Page 130 of A Trial of the Heart

Like me, the basilisk’s tail struck him on his side, flinging him across the nest. Turning and lifting the corner of my blindfold, I gaped in horror.

“Dax!” He was soaring over an open hole in the den leading to the magma chamber below.“No!” I screamed, unable to do anything from this side of the den.

Before tumbling into the opening, he called upon his ice magic and slid safely over, only to violently crashinto the wall. His head collided with the rocks, and his body fell limp.

Thank the Gods he didn’t fall in.I sighed in a moment of relief, only to have it turn into dread.He didn’t have the armor of Aegis protecting him like I did.

The basilisk didn’t hesitate and turned on him again. I unslung my bow and aimed, angling my head upward and peeking out further than I knew I should.

Gods be damned, I still couldn’t see enough.

Cursing, I reached up and peeled off my blindfold. This very well might be the last thing I ever saw in my mortal life, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was saving my mate from becoming a basilisk’s meal. If I died here today saving Daxton, I would accept that fate. To die while saving those you love, would be a worthy end.

I watched the serpent king coil around Daxton’s fallen body, its mouth opened wide, seconds away from devouring him whole. I released my arrow, watching it fly straight and true with a steady, unmovable mountain of confidence.

It found its target … The glowing left eye staring directly at my mate.

The creature roared, the cave walls trembling against its cries of agony.

Silver flashed, and Daxton appeared beside me, pulling me into his arms and tucking us around the corner of a boulder.

“Now… it only has one.” I breathed heavily.

He clutched onto me with everything he had. “Thanks for that,” he said.

We didn’t have time to say anything else. The basilisk came crashing into our hideaway, forcing us to jump in two different directions to face off against its wrath.

Daxton grunted as a loud slam boomed in the den.

With my blindfold discarded, I was forced to shut my eyes, no longer having a window below our ankles to see what was happening. A powerful weight struck me, knocking me down and pinning me against the ground. I roared, the breath in my chest involuntarily pressed from my lungs, making it impossible to breathe.

You ssstolle my eye!the basilisk hissed.

Its hot breath burned against my skin as its saliva dripped from the sharp fangs that were only inches from my face.Shit, not good.I was pinned under one of its remaining forelimbs with only one dagger sheathed along my thigh remaining to defend myself.My bow and quiver were gone—dropped when the basilisk ambushed us.

The pressure on my chest intensified with a pinpointed sensation narrowing on my breastbone. “Ahhh!” I screamed.

Daxton,I pleaded through the threads of our bond.Desperately searching for him.

Why do my talonsss not ssskewer—

The clang of Daxton’s sword silenced the basilisk’s hiss. I couldn’t tell what was happening. I had to keep my eyes closed to avoid the death stare from the creature still looming over me. Even with one eye, I knew it could still kill me. I’d only seen one eye in the reflection of my mirror.

I remained trapped under the weight of the creature’s talon, but thankfully, I was still alive. The armor of Aegis had saved my life for the second time today.

There was a sharp hiss, and drops of blood splattered across my skin. The grip of the basilisk loosened, and I made a move to reach for my blade. Iwrapped my hand around the hilt, but before I could bring it up, the pressure shifted back, taking away my freedom to move.

“Ahh, dammit!” Daxton cursed as the serpent king released a very low, sinister chuckle. “Skylar…” Daxton’s pained voice made my heart stop. He was wounded.

I know who he issss now. The taste of his flessshh unlocked a guarded memory long thought repressed. The prince who was promised,the serpent king taunted.The one born to unite and rule usss all. How graciousss of you to join ussss, Your Majesssty.

“Spitfire, I can’t reach you. I’ve been… Skylar…” The fear in his voice was not for his safety. It was for me.

“Daxton!” I tried to yell out for him, but the weight on my chest made my cry nothing more than a whisper.

My venom worksss quickly.

“No!”I roared. My animal’s power rose to the surface of my skin, fueling me with liquid fire rushing through my veins.

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