Page 76 of A Trial of Fate

Intrigued, I turned in the water to face him. “Okay. Go ahead. What do you want to ask me?”

“Will you still compete in the trials of the Inner Kingdom? I’m aware of an alternative offer that may allow you to abdicate to another.” His gray eyes hardened to stone, transforming from the carefree mood he was in only a moment before.

“Yes,” I answered with unwavering confidence. I didn’t bother to elaborate beyond that one simple answer, witnessing a mixed sparkle of hope gleaming in Daxton’s expression.

“Even with the knowledge that you could stay. You stillwillingly choose to go?”

“Yes. I will not push away my responsibility to another. This is my task, and I still willingly accept that this is my fate.” I didn’t know how he knew about the claiming rule Gilen had told me, but then again, Daxton knew a lot of things I didn’t.

Daxton stroked his trimmed black beard and ran his finger up toward his hair. He released the tie at the top, allowing his thick locks of silver and ebony to fall freely around his face. I watched him inhale a deep breath as his arms flexed behind his head. Even in this stillness, he projected power and strength. He was a marvel of a male, the epitome of what a warrior should be. Terrifying but also remarkably beautiful.

Slitting one eye open, he smugly asked, “Enjoying the view?”

My eyes widened, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of catching me off guard. “Please,” I huffed, “I’m a shifter. There are naked males running around everywhere. There’s nothing below that layer of steam I haven’t seen before.”

His dark chuckle filled the space between us. “Really?” he asked, his deep voice dropping an octave lower. “Care to test your theory?”

I raised half out of the tub, pushing my breasts forward and up on the edge while still lingering under the surface. I searched his expression as his half-slitted eyes widened, now keenly alert and fixated solely on me. His breathing began to quicken as the taut muscles that encased his body flexed and popped with tension. Daxton watched me as I scanned my gaze over his body, and I somehow managed not to blush. It was now my turn to grin, realizing that I was able to entice this kind of reaction out of him and loving this feeling of control.

“Really,” I replied, playfully sticking my tongue out before slipping back under the water.

Daxton’s barreling laughter was like music to my ears. He folded forward, his hands on his forehead as his body vibrated with his laugh. I couldn’t help but join him, quietly chuckling behind the fold of my arm.

“You,” Daxton said as he angled his head toward me. “You are most certainlymorethan anything I could have ever dreamed, Spitfire.”

My breath stilled as his glossed-over eyes looked at me like they were peering into the depths of my soul. Tearing off layers of my being until he found the center of who I was buried deep beneath.

“When did you get that?” I asked, motioning to the new tattoo on his left side.

His gaze dipped down for a moment, following the outline of the black ink before returning to find me. “A few days ago when Castor returned.”

“What made you decide to mark your skin? What does the design represent?”

“Always with the questions…”

“You get used to it, promise.” I smiled softly.

“They represent a warrior’s journey. Overcoming defeat, developing strength, and above all, never losing hope.”

“It’s drawn over the scar I gave you,” I added. “Why there?”

Daxton traced his fingers over the scar that seemed to be the center of Castor’s design. I bit my lip, trying to push aside the idea of my finger tracing over the lines of his flesh.

“Believe it or not… no other scar I carry or wound I have received in all my battles throughout my long life have ever brought me to death’s doorstep. I thought it fitting to highlight the wound I thought would kill me, as none have ever come so close before.”

My breath stilled. He didn’t seem angry or upset, but I was definitely shocked by his confession. I knew he was in jeopardy of dying that night, but I had no idea it was that severe.

“When will we leave for the Inner Kingdom?” I asked, tactfully trying to change the subject. I didn’t know if I was going with him, Queen Minaeve, or Castor. But I hoped that when the time came to say goodbye to my home, Daxton would be there with me.

“We…” Daxton was careful to emphasize the word, and a piece of me glowed in delight. “We… will need to leave soon. The queen will depart once we meet with your alpha and you have formally confirmed your decision.”

“Sounds like a plan. Why is Queen Minaeve leaving before us?” Not that I minded, I was just simply curious.

Daxton mulled over my question for a minute before answering. “With her absence, the decay… or thewilt,” he corrected for my benefit, “has likely spread. Minaeve’s magic is the only weapon that is able to keep it at bay. To add to the misery and destruction, vile creatures are born from this death, Spitfire. Creatures that threaten the lives of my people every day. I worry about their safety in my absence. While my magic is not as effective as Minaeve’s against the spread of the wilt, I am able to kill the creatures that dwell within it.”

I could see the lines of distress form in the crevices of his hardyet handsome face. “You mean aside from nature literally dying… creatures are born from it?” Talk about adding salt to the wound.

“Yes.” Daxton sighed heavily as he continued, “The wilt was magically created. We don’t exactly know why or how, but we are left with the aftermath and side effects of its evil.”

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