Page 99 of A Trial of the Heart

“What?” Gunnar stammered. “What did I say?”

“You’re a genius!” I lunged over and tackled him to the ground with a giant hug. “Fucking brilliant!”

“Again, what did I say? And please tell Daxton it wasyouwho jumped intomylap. Not the other way around.”

“I could kiss you right now, Gunnar! It’s so simple I can’t believe we missed it. Your plan might just work!”

“Remember that you jumped onto me. Be very clear about that one, Skylar,” Gunnar repeated, inclining his head to the doorway.

I stilled, releasing Gunnar, sensing Daxton before he even entered the room. The scent of pine and cold mountain air tantalized my senses, bringing me a serene feeling of comfort and home. Every time he was near, it was like a piece of my soul returned that I didn’t know was missing.

“Daxton!” I practically shrieked with relief and joy.

Springing up from the floor, I leaped across Gunnar, who was still splayed out on the pillows, no longer caring about hiding my feelings, and blindly flew into Daxton’s open embrace. Immediately, his arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me off my feet with ease and holding on to me with every ounce of strength he had.

“You’re back.” I exhaled, nuzzling into the nape of his neck.

“Why do you smell like Gunnar?” he grumbled.

“I was lying in his lap just before you arrived.”

“What?” Daxton tensed, but I kept my hold firm around him.

“Calm down. You’re lucky I didn’t kiss him.”

“I’m not—”

“He figured out a defense against the beast I have to slay, Dax. A mirror! A mirror to reflect this creature’s stare of death. We may not know exactly what it is, but we have an idea for how to counter it.”

His sigh was heavy as his lips brushed against the brow of my head. “I missed you, Spitfire,” he whisperedbefore squeezing me tightly once more, returning my feet to the ground. “I’ll warn you, prepare yourself.”

I pulled back, settling my feet against the carpet and creasing my brows together in confusion. “For?”

“What thefuckwere you thinking, Daxton?” Zola yelled as she stormed into the sitting room from the shadows in the far corner.

Gods above. Her gifts were amazing but also terrifying. An important reminder of what she could wield.

“You are my high prince, and I will follow you tomydeath … but I will not remain idle and silent as you seal your own demise!” Zola’s face was pale, and her eyes wide with worry.

“I don’t regret my actions,” Daxton replied with a calm, collected stare, pulling me to his side. “She’s lucky to still be breathing.”

“You acted alone!” Zola roared, her hands splayed to the sides as she removed her daggers along her hips, slamming them onto the side table near Idris and Adohan. “There is no blood onmy blades.”

“You were too slow.”

Zola’s dark eyes burned like cold embers of death and silent rage. “This…” Her voice dropped lower. “This should have been done by my hand. Not.Yours!”

“Again… You were too slow,” Daxton said, not wavering under his spymaster’s glare.

Zola’s eyes narrowed as she marched across the room toward where Daxton stood with me at his side. “I jump in the shadows,” she growled. “Not the fucking sunlight, you stubborn male!” Daxton didn’t even flinch against Zola’s rage. He only tightened his grip on my hip as I placed my hand on the small of his back, silently supporting him as best I could.

“Careful how you address our high prince, Zola,” Gunnar warned, standing at attention now with his hand on the hilt of a long dagger, unafraid and ready to intervene if needed. I doubted many, if any really, had ever seen Zola in this state.

“What did you do, Daxton?” Adohan asked, rising from his seat. His eyes burned with the fires at his command, challenging the Silver Meadows high prince from across the room.

“I spared her life,” Daxton answered calmly.

“What did you … do?”

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