Page 44 of A Trial of the Heart

Bowing slightly, Reece quietly took his leave. Once he was gone, I released my own magical barrier, allowing my scent to fill the room. Castor shifted uneasily, taking a step toward the doorway as my scent swirled and combined with Daxton’s. I hadn’t paid much attention to my own scent before, but it was just as Daxton described it. The warm aroma of burning cedar combined with his pine and winter air, creating a unique balance.

“Dax?” I leaned closer, caressing his cheek in my palm. He twitched, and he released a quiet groan. “Castor!” I gasped.

Castor was lightning fast as he knelt by his brother’s side next to me. “Hey. Looks like I’m still retaining the title of thesmartbrother.”

“I’d say I agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.” Daxton grinned. He actually grinned, and I couldn’t help but shake my head and release a small laugh of gratitude. “Fuck,” he groaned, “please tell me you have whiskey or something stronger to take the edge off. This feels worse than Gauntlet training days.”

“Males,” I muttered, trying to smile as he turned his gaze toward me.

Daxton lifted his quivering arm and placed his calloused palm on my cheek. “Found you … Spitfire.”

“Why am I not surprised by this anymore,” I said as I moved closer, trying to assess his condition as discreetly as I could. “You’re ice cold, Dax.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say,” Daxton said, closing his eyes and wincing as he moved to sit up on the bed. “And here I thought we were starting to spark something. Not the other way around.”

“Good grief. You’ve lost it.” Castor rolled his eyes, reaching out a hand and placing it on his brother’s shoulder. “You gave her too much, you gods-damned idiot.”

“Careful,” Daxton warned. “Iwillremember how you keep insulting my intelligence the next time we’re sparring. You know why I did it, Cas.” He winced. “Did Seamus…?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Castor as I leaned closer to Daxton, sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. “What about Seamus?”

Castor grunted as he moved to stand at the foot of the bed. “You want me to tell her?” Dax didn’t protest, so Castor interpreted his lack of objection as encouragement. “Seamus will be the one bedding his queen tonight, with perhaps a few others joining them,” he said with a look of disgust. “She gets an erotic high from all the power she siphons. Daxton gave her a larger offering of his magic to not only help Adohan … but to make it impossible for her to expect anything more from him tonight.”

“Smart plan.” I sighed, relief rolling through me knowing Daxton wasn’t going to be forced to spend thenight with Minaeve. “Just not the life-draining aspect of it.”

“Well worth it,” Dax muttered, and I didn’t hesitate to agree.

Sitting up on the bed, I began preparing my healing magic. “All right, start getting him undressed, Castor. I’m going to heal you tonight, Daxton.”

“No.” Daxton’s eyes shot open, his stare burning a hole through me. His body trembled with violent convulsions as he forced himself to sit forward, pushing himself upright on his strong arms that held a tenth of his normal strength.

“Yes,” I fired back at him with the same unwavering glare he was shooting at me.

“Skylar, the trials are a little more than twelve hours from now. The last time you healed me after the queen siphoned my magic, it put you into a shifter’s sleep.”

“And?” I countered, defiantly crossing my arms in front of my chest.

“AndI can’t let you jeopardize yourself like that for my sake.”

I stared him down. “What makes you think I’ll be able to focus in the labyrinth knowing that you’re suffering and I didn’t help?” I asked. “I’m beginning to agree with Castor’s insults to your state of mind because you are a gods-damned idiot if you think I’m not going to heal you.”

“Gods be damned, Skylar. This is not a joke,” Daxton argued.

“Do you see me laughing?” I pursed my lips together, raising my brows. “I know it’s not, Dax!” I yelled, this time rising on the bed, so I was even with his eyeline. “I’m well aware of what lies in wait for me tomorrow. I understand the burden I carry not only formyhome andmypeople but for all of Valdor.” His lips pursed together as he silently listened to my ranting.

“I know that no shifter has bested the logic of the labyrinth. That Stark, the last champion, made it to the final obstacle and then turned back… swallowed by some unknown madness or fear that ultimately killed him.” Dax stiffened uncomfortably, his brows pinching together, realizing I knew what happened to the last shifter. “I also know that if I fail,thissadistic cycle of nightmares continues for you and everyone here in the Inner Kingdom. I know that another shifter in one hundred years must leave their home and step into this role I am in now. I know all this, Dax.” I stared him down, unwilling to budge. “Andyes, I will still heal you.”

The room went silent. Neither Daxton nor Castor said a word or muttered a sound as seven seconds ticked by like seven hours.

“I can’t enter the labyrinth with the clear mind needed to win if I’m…” I was fumbling over my words now. Great. I swallowed and tried to steady my shaking hands. “If I’m worried aboutyou, Daxton.” I turned away from his burning gaze. Afraid of what he might see or perhaps what I wouldn’t see in return. “I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I’m sorry that I’m not strong enough to push the thought of you aside and pretend that it means nothing.”

“Castor, leave us,” Daxton commanded in a flat tone, his eyes never leaving my face.

Castor nodded and went to the door without arguing. “I’ll ward this room along with the other. If anyone comes looking for either of you, they won’t be able to detect your presence.” Dax gave him a nod of thanks as Castor slipped outside, latching the door shut behind him.

The fae lights in the high corners dimmed, casting us in a shadow that concealed the strong features of Daxton’s tired, weathered face. I braced myself to turn to look at him.

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