Page 118 of A Trial of Fate

Castor shook his head, palming his face with his hand. “Shifters are an intriguing specimen. Finish with the Crimson City, and then we can go find that stomach of yours something to eat.”

I sat up so quickly that I got a head rush, but it was worth it if it meant I would be eating soon. “Adohan is the high prince of the Crimson City, with his wife Idris and their twin sons Astro and Finn.”

“Mate,” Castor corrected.

“Mate, wife… Is there a difference with your kind?” I asked with genuine interest. This unveiled aspects about the fae culture, piquing my interest far beyond figureheads and territories on a map.

Castor shifted in his seat and leaned forward on his thighs. “There is a very significant difference. Idris is not merely Adohan’s wife… she is hismate.”

“Is it similar to shifters’ customs then? We have recognized mate bonds among our kind, and I guess a claim is comparable to a marriage. Some pairings and claims are not from a mate bond but instead are chosen. Is this the same for your people?”

“In a way.” Castor stroked his bare chin and leaned farther onto his forearm, deep in thought. “Our mate bonds are more rare compared to shifters. And I don’t mean to sound insensitive or an ass when discussing your mate bonds, but there is nothing more sacred than a mate to a High Fae.”

“Fat fucking chance it means more,” I spat back at him with a simmer of anger laced into my words. “Perhaps they are not as rare compared to your people’s, but shifter mates would die for each other, and the pair become possessive while the bond is made. I recall more than a few males and females that would beat the living shit out of any shifter who so much as glanced sideways at their mate. When the claim is made, and the bond sealed for eternity, magic and power are shared between the pair. Not just this life… but for all eternity. It isalso common knowledge that the other is not far along when a mate dies. We never take another partner.”

Castor mulled over my comment for a moment, likely reading my expression for any sign of lies. Once satisfied, he nodded in firm, brief acknowledgment before continuing. “It seems you have answered your previous question then. Yes, mated High Fae and shifters have nearly identical responses when it comes to their partners. However, ours only occur at a fraction of the rate as yours. Perhaps it was a special adaptation your race was granted when the gods created your kind or a balance to our immortality.”

“Good assumption,” I added.

“Oh, Spitfire, I never assume. I always clarify.” I rolled my eyes at him as he snickered at me. “When a High Fae feels the call of the mate bond, nothing will keep them from their mate’s side. The pull to be near them, see them, talk to them, touch them. It iseverything. I have witnessed the world being torn apart all for the love felt through the bond. No, excuse me, it is more than that. Our mate bond goes deeper than mere devotion. It is a connection—”

“Of the soul,” I finished for Castor.

“Exactly.”

I had so many other questions about this mate bond, but I thought it best to ask them another time. My stomach was burning a hole in my center, and right now, I needed to eat more than I needed to wonder. A rarity, yes. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

“All right, Idris is themateof Adohan.” Castor nodded with a satisfied grin. “They live in the high desert kingdom of Crimson City. Their bloodline has the gift to command and manipulate fire with Adohan and his mate having this ability.”

“Be careful where you step and whose bed you end up in there. A spiteful lover can set fire to that beautiful hair of yours if you’re not careful.”

“This from personal experience?”

“Possibly,” Castor replied as he ran his hand through the longer silver hair on the top of his head. “Most important question now… can you trust them?”

Castor mentioned that Adohan was an ally of Daxton’s, but for me to personally trust someone? That was a trick question. I was warned never to fall victim to the unknown. Castor constantly reiterated that my intuition would always be my best adviser. Shifters had a unique sense about them with the shared bond with theiranimals. Even though I hadn’t shifted and couldn’t until the end of the trials, my animal was still a constant presence for me. Cas encouraged me to listen, to heed her warnings and follow every instinct. In the Inner Kingdom, Castor said my animal would be my closest ally aside from Daxton and himself.

“Not until I meet them for myself.”

“Excellent response.” Castor stood up from his seat and opened the door. “Now, let us go find some food before you pass out on my table. I didn’t plan on hosting justyourcompany this—”

I didn’t even give him a chance to finish his final thought, not needing to hear the intimate details of his sexual endeavors. I sprinted past the door and eagerly searched for any sign of a meal on the ship. I could smell food cooking and let my nose lead the way. Fish wasn’t one of my favorites, but I was too damn hungry to care. I stepped around to our training area and nearly salivated as the reality of a full belly was slowly inching closer.

“I was wondering when Castor would finally release you.” Like usual, Daxton appeared out of nowhere, nearly scaring the pants right off me.

I jumped and turned to face him. “Would you stop doing that…” My words trailed off into nothing as my mind turned to mush, right along with my body. Daxton stood mere inches in front of me, holding a plate of steaming rice and fish in one hand while casually flinging his shirt over his shoulder with the other.

My eyes widened as I took in the sight of his taut chest glistening with beads of sweat from his vigorous training session. I felt my animal stir inside me as I allowed my eyes to linger over the spectacle of his body. The muscles in his bulging biceps flexed, connected to broad shoulders that housed a core stronger than the gates of the human king’s palace. His rippling muscles along his abdomen flexed as my eyes followed it down to the deep V cut into his lower waist.

Gods… so many emotions were running through me I couldn’t seem to get a grip on my control.

“I knew you’d be hungry.” Daxton’s voice was heavy with a hint of exhaustion. He must have been training the entire time I was studying with Castor.

“In more ways than one, apparently,” I answered back, unable to move from where I stood.

Dax raised his brows with a surprised boyish grin as he stepped closer to me. I could feel the heat from his body radiating offhis fevered skin. His eyes were watching me closely as he said, “Let me know how I can help… satisfy your needs. All you need to do is ask.”

Dammit, that was smooth. Why couldn’t I come up with a line like that? Also, what game was Daxton playing? For the longest time, I swore this attraction was one-sided—something I had built up in my crazed, sexually deprived mind. But now, I wasn’t so sure. Well, two could play that game. I bit my bottom lip and watched as his gaze lingered there for a second longer than it should. His throat bobbed, and I knew he was interested despite being unable to detect a change in his scent.

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