Page 89 of A Trial of Fate

“Good. While warming him, and I can start trying to heal him with my magic.” I wrapped my arms under Daxton’s and cradled his body against mine. He was larger than me, so positioning him between my legs from behind was not easy. My legs wrapped around him to keep him in place as I carefully supportedhis head against my shoulder, pressing my cheek to his brow.

I could feel Daxton try and turn his head to see who was holding him. “Stay still,” I commanded in a whisper. He immediately stopped moving, and I could feel his heart begin beating faster against my grip on his firm chest. “I’ve got you, Daxton. I’m here—”

“You found me…” His words were a whisper on an exhale of breath that I could scarcely hear.

“We will always find each other,” I answered back. “Isn’t that what you told me?” I could have sworn I felt his body relax against mine as a hint of a smile turned at the corner of his mouth. The room heated quickly, thanks to Castor tending to the already crackling fire in the hearth. I was beginning to work up a sweat, but Daxton’s skin was still cold to my touch. “Another blanket, Castor. Wrap it around us like a cocoon.”

He took the bedding from his own side and wrapped it around us, pulling tightly at the edges and tucking them in so no heat could escape. Daxton moaned as the blanket tightened against him, and I tried my best not to move.

“I have never seen it this bad, Skylar.” Castor’s face was pale. His dark eyes refused to leave his brother’s face, watching over him like a hawk. “Can you start healing him now?”

“What exactly am I healing, Castor? It feels like nothing is physically wrong with him, but he is fading…” Castor remained still, and when he refused to answer me again, I lashed out at him with a pulse of my magic. “Dammit, Castor. Tell me now! What happened to Daxton?” My animal pushed power into my command. Just like the other night with Gilen, I felt a rush of magic as I spoke to Castor, and I could see him flinch against it.

“Queen Minaeve,” Castor answered through gritted teeth. It seemed like he was trying to fight against answering my question, but he could not. “She took an offering of Daxton’s power.”

“And what does that do? What does she take in an offering?”I felt my power thrashing through me.

“She absorbed his power, taking it for herself so she could pass through the veil without us.”

“Is that the type of offering Daxton mentioned before? The sacrifice other royal High Fae gave to her so she was strong enough to fight off the wilt?”

“Yes.” Castor nodded with his dark eyes set firmly on me.

“So, let me make sure I have this right. She literally sucked the life out of him? What the actual fuck, Castor!”

“They… We have no other option,” he answered again. “She siphons and suppresses their powers, cementing her authority and reign over our kind.” Castor was silent for a moment before beginning again. “Skylar… Daxton is one of the most powerful High Fae born in the Inner Kingdom. After our father died, his powers and reign passed on to Dax. That, combined with his combat skill, killing capacity, and our mother’s gifts… well, no one should be able to stand against him. If he hadn’t…” He paused, his face twisting with rage. “If he didn’t offer so damn much to Queen Minaeve—” Castor stopped, and for once, I thought it best not to press the matter further.

I returned my attention to the male cradled in my arms. Anger and rage roared inside me. How could a queen selfishly take from her people like this? A true ruler would never intentionally harm their subjects. To me, it seemed like Queen Minaeve was using the other royals for her own selfish greed and power.

“How often does this happen?” I snapped.

“Too often, but more is required during the trials and when her own magic is depleted.” Castor dipped his head low. “Dax never allows her to siphon from me. He should have this time, though… because she will publicly ask this of him again the evening before the first trial is unveiled.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I exclaimed.

“No, it’s her own wicked way of keeping Dax, along with the Crimson City’s High Prince Adohan, in line. Seamus of Aelius willingly falls into her bed and freely gives her anything she asks, but he is nothing more than a mind-reading puppet.”

“That’s … a lot to take in,” I confessed.

“You asked,” Castor said defensively, and I very badly wanted to stick my tongue out at him in defiance.

Instead, I allowed myself an eye roll and turned my attention back to Daxton. I moved my hands over his taut chest muscles andcalled upon my healing magic. I didn’t know where to begin or direct my powers, so I took a chance and focused on the strong heart beating inside his chest. Maybe If I healed him here, it would naturally spread throughout his whole body. It was the best chance we had, so I closed my eyes and focused all the magic I could on healing Daxton’s essence, giving back the energy of life stolen from him by the queen.

Healing Daxton drained the wells of my magic, taxing me more than I had anticipated. I ignored my own shaking limbs and continued pumping my magic into his center. The coloring returned to Daxton’s face, and I could feel his arms and legs begin to shift without a grimace of pain on his face.

“It’s working!” I breathed heavily. Gods, it felt like I had run the span of our mountain trails or fought my way through the front line of the human king’s royal guard.

Castor knelt next to the bedside, holding his breath with anticipation. “How did you do that?” Castor timidly asked.

“You brought me here to heal him. What do you mean how did I do that?” Through my haze of exhaustion, I still managed to gave Castor a dumbfounded glare.

He sighed as he rolled his eyes. “No. Not that. You made me tell you about what the queen did to Dax. I couldn’t fight back against your command. Against telling you everything you asked.”

Oh, well, shit. That was a new twist. I hadn’t realized my command had that effect on him. I figured my yelling, combined with his brother’s distress, made him fess up to what Minaeve had done.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I answered, trying my best to lie.

“Yes, you do.” Castor narrowed his eyes into slits. “This wasn’t the first time you have commanded someone to obey your will, was it?”

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