Page 51 of A Trial of Fate

I started to hyperventilate. I couldn’t catch my breath as the strength in my legs began to dwindle. Daxton was there in an instant and wrapped his arms securely around mine, lifting me off the ground and cradling me into his chest with ease. He held me tight to him, trying his best to comfort and calm me.

“What do you need? Ask and I will see it done,” Daxton’s deep voice whispered. I sobbed as I buried my face into his shirt. I balled my fists and slammed them down onto his chest and arms that didn’t move or pull away. “I’m strong, Skylar,” Daxton said with a commanding tone that was calm and steady. “Lash out all you want… Trust me, I have seen and been through my fair share of pains in this life. There is no need to feel ashamed or hide whatever you are feeling when you are with me. If you need a punching bag, I am here. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I will remember to bring a spare change of clothes and happily catch your tears.” I shuddered with a suppressed laugh between my sobs, realizing my tears were drenching his shirt. “Anything you want or need, I will see it done. I’m here for you, Skylar. You are not alone.”

The sincerity of his words and declaration had me crying for an entirely different reason than before. “Outside…” I shuddered as I closed my eyes and clenched the opening of his shirt in my balled fists, fighting the torturous onslaught of my memories from barreling through my mind. “I need to be outside, Daxton!”

There was a flash of silver, and the next second, we were both outside in the rich grass of the training fields. The feel of the fresh air kissing my skin awakened the inner strength of my animal spirit that sprang to life inside of me. Her heightened senses opened my eyes to the beauty surrounding me, helping to push aside the dark abyss of my mind.

The beauty of the dazzling fall colors on a warm autumn day was always my favorite. Orange and yellow specks of leaves on the birch trees danced in temperate winds that swirled around the tops of the trees. I looked upward at the vibrant blue open sky above my head. The deep sea of never-ending cerulean and sapphire was painted with whisps of white clouds that created images and figures of their own design. A change was coming, and the alteration of the season reminded me that nothing stayed the same for very long. The only constant in life was that each day was different, and we embraced it the best we could.

Thankfully, Daxton did not let go of me. His strong arms wrapped around my shaking torso as he intertwined our fingers, holding them tight against his chest as his brow dipped to meet mine. I leaned further into his embrace as we sank toward the ground. He cradled me between his legs and knelt with his knees spread apart on the grass, never once faltering in his hold on my trembling nerves.

Daxton slowly guided my right hand toward the ground to feel the brush of grass against my fingertips and the warmth of the dirt in my hand.“This is real. You are safe… You are free.” I tried my best to settle my breathing, but it only quickened with my heart rate. I felt guilty for my lack of control, and I bit down on my bottom lip as it began to tremble. “Breathe with me,” Daxton commanded. “In.” He took a deep breath, placing one hand on my chest to help me fall into his rhythm. “And out.”

One, two, three …

“Again.” Daxton’s command was firm but not harsh.

I didn’t fear him. Something clicked inside my head that told me not to. Daxton was someone I could trust with my life. Someone that I knew would never hurt me and only wanted to help.

Eventually, I was able to follow his lead. Breathing and moving with him until I was able to stop the flow of tears and do it on my own. I glanced up at the open sky and held in a breath of air inside my lungs for a moment before slowly releasing it once more. The open air above calmed me, calling to my animal and reassuring us both we were no longer trapped in the underground prison.

“Skylar!”

I recognized the voice, followed by the sounds of others trailing in his wake. I turned my attention toward Gilen and my family as they ran toward me and Daxton. It didn’t seem real—they were all here.

Gilen skidded to a stop. His honey gaze darkened, matching the bags under his eyes with concern, and his face was pinched with stress. It looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. His golden mangled hair flowed freely in the wind as he boldly straightened his stance and dared a step closer to me.

“Come with me, Sky,” he demanded, holding out his hand.

I should have leaped into his arms. The Skylar before the meadow, before the hunters would have. ButIcouldn’t move. I didn’t want to. Gilen furrowed his brow and took another step toward me.

A deep, low growl came from behind me, paired with a snarl that made Gilen halt his approach. “Letherdecide what she wants,” Daxton said in a terrifying, threatening tone. “She needs to have the power of choice right now. She is in charge…”

I knew that all I had to do was ask or make the slightest move in Gilen’s direction, and Daxton would let me go. But I didn’t want to go to Gilen, not yet anyway. I didn’t blame him for my capture… but the fact was that I was out alone searching forhim. If he hadn’t run off like that, maybe, just maybe, I would not have been captured by the hunters.

“Let her go, High Fae,” Gilen spat, releasing his own wave of power through his command and stepping forward, challenging Daxton’s warning.

As expected, the Silver Shadow persona reappeared, his eyes turning to stone. His lips pulled back from his sharp canine teeth as a predator’s growl sounded from his chest. It was moments like thisthat reminded me our species were not as different as they appeared. To my surprise, though, I was still not afraid of Daxton—the opposite actually. In some strange turn of events, Daxton had become my protector, and I trusted beyond reason that he would do anything to keep me safe.

Gilen did not back down and began to take an aggressive stance with his shifter magic materializing around him. Talon was quickly at his side, preparing to shift if needed.

I glanced over at Magnus, who bent to whisper in Julia’s ear, who then turned and spoke quietly to Neera. Whatever he told them made them calm down and take a few steps back from the gathering crowd. I watched them with a yearning that only my family could conjure. Love surpassed the distance between us as they wisely backed away from the tense commotion.

“Easy, Gilen,” Talon said as he tried to steady his friend, but even I knew it was pointless. Nothing would be able to calm Gilen down in this state. His animal was on high alert, taking over his brain’s logical, rational side. He was an alpha, and when confronted, he would refuse to back down to a challenge, even one from a High Fae prince.

I watched Rhea rush to Gilen’s other side to try her hand, but it only made matters worse. When she glanced my way, I saw a wave of relief flash in her sad blue eyes. She mouthed,Are you okay?I nodded that I was—or at least for the moment. She pursed her lips and gave me a firm nod in return. I knew she would support whatever I needed. No questions asked.

The final person in my pack that I hoped to see at last stepped forward into my line of sight. I released my death grip on Daxton’s hands, and he immediately turned his attention back toward me. I admired how he was able to listen to my silent gesture and helped me stand on my shaky feet.

I helplessly stared at Shaw, pushing myself to step away from Daxton’s protection and standing on my own in the training field. Daxton didn’t follow or hold me back, but I could sense his stare fixed on me, watching each step I pushed myself to take.

“Shaw.” He didn’t look at me at first. The moment he stepped forward at Rhea’s side, he dropped his head down, refusing to meet my stare.

“Shaw…” I pleaded this time.

I pushed past Gilen without even a sideways glance. I knew it hurt him, and I hated myself a little because I caused him pain, but fuck it. I needed to speak to him, but right now, I could only focus onhealing myself.

I finally staggered in front of the person who didn’t need an explanation about the horrors of what I’d endured. I didn’t have to describe the torment, the pain, the suffering… because he understood it all. And most of all, I knew he could help me heal from them.

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