Page 57 of A Trial of Fate

I didn’t hear his approach. I was so lost in my own thoughts that the world around me drifted into a haze. Daxton’s hands were suddenly on top of mine as he knelt beside me on the floor. My breath stalled in my chest as the warmth of his touch spread across my skin, bringing me back to reality. He gently caressed my knuckles until our fingers were intertwined as one.

“You brought yourself back,” Daxton stated with absolution. “I’m powerful, but alone… I’m not strong enough to accomplish such a feat. I simply created the bridge, and you decided to cross over. You did not give up, Spitfire. You are not weak. You are stronger than you know, and I thank the gods above that you were brave enough to make the choice to return.” He tightened his grip on my hands, and I felt a strong pull at the center of my chest tighten.

“H-hand me a piece of parchment and a pen,” I murmured, my insides melting at the sincerity and caring words he shared with me.

I almost felt unworthy of the compliments he gave me, especially when it came from a famed warrior like himself. Daxton nodded, released my hands, and stood up from the floor. He walked over to the bedside table, handing me what I needed.

“Is there any genre in particular you would like me to suggest?”

“Surprise me,” he said softly with a change of demeanor, flashing me a kind smile. “In return, I’ll select titles I deem favorites that you might enjoy. We could compare notes and discuss our various likes or dislikes of each other’s choosing.”

“I would like that,” I answered as he stood patiently at my bedside. “I have read through almost every book in the library, but I would be happy to re-read and visit any story or book you would like to suggest.” I scribbled the names of various titles as he waited, never impatiently tapping his foot or showing signs of annoyance.

“When we travel to the Inner Kingdom, I shall find new titles to entice your clever mind. I can compile a list of my own favorites, and when we travel to Silver Meadows, I will personally give you a tour of my private library,” he added as he leaned his thick shoulders back against the wall.

“Wow,” I exclaimed. “I can’t tell you how much I would love that.”

“Then I will make sure it is done.”

I couldn’t help my gaze from drifting over toward where Daxton stood. Heat rose in my core as I scanned over his muscular physique, admiring the handsome features of his face. His typical black tunic opened along his neckline, exposing a hint of his broad, firm chest. Silver swirls were etched into the fabric of his shirt, with an emblem outlining three mountain peaks on his shoulder. I bit my bottom lip, resisting the pull of desire that I felt washing over me.

“Here,” I said, extending my hand with the parchment.

On a last-minute impulse, I decided to add something else next to the titles. I placed numbers along the sides, giving him a riddle to solve along with my suggestions. He reached out to accept the list as our fingers touched. I flinched, feeling a spark of enticing fire trickle along my skin with my animal’s presence lingering near the surface.

“Your animal is strong,” he said, accepting the list and looking it over. “It’s not often a shifter is able to react to my magic like this.”

“So, my animal is a treat for me, and for you. Oh, joy,” I mumbled.

“It’s a testament to how powerful you will become once you defeat the trials and are able to shift.”

I stared up at him, partially in disbelief but also with a rush of gratitude for what he had said. “You… you believe I will be able to shift someday?”

“Of course,” he stated. Daxton had answered the question so effortlessly and with such confidence that it was hard to form a rebuttal.

“But I will have to conquer the trials and unlock the Heart of Valdor in order to do so. This mark locks in my animal so I can’t shift.”

“And?” Daxton asked, tearing his eyes away from my list and locking his gaze with mine.

“You believe I will win?”

“I know you will.” His confidence in my ability to defeat the trials was absolute and unwavering. “I know this because you have awakened something dormant inside my soul, Skylar Cathal. Something I never thought I would be able to feel…”

“What is it?” I asked, waiting on bated breath. My chest rose and fell as Daxton moved to sit next to me on the bed. His hand reached up to cup my face, and the same fiery spark of electricity passed through us.

“Hope.”

I smiled at his response, remembering how he had given the same gift to me while I was alone in the hunters’ underground cell. Of course, he didn’t know any of this because I had dreamed all of it, but still, I believe it counted for something. He released his hold on my face and lifted the list in between the narrowed space separating us on the bed.

“There are numbers before the titles you gave me. Care to elaborate on the meaning?”

“Can’t.” I couldn’t help the girlish grin spreading widely across my cheeks. “It’s a riddle. Think you will be able to solve it?”

Daxton glanced down at the list again, tracing his fingers carefully over my writing. “I don’t want to give you my response without further investigation. May I tell you my thoughts later?”

“You got it. Anything else you need?” I heard a soft chuckle escape his luscious lips, and he shifted as he leaned in. The space between us disappeared as his body moved closer to mine.

The handle of the door turned, and Shaw unexpectedly entered the room. He glanced between us, but Daxton didn’t move.

---