Page 135 of A Trial of Fate

“I want to know everything about you, Spitfire.” His tone changed, and I could sense the magic around us beginning to spark in the air.

“Purple is my favorite color,” I said quickly.

“And why is that?” His voice dropped low into that smooth, irresistible baritone that sent goosebumps dancing across my skin. Would I ever just be able to sit and listen to him without feeling like this?

“I believe that the Mother and Father created the shade of purple in this world to catch our attention and force us to take a moment from our busy lives to stop and appreciate it… To take notice.”

Only Rhea and Neera knew the real reason why I loved the color purple, and now I could add Daxton to that list. Others, like Gilen, assumed it was simply because it was pretty. But those who truly knew me knew there was always depth behind my choices. With Dax, it was easy for me to be open and honest. There was no explanation for why, but I could tell that my animal also agreed with me.

“You fascinate me each time I learn something new about you, Spitfire.” I didn’t know if it was a compliment, but I intended to take it that way. “You mentioned when we first boarded the ship that the fireweed that was painted for you… is not your favorite flower. Do you mind me asking what is?”

I was about to answer when a sound from beyond our campfire light startled me.

Daxton immediately sprang up from his relaxed position and was on high alert, crouching low and balanced on his feet. A long silver sword materialized along his back and he pulled the majestic weapon free from its sheath with one swift movement.

I reached for my bow and nocked an arrow along the string, keeping my eyes locked on the tree line. “Do you see anything?” I whispered.

Dax shook his head no, but lightly tapped his ear and twitched his head toward the right. He could hear something from behind the thick brush. I listened carefully and faintly picked up on the sound of rapid breathing coming from the woods. It was erratic and haunting, like the creature it came from didn’t have a proper nose or mouth to take in air sufficiently.

Castor appeared at Daxton’s side with slender, curved twin swords in each hand. He looked at his brother with blacked-out eyes that gradually transitioned back to their normal state. I had seen Castor’s eyes change just like that once before when I was about to approach Queen Minaeve and Daxton in the alpha’s house. It didn’t appear to alarm Dax as they silently exchanged hand signals with each other. Unable to decipher what they were saying, I scanned the tree line with my shifter’s sight.

Dax turned to me and whispered in my ear, “Garmr. Vicious hound-like creatures created by the dark magic of the wilt.”

Fuck. That didn’t sound good.

Dax held up five fingers, and Castor nodded silently. “They are fanned out along the tree line. The female in the center is the lead, with two males on either side.”

“Take out the bitch, and the rest will run home,” Castor sneered before he crouched low and silently stalked out to our right. He moved into position with his twin blades drawn and ready, waiting silently for Daxton to give him the signal to attack.

Dax crouched behind me once more and whispered with his free hand clutching my shoulder, “Do not let them bite you. Their jaws hold venom that paralyzes their prey. They are the gatherers for the fallen we talked about earlier.”

I nodded in understanding. “Where is their weak spot?”

“Just below the neck, above the rows of spikes along their spine.”

Holy Gods, these hounds sounded grotesque—spikes along the spine and a paralyzing venom in their bite.Welcome to my new hell. The wilt had a strange way of turning the beauty of nature upside down. These creatures sounded like they were created from a child’s nightmare.

“You can do this.” The confidence in his voice left no room for question. In that moment, I understood why he was such a successful leader for his people. He very well might be afraid, but when the time came, he didn’t back down, cower, or hint at his own shortcomings—if there were any.

I pulled back the fletching of my arrow, holding my draw. “Give the signal.”

Daxton immediately teleported, giving Castor the go-ahead to charge forward, drawing out the five garmr hounds lurking in the woods.

The first hound on the right lunged out of the brush, followed closely by another on the far left. I hesitated for a second as I saw for the first time the horror the wilt had created. I now understood why the forest was deathly silent when we first arrived. It was because the hounds were prowling the lands, looking for any sign of life to drag back to their masters. The smell in the air was foul, like the stench of rotting, burning flesh mixed with charcoal. My hands trembled, but waiting any longer would seal my fate before the trials began. I loosed an arrow, aiming to the left, while Castor attacked the hound on the right. It flew straight and true, colliding with the base of the hound’s neck and instantly dropping it to the ground. Dax appeared next tomy kill and sliced his blade clean through at the base of its head to ensure it would not rise again from the ground. His eyes met mine for a brief second before he darted back into the thick woods with his mighty silver sword leading the way to our enemies. I looked left to find another hound, nocking another arrow with my black and silver bow.

The sounds of the forest suddenly came alive. Every animal screeched an alert, warning as many others as they could about the evil lurking in the brush. The sounds echoed and vibrated off every surface, distracting me from the three other hounds that were slowly encroaching upon my position.

I heard a snarl from behind me and turned to see a set of four glowing red eyes staring back at me. I couldn’t believe I fell for a distraction and allowed an enemy to approach from behind like this. The garmr was larger than I expected, towering well over five feet tall on four powerful legs equipped with three-inch long talons on each paw that would shred any enemy to pieces. The spines along its back were jet black against a tan coat of coarse stubbly fur. I staggered backward a step, frozen in fear and unable to draw my arrow in time with the space between us. The hound lifted its snout and opened a mouth filled with rows of jagged teeth, with two distinct canines dripping with green paralyzing venom.

Castor and Daxton fought against the other three hounds off in the distance, and my stomach dropped at the reality that I was alone. Somehow, I knew the hound could smell my fear, and it seemed to enjoy the taste of it as it licked the air. I withdrew the dagger from my thigh and took a defensive position with the blade in my right hand. I remained balanced, holding my ground, not giving away any sign of where I might move next.

Gods, help me.

Before I could finish a silent prayer to the Gods, the hound launched toward me. I recalled my training with Dax on the ship and punched outward with my blade, ducking and rolling underneath the underbelly of the creature. I was tall, but with the creature leaping into the air, I was able to duck underneath it in time. The tip of my knife sliced through the soft underbelly of the beast as it soared over me. The blackened blood of the hellhound dripped onto my skin and face. I quickly brushed it away from my eyes, preparing immediately for it to turn on me again. The creature snapped its four crimson eyes toward me, baring its teeth and releasing a loud snarl that twisted my insides. It crouched, ready to pounce again, but its legs suddenlycollapsed. A long silver blade sliced through the animal’s hindquarters before severing its spinal cord at the base of its skull. Daxton towered over the creature, holding only minor scratches from his combat with the remaining hounds. His eyes were hard, and he looked absolutely terrifying as he stared at the beast at his feet. Realizing that the menacing Silver Shadow now stood before me.

Castor appeared from the brush, crashing through the trees with his swords ready at his side. Dax’s sword disappeared once more as he quickly scanned me for any injuries. I gave him a thumbs-up before he peered down at Castor, looking at an open wound on his brother’s leg. “Did she bite you, Cas?”

“No, just her claw.” Castor boasted as I watched his eyes blacken again. It made Daxton tense and caused my heart to skip a beat as those ebony eyes swiveled in my direction.

---