Page 33 of A Trial of the Heart

Castor shook his head. “No. Our mother held rank and a position of power from Aelius. Then, onceour father married her, she gained status in Silver Meadows, but she didn’t hold the title ofhigh princess.”

“Interesting. Why is that?”

“Power is difficult to share.” Castor’s face was calm, yet his eyes danced with curiosity. “I imagine I would ask my father that very question if he were still alive, but alas, it’s an answer I don’t believe we will ever truly know.”

I nodded, not agreeing but understanding.

That was why Idris was referred to as lady instead of princess. For shifters, the alpha didn’t always have to be a male, but it was rare for a female to possess enough power to take on the role.

In our pack’s history there had been less than a handful of female alphas. One of them was an ancestor, but her reign was short-lived because she died in childbirth. Even so, there was only ever one seat of power, never two.

I had to admit the idea never sat well with me.

In my opinion, if it ever mattered enough to make a difference or influence change, a mated pair should rule together, strengthening each other in ways they couldn’t on their own, either as king and queen on the same throne or sharing roles as alphas. Like the Gods, two were stronger than one.

“I’m worried about him, Cas,” I whispered after minutes of silent contemplation.

I heard Castor’s footsteps stride across the room as he gracefully sat on the bed beside me. “Dax is the bravest and most powerful being I know, Skylar. And because of that … unfortunately, he’s forced to carry what others cannot.”

“I know, Castor, but…”

“He told you, didn’t he?” he asked me plainly.

Behind our closed door, Castor was able to tear away his veil of deception and show me a glimpse of what he tried to hide from the world. The sorrow and guilt for his brother lingered behind the shadows of his somber brown eyes, which weighed heavily upon his heart.

“He did,” I said.

Castor nodded and sagged his shoulders, leaning forward on his forearms. “Trust me, I hate this. I carry the guilt of his bravery and sacrifice like a heavy stone in my shattered heart. Each time he is forced to submit on behalf of all of us, to protect us, it shatters a little more. I just hope he is right about this.”

“What do you mean?”

Castor stared out the window at the seemingly endless, tranquil water of the lake, his mind running a million miles a minute, always thinking ten steps ahead of the rest of us. “Yes. Dax knew from the moment he first saw you in the meadow that you were tied to all of this—tied tousin a way. He has been strategically plotting and planning in the only way he knows how.”

“He knew what? Explain.”

“Dax knew you were special, Skylar. He told me right before you appeared at our rooms in the alpha’s house, ready and willing to help heal his wounds … that, ironically, you caused.” He huffed a small laugh of amusement before continuing. “But regardless of that fact, he was certain there was something unique about you, even before you were marked as the champion. And I must admit,” he said with a half-smile, “I believe he’s right. You may be the one to finally break the cycle of abuse we are all forced to endure from a spiteful, narcissistic ruler. You very well might conquer the trials and free our world.”

“When … When did he tell you this?” Castor’s confession pulled at the swell of emotions stirring in my chest.

“After he found you in the hunter’s cell underground. We scoured the hideout, searching and killing any of those filthy creatures foolish enough to think Dax or I would grant them mercy after what they did to you.”

I never asked what happened to the hunters or their lair after my capture, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to. “What did Dax tell you exactly? Why did he believe I could do this?”

“Because of what you have already endured and overcome, Skylar.” Castor’s expression turned melancholy. “You might think you failed. But Dax and I saw how much you fought. How you refused to give up.” I blinked rapidly; my attention solely focused on each word the silver tongue High Fae spoke to me. “I saw it,” he confessed, and I knew he was referring to his premonition gifts. “And Dax told me, about how he cradled your lifeless frame in his arms. How broken and bloodied your body was… How close you were to death’s door and the crossing. I saw it all unfold.” Castor went still, taking a steadying breath to try and calm himself. “It’s an image that kept Dax awake at night and still does to this day. When you finally awoke in Solace, you were terrified and hurt, but your answer about the trials was still the same.” Castor stood up from the bed and sauntered over to the open window. “The trials are a test of the mind, body, and soul, but ultimately, they determine if your heart is true and worthy. No shifter has ever completed the first trial, but we believe you can because you already have, Skylar.”

I didn’t know what to say. It touched me to know that Daxton felt this way all along. That he hadfaith and belief in me even before I did. Before I even accepted the champion mark, he thought I was something special. “Do you know what awaits me inside the labyrinth?”

“Not exactly,” Castor said, still glancing out the window. “The door of the labyrinth will appear only for the champion who wears the mark. Opening when the sun is at its apex in the sky and closing once it sets along the horizon.”

“All right … so, there is a timeline attached to this trial, then?”

“Yes, that is a component of it. We honestly don’t know if the previous shifters have actually finished or simply ran out of time trying to reach the center.”

“Whereisthis labyrinth? I didn’t see anything from the sky as we flew over.”

“That’s because it is under the palace itself,” Castor said, pointing below his feet.

Dammit. Underground?I squeezed my eyes tightly as I fought the urge to scream.

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