Page 116 of A Trial of the Heart

“As soon as Idris is distracted, we’re out of here,” I said.

Daxton huffed a muffled laugh in reply.

“Castor would only add to this madness,” Zola growled with an unamused scoff to the group, drawing our attention away from each other. “When he and Gunnar start going, there’s no stopping them.”

“True,” Daxton answered before lowering his voice to whisper in my ear, “but then we would have a larger distraction that would allow us to slip away outside of Idris’s time frame.”

“Iheardthat,” Idris snapped.

“I meant you to.” Daxton laughed as he placed his hand on my thigh.

“All right let’s play a little game,” Gunnar said to the group. “Each person takes a turn and tells us two truths and a lie. The others around the circle must decipher and agree which ones are which, and if your lie is caught, you drink.”

“Shit, I always lose at this,” Idris cursed.“Glad I only have water in my cup tonight.”

“I’m clearly at a disadvantage here,” I told Daxton.

“You’ll catch on quick. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll start,” Gunnar announced, “then Zola, Daxton, Skylar, and—”

“We know,” Idris said. “Now on with it, Gunnar. This is your game, so you start.”

“Very well… Hmm.” He stroked his chin, contemplating which truths to tell and what lies to spin.

“But,” Zola said with a hint of mischief in her tone, “it can’t be one you’ve used before in this favorite little game of yours. If it is, you drink.”

“Fuck. Really?”

“I second,” Adohan announced. “And it’s even more entertaining that Gunnar is going first.”

“Gods above,” Gunnar cursed, “this game just got more complicated.”

“Third,” I answered, surprising everyone in the room. “What?” I shrugged. “Gunnar has been royally kicking my ass for a solid month now. I’m loving this turn of events and seeing him grimace for once.”

“And just when I thought we were becoming friends, little shifter.”

“It’s settled,” Daxton said to the group. “New rules are set… Gunnar, let your games begin.” Dax hugged me, stroking my arm lightly with his fingers. “Very amusing, love. We shall see if you or I actually earn a turn at this before the hour is up.”

“All right,” Gunnar said. “One night along the docks, I managed to have my way with a—”

“A water nymph on the shoreline,” everyone but me finished for him.

“Drink up.” Daxton chuckled lowly with an amused grin.

“Shit,” Gunnar swore before taking a sip.

“Will I ever have a turn?” I whispered to Daxton.

“Perhaps not. I’m doubtful I’ll even have a turn with how many times Gunnar’s played this over the years and spun various tactful lies.”

“He and Castor must always play this,” I added.

“Hmm, it appears I’ve arrived just in time.” The familiar sing-song voice broke the commotion of the group. All eyes turned toward the silver-haired figure in the hallway.

“Castor!” Gunnar sprang to his feet, welcoming his friend and prince with open arms.

Zola gave him a nod from the shadows, which was friendly by her standards. Castor then entered the room, bent to kiss Idris’s hand, and clasped Adohan’s forearm with an affectionate pat on the shoulder. Daxton remained relaxed, his hold on me unchanged, almost like he was waiting for something the rest of us were not seeing.

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