Page 94 of A Trial of Fate

Daxton laughed a deep, wonderful sound that sent a happy fluttering sensation throughout my body. The room’s mood had changed drastically since last night, ranging from fear to aggression, desire, openness, and now laughter.Talk about your whirlwind of emotions.

“You’re full of surprises, Spitfire.”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“As much fun as it is being locked outside and sleeping on the floor, I would prefer what little comfort the accommodations here can bring me,” Castor’s muffled voice snuck in through the bottom slit of the doorway. “The morning has passed, and the other shifters that wander by are beginning to snicker at me. I knew I should have found a maid to keep me company last night.”

“It’s what time?” I exclaimed as I jumped out of the bed. “No! I can’t believe I slept that long. Oh my Gods… I have to get back home and get ready. We are leaving soon, and… and I-I…” I stammered, frantically spinning in place. Daxton sat up and reached down to hand me my clothes that were tucked away under the bed.

“Oh, right.” I shuddered, realizing I was still only in my undergarments. “I’ll, um, need those.”

He lifted a brow and gave me a half-smirk. “I should hope so.”

I quickly got dressed and raced to the door, unlatching the lock. Castor leaned against the doorway, with one knee bent and his arms crossed in front of his chest. He looked annoyed, but thankfully, his frustration was not at me.

“Happy now?” Castor asked with a heavy dose of sarcasmtargeted toward Daxton.

“For now.” Daxton didn’t look at his brother. Instead, his soft gray eyes were locked solely onto me.

“Right, um.” I shifted awkwardly as Castor pushed past me to sprawl out on his bed. “So… I was going to ask, when are we leaving for the Inner Kingdom?”

Castor’s head, which was buried in pillows, didn’t move, but still, he managed to mumble loud enough for us to hear him. “It has to besoon, Dax.”

Daxton nodded, still leaning against the wall and sitting upright in his bed with only our shared blanket covering his bottom half. His smooth, bare chest, where I had slept all night, was surprisingly comfortable for being so firm. My eyes danced across the fresh ink, admiring the eloquent markings that balanced power and finesse, fighting the urge to curl up in his arms again.

“We need to leave tomorrow morning, Skylar. Cas and I will prepare the ship and inform the crew. Does this give you enough time to say your goodbyes?”

“Yes, absolutely. I was afraid you were going to say we had to leave tonight. Tomorrow is just fine.” I assumed Daxton needed another day to regain his strength, and I was glad I was still able to spend tonight with my pack. I was about to leave but stopped and turned back toward their shared room. “Oh, I also wanted to ask. Would you both like to come tonight?”

“Come… to what?” Castor answered with his muffled voice buried back inside a pile of pillows. “I always enjoy…”

“Cas,” Daxton warned, and I could hear Castor laughing through the endless layers of feathers.

Castor popped his head up from beneath his pillows. “What, Dax? We have been away from home for a while now, and sharing this room has limited my normal routine.”

Males.I shook my head and sighed loudly. “I am preparing a meal for my family and friends tonight, and then the rest of the pack is invited to come for drinks and other festivities at my family home. Would you two like to join?”

“It would be an honor. Would you like us to attend after the dinner?” Daxton answered for them both as he offered me a kind smile and sat forward on the bed.

“I would love to have you both there for the dinner, actually.” I wanted Daxton and Castor there with my family. I thought it would help them come to terms with my departure if they could trust themas I did.

“Really?” Castor cocked his head to the side, looking at Daxton and then back at me.

“Yes,” I said with amusement. “You two have sort of become my friends in this strange turn of events. And I would like you there. I’m saying goodbye to one part of my life and embracing another. Shifters and High Fae should be allies, not enemies. I think having you two there will help the others come to terms with my decision and give them a sense of peace, knowing who I am traveling with.”

“Friends.” Daxton bowed his head and looked to Castor. “Well, what do you say, brother?”

“Food and wine?”

“The best pasta dish you will ever eat and barrels of liquor, plural, from the alpha’s private cellar.” I said.

Castor grinned wildly. “Perfection. Now, this is the type of amusement I have been missing.”

“And whiskey,” I added.

“Even better.”

Daxton chuckled lightly at his brother’s remark and rose from his bed in nothing more than briefs that barely covered anything. Crossing the room, he ignored Castor with his focus singled in on me. “We will see you tonight, then.”

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