Page 24 of A Trial of Fate

“I have no choice. I have to go.” He gently pulled my hand from his face and released his hold on me. “Tomorrow, all this will be explained, I promise. This information needs to be heard from your elders and alpha.”

“But, I hesitated, “it’s about the wilt? Isn’t it?”

“It is,” he said with a nod, turning back toward me so his body brushed up against mine. “You have no reason to do so, but I’m askingyou to trust me. We are doing everything in our power to stop this. We… we just need help.”

A silent moment passed between us, almost like the world stopped turning so we could remain where we were for just a little longer.

I closed my eyes, feeling him lean in closer toward me, with only breath separating us. “I will find you—”

Suddenly, silver light flashed around me, the cold chill of the falling rain stung my face with the absence of his warmth, and I knewDaxton was gone.

Chapter Seven

Iwas exhausted and soaked to the bone by the time I finally returned home. Dawn was fast approaching with beams of sunlight peeking over the far-off hills, framing the forest surrounding our village. It was too early for the morning shopkeepers to be awake and too late for the night owls to be lurking in the final moments of the evening. But honestly, I was too tired, wet, and utterly confused to even care if anyone saw me.

All I wanted to do was flop down onto my bed and shut my eyes for some much-needed rest. This mission I decided to take on didn’t answer many of my questions, and it only ended up leaving me with more.

That and the fact that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to get that stupid, stubborn, arrogant High Fae male out of my head. Daxton Aegaeon,High Prince of Silver Meadows.

As I opened the front door, I saw Neera curled up on our loveseat, fast asleep. I didn’t want to wake her, so I slipped off my boots and carried them as I silently crept upstairs to my own room. It wasn’t anything special, but it was one place designated to me—and me alone.

Magnus and Julia still hadn’t returned, and I released a heavy sigh of relief as I closed my door behind me. I crossed the small room to open the window, stripped, and wrung out my wet clothing before hanging them to dry on a hook near the opening. I flopped backward onto my bed, barely able to pull my blanket over my face before sleep finally claimed its victory with a familiar dream overtaking my mind.

I was standing in an open meadow surrounded by mountains covered in snow and ice. My warm breath created fog as I exhaled into the frigid night air. Even though the air was cold, I didn’t feel the antagonizing bite of a chill against my skin. The waning moon hung in the dark night sky, high above my head, casting beautiful beams of moonlight that illuminated the surrounding tall grass and trees in the distance. Walking forward into the meadow, I outstretched my hands to dance among the various wildflowers that engulfed the vast opening. I felt calm here. I felt peaceful…

Twirling my fingers around the blades of grass, I searched for a special flower I had only ever seen in my dream. Off to the side, I spotted the thick ebony stem cradling a circular cocoon of delicate midnight-black petals. A strong breeze rushed against my bare skin as the clouds up above were brushed aside, revealing the magnificent moon above.

I gazed upward toward the mesmerizing idol that represented one of our gods of creation, the Father. The moon… ever watchful during the night. Guarding and protecting us all from the darkness while his mate safely slumbered. The sun, which was a representation of the Mother, would take her turn watching over us against darkness and allow her mate to rest when her rays awakened during the morning. The sun and the moon represented the two gods who, together, created all of Valdor. They watched over and guided us in our life’s journeys until it was our time to make the final crossing and join them again in the afterlife.

As shifters, we first changed into our animal forms under the power of the full moon. Once the sun rose after our first shift, it was then, if we were lucky enough, that we could recognize our fated mate bond. As young ones, we were taught to respect the balance created by the gods and strive to honor them always. I admired the dual balance of power with the gods. One could not overpower the other, and together, they were stronger than they could ever be apart.

I glanced down at the closed flower in my hand and anxiously awaited what I knew would happen next. The moonlight shimmered over the outer petals, and the flower immediately opened into a magnificent bloom. Silver and orange petals danced in the moonlight, with the other flowers in the meadow springing to life all around me. They were vibrant and breathtaking, fanning outward and up like it was stretching out to try and touch the sky.

This place always felt like home. Like a distant beacon, calling to me and my animal. I had only visited this meadow in my dreams, but it still felt so real—

Thud–thud–thud.

“Skylar…” Magnus’s voice bellowed from beyond the wooden door frame.

I groaned and turned over in my bed, burying my face underneath the pillow to try and ignore my uncle.

“Skylar, the entire day has practically passed by. Are you just going to let it go to waste?”

“Magnus,” I grumbled. “Come on, don’t guilt trip me.” I could feel his disappointing glare through the layers of pillows, sheets and beyond my door.

“May I come in?”

“It’s your house… I don’t see why not.”

I could hear him chuckle as the handle of the knob turned. We both knew he wouldn’t enter unless I gave him permission to do so. Even if this was his house, Magnus always respected my privacy.

My bed shifted under his weight as he sat down next to my feet. Magnus had a stocky warrior’s build, and stood just taller than me, with thick, short wavy brown hair and a full beard that covered his pale complexion. His green eyes were the exact same as my father’s and Neera’s. The Cathal green eyes that passed through our bloodline for generations.

And skipped right over me. Oh, joy.

“Not easy staying up on patrol all night, is it?” Magnus said.

“You and Julia seem to manage just fine.” I yawned and moved my feet so he could sit more comfortably.

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