Page 34 of A Trial of Fate

“The life lost, however, has not been wasted. The energy and magic from the sacrifice of a shifter striving to unlock the Heart’s magic is reabsorbed, and we are able to combat the decay for another century,” Minaeve added.

“Who’s absorbing the magic from the life freely given?” Icouldn’t keep this question locked inside. If what they were saying was true, then there was a good chance that someone from my pack was going to face untold dangers and likely death. I demanded answers.

Gilen clutched my arm as Minaeve’s smile curled around her lush red lips. “That is a fair question, young shifter. Fortunately, my magic is able to combat the death and darkness that plague our world. My powers are sufficient, but alas, not everlasting.”

Daxton went to his high queen’s side, his eyes locking on mine for a moment before scanning across others. “All royals, myself included, willingly give our magic to help empower our queen, to help keep the wilt at bay. But over time, the strength of the wilt grows, and once again, we are tasked to seek aid. Right now, the wilt has surpassed our ability to contain it—and is spreading. You can see evidence of it here on the mainland when it hasn’t spread this far before.” Daxton spoke to all of us, but it felt like he was speaking directly to me.

Sorrow and regret were buried deep beneath the surface, and I recognized his hidden distress. He was a strong and powerful fae warrior, but even he was frightened by what the wilt would inevitably do to our world. He did not want to come here and ask this of us. They had no choice.

Before any of us could think to ask another question, the winds above began to stir, and the clouds parted in the sky.

“It’s time,” Alistar announced.

I could feel the hum of magic through the air as the full moon reached its apex. I closed my eyes, basking in the feel of my animal’s presence rising to the surface and power stirring through my chest. The call to shift was pounding in the hearts and souls of the pack, calling to the newest members to finally reveal their animal spirit and shift for the first time.

“Good luck,” Gilen whispered as he and the others began to fan out.

Alistar and Helen guided the High Fae royals toward the opposite side of the meadow. I watched Queen Minaeve glide effortlessly after them, with Castor close behind. Daxton, however, didn’t move from where he stood. I saw his head slightly turn as his gaze met mine once more.

There it was again—pure fire.

I didn’t know if it was the call of the shift, my magic reacting to his, or something else entirely, but when he looked at me like he did tonight, it awakened something primal inside of me. Fire from my power flowed through me, generated by something locked inside mysoul and begging to break free.

Don’t resist the call. You must shift!Alistar’s voice drew my attention from Daxton and toward the entrancing power of the moon above.

It suddenly dawned on me that our alpha was influencing this shift. His command was meant to push us all to embrace and release our animals into the world. I glanced over toward Rhea, who was ripping and tearing the clothing away from her scorching skin. She bent over on her hands and knees, her body trembling as she screamed out a cry of pain.

“Rhea!” Her auburn hair fell around her face as she clenched her eyes shut, fighting against the pain of her shift. “Rhea!” I shouted as her blue eyes snapped open to meet mine.

I could feel her agony. We all knew that the first shift was the most difficult, and painful. Her bones began to break as the joints bent and turned in on themselves. She screamed, and my heart hurt to see her in such pain.

“Don’t fight it,” I roared.

Rhea gritted her teeth, and I could see a green shimmer of magic rise from her naked flesh. It was happening. She was shifting.

Once Rhea stopped fighting against the shift, the transition happened in a flash. She succumbed to the power of her animal and stopped fighting the pain of her body breaking and changing. The magic was finally able to take control. I held my breath as I gawked in awe at the beauty of my friend’s shifted form.

A large tan- and auburn-colored wolf stood on four strong legs, panting and looking down toward the ground. Her beautiful coat of fur danced in the light breeze, showing hints of red and gold in the underbelly. The head of the wolf raised to meet me, and the familiar blue stare of my best friend shone with happiness and freedom.

“You are beautiful.” I smiled with the hint of a tear in my eyes. A long wolf howl echoed across the meadow, and Rhea turned in a flash, bounding into the woods to chase the song. I recognized the howl, and I knew in my heart it was Talon.

With Rhea gone, I turned my attention to Shaw, but unlike Rhea, he showed no signs of shifting. He looked up at the moon with a sense of longing that only a shifter would understand. He closed his dark hazel eyes and sighed. Running a hand through his ruffled black hair, he shrugged his shoulders and looked at me but didn’t utter a word. It just wasn’t his time yet.

That left Gilen.

Chapter Nine

Iknew Gilen was going to shift tonight.

Over the past few months, we all felt his power steadily growing. Once he embraced his animal’s spirit, we knew he would become our next alpha.

Alistar’s alpha command added a boost to our shifter magic that would push many of us over the edge. The raging fire coursing through my body was the result of my fight against the urge to shift. I had always felt a deep connection to my shifter half, and I knew this was not the time. Another wave of blistering heat trickled across my skin, bringing me crashing down onto my knees in the tall green grass of the meadow. The power pooling inside me continued to build, and even though I could resist the alpha’s command, somehow, this night was different.

Not yet. Not like this.I screamed inside my head. Reaching out, I dug my finger into the cool earth, shredding through clumps of dirt and tearing blades of grass as my body convulsed in pain.

Please… Please. No. Someone help.“Help,” I whispered between silent screams. I knew my animal was fighting to resist the call.

We were not ready.

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