Page 32 of A Trial of Fate

The night became thick with the anticipation of our people gathered under the full moon. The trees seemed to silence themselves, listening in and watching us from their rooted stations. The winds settled as the blades of grass slowed their swaying movements in the crisp evening air. Even the songbirds and crickets were silent, waiting for something to happen. The night was unusually calm, and it made me uneasy. Something was happening, and I was dying to figure out answers to my many, many questions.

Our alpha stood tall and proud in the open area of the grass meadow. His golden hair was highlighted by a full beard that was beginning to hold streaks of white. His warm, light-hazel eyes embodied the heat of the sun, giving him a kind yet powerful persona. He was the protector of our people and did not take his role lightly.

His claimed mate, Helen, Gilen’s mother, stood next to him. Her long, wavy brown hair was pulled into a braid that hung across her exposed, tanned shoulder. Her brown eyes shone with intelligence and a cunning nature. Like my aunt Julia, Helen was a mountain lion in her animal form.

The High Fae princes approached Alistar, and Daxton greeted our alpha with a firm, outstretched handshake. Their greetings seemedfriendly enough, but it also could have been a faked pleasant encounter. I couldn’t exactly tell. Both the males held unreadable expressions, locking away any hint of how they were really feeling deep below the surface.

I hated that they could do this so well. I couldn’t hide any emotions like that if my life depended on it.

“What questions are mulling in that pretty little mind of yours?” Gilen whispered with a smirk.

“Little?” I asked with an arched brow and scoffed at him. “What do you know about all of this?” I tilted my head in the direction of Daxton and Castor.

Gilen was silent and kept his gaze forward as he shifted to move behind me. His right arm wrapped around my middle as our bodies molded together. I was keenly aware of the possessiveness he was displaying toward me, and in this moment, I honestly didn’t know what to think.

Gilen brushed my hair to the side as his lips danced lightly over the skin on my neck. “I might know something,” he whispered.

My breathing quickened as I reached up and laced my fingers into his hand behind my head. “You have a price, I imagine?”

“Just one.”

His teeth nipped at the bottom of my neck, near the nape of my collarbone, and my undergarments were soaked in an instant.

For shifters, this is one of the most sensual and erogenous regions of our bodies. It was the place where a mate would make their claim and mark the other with their bite. A bite that connected the pair forever with an exchange of power that linked their souls for all eternity.

I melted.

“But for now, it can wait,” he teased and pulled back to whisper again in my ear. “My father and High Queen Minaeve met just after dawn. They are here to seek our help to end the wilt. Shifters are the only ones who can put a stop to the decay of Valdor because we are the only ones who can unlock the magic to end it.”

“How do we unlock the magic? What magic can heal our world? Why can only a shifter access it?”

Gilen laughed. “So many questions.” His lip turned up as his eyes shone with amusement.

“Why does that surprise you? You had to know I would ask.”

“Soon, I will be able to help tame your wild mind.” Gilen’s comment was said casually, but it made me nervous. I cocked my headto look at him with uncertainty hidden beneath my stare. “Ever since we were kids, Sky… I always had to make sure you stayed in line. But don’t worry, soon it will all make sense. Fate has finally brought us together.”

Gilen tightened his grip on my hip and nudged my head for me to look toward our alpha. I wanted to ask more questions, but instead, I ended up following his silent command. Alistar stepped out into the moonlight, and our pack unanimously gave him their undivided attention.

Well, everyone did—except for me.

I couldn’t help it, or perhaps deep down, I didn’t want to. My line of sight drifted past Alistar and fell to the mysterious High Fae warrior standing behind our alpha.

Daxton’s gray eyes felt like they were seeing directly into my soul, and for a split second, the world disappeared within the intensity of his stare. Fire erupted through me, his scent and the feel of his magic somehow drifting through the distance between us and engulfing my senses. My stomach plummeted as my hand dropped from Gilen’s. An intense wave of heat passed through my middle and flowed out through my appendages like liquid fire through my veins.

“Pay attention, Sky,” Gilen muttered.

I shook myself and, to my surprise, took a small step away from Gilen’s side. Something felt wrong. I placed a hand on my heart, fighting a wave of nausea as I finally broke my gaze away from Daxton.

“Hey, you okay?” Rhea moved to my other side, giving Gilen a look. “Maybe you’ll shift tonight after all.”

Ignoring her, I managed to catch my breath and glanced back toward Daxton, who continued to stare at me from his position in the meadow. He leaned his head slightly and arched his brows, eyes dancing from Gilen and then to me again.

I pressed my lips into a fine line and stood straight, refusing to flinch away. My animal’s power surged to the surface, and for the briefest of seconds, I saw the phantom grin crack the side of his stern expression.

“Yeah, just a random hot flash, I guess.” It was an easy lie, as shifters often fell prey to them. I knew it was an excuse no one would dare to question.

“She’s all right,” Gilen added as he reached out to try and pull me back toward him. I hesitated to follow his guidance and shook him off, remaining where I stood. I could tell by Gilen’s pursed lips and furrowed brow that he wasn’t happy about my decision.

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