Page 78 of A Trial of Fate

“Thank you.” I hugged my knees tightly to my chest. I knew he was still in the doorway, watching over me to ensure I was all right. “I’ll find you later, Daxton,” I called out.

To which he replied, “We will always findeach other.”

Chapter Eighteen

When I entered the healers’ quarters, Latte was just as grumpy as ever. “You’re late,” she snapped as I walked in.

“I’m really sorry, Latte,” I apologized.

I hated being late. I really did. It always made me anxious and nervous. I guess there was no real explanation as to why.Just one of my quirks, I guess.Ever since I was little, I was always first in line, first to arrive, and being on time meant I was late.

“Go sit over there and wait. Since you were late, I saw another patient first.”

“This early in the morning? Who?”

“None of your business if they don’t want you to know,” she snapped. Gods, she was in a mood this morning. Feistier than her normal self. I wondered what upset her. It couldn’t have just been me.

“Hello, Skylar.” His sing-song voice echoed like a taunting melody, and his overly confident, borderline cocky, demeanor was almost too much for me before breakfast.

“Castor,” I muttered, throwing an unimpressed look in his direction. I crossed my arms at my chest and turned toward him. “What bringsyouin here?” I sneered with a sarcastic tone with my brow cocked upward. I knew exactly why he was here. Daxton had been kicking his royal ass all over the training fields that morning, and I was fortunate enough to witness the end of it.

“Refreshing smell in the air,” Castor countered. “Do I detect a hint of fresh lavender?” He narrowed his eyes and flashed a playful grin.

Oh, all right then. Let’s play.

“Why yes, thank you. I was in the bathhouse this morning. Shifters don’t always smell like the dirt and the woods, you know.”

“Apparently not, and in case you were wondering, I do… know. Some of your females have been very open with me during our stay on the mainland.” He watched Latte mumble to herself as she left the main room to retrieve supplies in the pantry. “Quite steamy inside those bathhouses, isn’t it?” he added, and I scowled at him.

“Why are you here, Castor?” I asked. “Can’t your healing fix whatever injuries Daxton gave you this morning? I thought High Fae were tougher than that, but perhaps not?”

“I assumed it was you watching us. Hard to keep your eyes away from perfection,” Castor replied in a sing-song taunt without flinching. “Your cheeks are flushed, my dear. Care to elaborate on how your bath went?” He dipped his head back, flashing me a sly grin and leaning back against the wall while crossing a leg over his knee.

My tone dropped into a low, flat sound. “What?” I barked with a scrutinizing glare.

“When you mention my brother’s name, your cheeks flush.” His dark brown eyes sparkled with a hint of a scheme brewing. “Anything you would like to share?”

“Castor… you—” I was about to grab a pillow and throw it at his beautifully smug face, but lucky for him, Latte returned with a tray of herbs and healing supplies.

“You two males sure got into a scuffle this morning,” Latte murmured as she set the tray next to Castor’s bed. “Now, off with your shirt so that I can examine your bruising. I can shoo Sky away if you like. Sheknowshow important patient privacy is.” If looks could kill, Latte would have the highest kill count in all of Valdor by now.

“She’s fine.” Castor winced as he leaned forward and removed his tunic. “She deserves to see what a real male form looks like.”

“Oh, Gods… Please.” I rolled my eyes and sighed as loudly as I could. “Trust me. I’ve seen better. And besides, you’re not my type.”

“Pity,” Castor snickered as he shifted under Latte’s care. “It’s the silver, isn’t it?” he asked, pushing back his hair. “Too much?” I scowled at him, but it only seemed to encourage him to continue. “Ahh, I see now… You favor the darker-haired males, then.”

Okay, I had officially had enough of Castor’s antics for the morning. “Latte, respectfully, please move aside… I’ve got this.”

“Oh no you don’t!” Latte tried to stop me, but I was already calling my healing powers to my hands.

I dashed toward Castor and placed my palm on his clean-shaven, narrowed jawline, repairing the cut on his lip and quickly moving down toward his bruised collarbone. He was not as strong as Daxton, but there was no doubt that he was an extremely powerful being in his own right. His lean body was exquisitely toned with a firm muscular build. Glancing down toward his chest, I noticed a rib out of place that was causing discomfort and likely difficulty breathing. Imoved my fingers over his stomach, which held a very defined six-pack like his brother’s. Unlike Daxton, however, the close proximity with Castor did nothing to spike my desire or cause heat to rise in my center.

“There, that should do it. How do you feel?” I asked.

“Annoyed!” Latte cursed at me as she stomped away to return her tray of supplies to the pantry. “Manners of the youth are dooming us all!”

Castor sat up and took in a deep breath, feeling for the cut that was no longer visible on his lip. “Impressive. I can see why Dax is so intrigued by you… Your beauty is more than skin deep.”

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