Page 82 of A Trial of Fate

“This is not happening!” Gilen grunted, breaking my train of thought. I could feel Gilen’s rage as his power surged to encompass the room. He pounded his fist against the chair and started storming across the room toward me. I was not afraid to face him again. He was steps away from me when another person stood up in my defense.

“Back down, Gilen.” Magnus bore into him with a cold, hard stare I had never seen before. “The female has rejected your claim. You will not pursue her any further. There is no mate bond… Therefore, you have no claim to my daughter.”

“I will …”

“Gilen!” Helen interjected, reaching her son’s side. “Let her go.”

“But—”

“Let. Her. Go… son.” Helen gently placed a hand on Gilen’s shoulder to try and calm him. Alistar came to his other side and did the same.

“Skylar, go back to the house. I will meet you there. Julia and Neera need to see you before you leave,” Magnus said in a low, hushed tone.

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“Not just yet.” Magnus continued to stand in between me and Gilen, blocking his access and view of me. “Go now, please. I need to speak with Alistar and Gilen—alone.” I didn’t hesitate and ran for the door. I wanted to get as far away from Gilen as I could. The betrayal still lingered in my heavy heart.

Turning toward the staircase, I saw Queen Minaeve and Daxton walking together down the guest wing hallway. My heart leaped inside my throat as she pulled Daxton inside a room and latched the door shut.

There was no clear reason why I did it, but I turned away from the stairs and took a step down the hall toward them. My animal awakened inside me, her instincts telling me something was wrong, that I needed to help Daxton. I was halfway down the corridor when a firm arm grabbed me and spun me in the opposite direction.

“Skylar,” Castor exclaimed as he pinned me against the wall.His eyes were transitioning from pitch black back to their dark brown color, and they were wide with fear. “What in the gods’ names are you doing here?”

“I-I don’t know,” I answered in a panic. Why was I down here? This was by far one of the stupidest decisions I had made in a long time. What was I planning to accomplish?

“Is Daxton…” Castor gave me a hard look that made me pause. “I-is Daxton all right?” I stammered, genuinely worried. It didn’t matter if Castor believed I was sincere or not. I realized at that moment that I was starting to care about Daxton, and I didn’t like the idea of anyone I cared for being harmed.

Castor cautiously glanced around the hallway, his eyes darting and his head tilting like he was listening for anyone lurking nearby. “Not here. You need to leave.” He grabbed my hand and guided me back down the hall, the stairs, and finally out to the woods.

“Go home, Skylar.”

“No! Not until I know that he’s all right,” I snapped back at him. “Castor, what’s going on?”

His scrunched forehead told me he was debating what to do or what to tell me. He pursed his lips but ultimately hung his head in defeat. “The queen is leaving without us. Daxton is doing what he has to in order for her to return to the Inner Kingdom safely.”

“And what does that mean exactly?” Minaeve seemed powerful enough in the other room when she almost killed us with a blast of her psychic magic. Why did she need Daxton?

“Nothing you want to hear or know the details of—”

“Tell me, please,” I almost begged. “Can I help him?” I wouldn’t hide the fact that I was worried about the brave fae who led the charge into the lair of the hunters to rescue me from death’s doorstep.

“I can’t,” Castor answered, and I could see concern etched on the lines of his face. His hand ran through his bright silver hair. “Dax will be fine… He… he… knows what he’s doing.”

“Then why areyouso worried?” I could see through Castor’s lie from a mile away. He might be a master of illusion and persuasion, but he could not hide this. Not when it really mattered.

“It is not my story to tell, Skylar.” He stepped back and turned to leave.

“Castor!” I yelled, jumping in his path.

“What will it take to get you to listen to me and go home?”

I pressed my lips into a firm line.Nothing, I wanted to spitback at him. But I knew he was not going to allow that to happen, so I would compromised, hoping he would do the same.

“Promise me… that you will come find me if he needs my help. Promise me this, and I will turn around and go home.”

“Right now?”

“Now.”

---