heat flared in my blood, my apex throbbing with a desperate aching need to be filled .

“But that’s for another time. I need to be inside you. I’m afraid I’ll go mad if I don’t… Are you—”

I leaned forward, lifting my backside off the countertop to quickly slide my pants down, answering Daxton’s question before he could finish forming it.

His fingers quickly unfastened the tie of his pants as they dropped to the floor, freeing his long hard cock from its tethered cage. We were both naked in seconds, and it still didn’t seem fast enough. My mate pulled my hips to the edge of the counter, his mouth eagerly finding mine. Our kiss became hungry, hot, and heavy, mimicking our heightened desperation.

This time … we would fuck without restraints, acting purely on desire and drive.

I wrapped my legs around his hips, interlocked my ankles together, and clutched onto his shoulders. Lowering himself to the edge of the counter, Dax grasped the base of his shaft, guiding the head of his moistened tip through my aching sex. He brushed his tip across my clit, teasing us both with the promise of sweet release soon to come. Lining himself up just right, he brought his hips back and then, in one powerful movement, sheathed himself inside me.

“Oh, Yes!” I moaned as my head fell back, my inner walls aching with the feel of his length filling every inch.

My mate thrust into me again, and again. Each movement stretching and satisfying me with more mind-numbing pleasure than the last. “Daxton, yes! I need you to…” I moaned.

“Tell me what you want.”

“Dominate me.”

Daxton stilled for a moment, a deep predatory growl of satisfaction erupting from his chest, sending waves of excitement and anticipation. “You’re sure? ”

“Yes,” I breathed heavily, my magic rolling through me and combining with his. The words effortlessly spilled out of my mouth, forming without a second thought.

There was a sharp flicker of amusement paired with desire deep in Daxton’s stare that told me he was happy to oblige.

One of his hands raised to my throat, as he pushed me flat onto my back, looming over me with his shaft buried to its hilt. His eyes devoured the sight of me splayed across the slab, while his cock slowly slid from of my entrance.

“As you command, my queen .”

Daxton’s strong thighs banged against the edge of the island as he thrust into me with his dominating hold. I moaned, moving to meet his hard thrust, clenching my legs around his waist, and devouring the luxurious friction between our two thriving bodies. Daxton’s grip on my throat was just enough to push my animal to the surface to fight for control, the dance of dominance heightening the building tension. His show of power, with his hold on my throat paired with his pounding cock, sent me soaring higher toward a sweet release.

He held the power this time. Fulfilling the part of me that was driven to find a mate worthy enough, strong enough to claim the title.

“Fuck, you’re so wet, Skylar,” Daxton growled, finding a slower, deeper rhythm with his long, powerful thrusts. “Look at me,” he commanded.

My eyes snapped open, feeling the swell of power from my animal in response to his magic, the dominating hold on me, and the sultry, rough tone of his voice .

“Good.” He leaned himself forward, his length fully seated inside me, causing me to gasp loud enough for the entire Summit to hear. “I want to see that fire in your eyes while you come. I want to feel you tremble with pleasure as you find that sweet release.” He kissed me, our tongues intertwining and desperate to taste each other.

Backing away, Dax’s stare bore into me, the intensity of it spinning my arousal even higher. Releasing my throat, he cupped the back of my neck, ensuring I couldn’t look anywhere but those heated silver-gray eyes. His pace quickened, and I clung to him with every ounce of strength I could muster.

The pressure was rising, and I could feel my climax building. With a free hand, Daxton reached down to stroke my clit while he continued fucking me, and I came undone. My inner walls contracted around him as I screamed in pure ecstasy.

Daxton continued to fuck me, refusing to move his thumb, extending the length of my orgasm until he was ready with his own. With one final thrust and a roar of pleasure, Daxton found his release.

My mate remained buried deep within me as he rose up, pulling me with him to rest against his chest. I turned to kiss his neck, my lips trailing a line of kisses toward the scar I made in the center of his tattoo. His fingers interlaced with mine as he brought them to his lips, delicately kissing their backs as his other arm draped over me.

“Now, the kitchen has become appetizing for an entirely different reason,” Daxton whispered. “But… we do need to find you some actual clothes.”

“Why?” I teased. “When the result of me not wearing any has this sweet of a reward? ”

“You’re clever for someone so young.” He chuckled, threading his fingers in my golden-brown hair.

“I planned on making you some breakfast and carrying it back to bed for you.”

“How sweet of my mate.”

My… mate . I sighed, hearing him say it again, giving his all too perfect ass a tight squeeze. “Well, if I need clothes, then so do you. It’s not fair showing up in the kitchen topless, flaunting,” I leaned back slightly, waving my hand over his chest, “all of this .”

“Fair enough,” he answered with a sheepish grin and kissed me before moving himself backward, pulling up his pants, and donning my— well, his—shirt. “Now for you.” He waved his hand, magically conjuring a black and silver slip dress that appeared over my bare skin. He then frowned.

“What?” I asked.

“I was wrong. It doesn’t help much.”

I leaned back, giving him a heated look with lust still burning in my amber gaze. “Nope. Same. Clothes don’t help when you know exactly what’s hidden underneath.”

He moved closer and possessively pulled my mouth to his as I looped my arms around his middle and sank into his embrace.

Like fucking clockwork, however, my stomach began to rumble in protest.

“Gods above!” I cursed, and Daxton laughed against my lips.

“Finish making your meal, Spitfire.”

“Care to help?” I asked as he lifted me with ease from the island.

“I’d be honored.”

“Good answer,” I said with a playful wink .

I instructed Dax on how to separate the dough, fold the meat over, and prime the edges so they baked properly with the delicious mixings inside. We harmoniously worked side by side, making the pirozhki and talking about anything and everything simultaneously. I told Daxton how Julia had taught me this recipe when Neera was just a baby. It was Magnus’s favorite breakfast with the odd but important jelly dipping sauce that he never left evidence of on the plate.

Daxton, in turn, shared fond memories from his childhood. His mother’s influence helped lead to his passion for gardening and books, while his father’s lessons on tactics and the sword helped prepare him for his role as high prince.

“Would you like some fresh raspberries for your jelly?” Daxton asked me.

“Yes, that would be amazing. Do you know where we could get some?”

Daxton smiled. “I have a full row of raspberries along the outer wall in my gardens. The bastard plant began as one bush, but before I knew it, they dominated the whole area. That and the blackberries on the other side constantly battle for the best growing patches of earth.” I loved hearing about his gardens. I didn’t have a green thumb or any skill with plants, but it didn’t stop me from admiring those who did. Plus, cooking with the fresh ingredients they provided was always the best.

“I’ll return before the pastries are out of the oven,” he said sweetly, squeezing my hand and brushing his lips against my cheek. “Be right back.”

Silver flashed, and he was gone. I rummaged for the sugar on the higher shelves, and before I was done measuring out the amount I needed, Daxton was back with fresh handfuls of ripe red raspberries.

“Perfect,” I said with glee .

When the breakfast was done baking, I served Daxton the first pirozhki and waited eagerly to hear his review, but he didn’t need to really say anything. Once one was devoured, he immediately went for another, encouraging me to join him. We sat in the kitchen enjoying our meal together, loving the simplicity of the time spent in each other’s company. Living in the beauty of the moment.

Sadly, we knew this would all too swiftly come to an end.

“I’m going to run the Ice Gauntlet today,” I said as I finished my plate.

Daxton nodded, swiping the last bit of jelly from his. “I assumed so.”

“Really?” I asked, inclining my head toward him. “You assumed ? Am I that easy for you to read, Princey?”

“Hardly,” he huffed. “Fate did not pair my soul with a meek and narrow-minded female. I knew you would enter the Ice Gauntlet as soon as you were physically able. And judging by our physical exertions last night, and then again, this morning…” He grinned widely, his gaze sweeping over the counter. “I knew you were ready to enter. And today, you’ll earn a silver mountain peak on your shoulder.”

“That… and so many other reasons,” I said with confidence and excitement shining in my amber-glowing eyes, “is why I love you.”