Page 124 of A Trial of the Heart

“Forgive me yet?” he asked with a raised brow.

I smile sweetly. “How could I not when you sharethatmemory with me? You’ve tied my hands.”

“Well, I didn’t intend to tonight, but in the future, if you’d like to try it … I’m all in.”

“Dax!” I thumped him in the back of his head. “Seriously?”

“You’re the one who brought it up.”

“I’m beginning to regret forgiving you so easily.”

“Then allow me to remind you why you did.”

His mouth crashed into mine, feverishly devouring me with the sweet taste of his lips and his well-skilled tongue. I moaned into his kiss, pleasure rolling through me in delicious waves of ecstasy that made my body come alive again.

Dammit, he was right. I was glad I forgave him because this was worth it. He was wortheverything.

Chapter Twenty-Five

When we rematerialized atop the Southern Cliff face, the chill of the ocean breeze against my skin was refreshing yet terrifying. We were finally here. The outcome of the second trial would be decided today.

Daxton stood beside me, his silver-lined black armor gleaming in the early rays of dawn, with three mountain peaks visible on his broad shoulder. His hair was pulled back as his gray eyes hardened, determination setting in for our task ahead. He looked just as formidable as the fables depicted him, and I was thankful, if not slightly infuriated, to have him at my side.

“Didn’t forget the key, did you?” His half-hearted attempt at a joke was oddly comforting.

“I’ve got it,” I said, pulling at the chain around my neck. The sun-moon key rested against my chest.

He nodded, magically summoning his sword, Valencia, to his back. I tucked the key safely under my armor, my own single mountain patch stitched into my clothing underneath. Again, I wore the armor of Aegis to help protect me in the trial. I only wished it could protect Daxton, too.

This trial could kill him just as easily as it could me. But if the roles were reversed, I knew I would bestanding here with him if I could. I squared my shoulders, inhaling the familiar sea air as I readied myself.

“You lead, Spitfire. I’ll follow.” He looked at me with an unwavering swell of confidence embedded into each line of his face. “You’ve got this. Remember I’m simply along for the ride to witness history in the making.”

I nervously reached up to push my long braid over my shoulder and unstrapped my silver wooden bow, nocking an arrow along the tight string. The feel of the bow in my hands fed me a calming sense of strength and security, steadying my racing heart to an even rhythm that matched my breathing. This was it. Our months of training had led to this. I would come out alive and victorious or dead.

“You ready?” I asked.

“If you are.”

I nodded. “Let’s go.” I climbed steadily down the black volcanic rocks along the top of the cliff, with Daxton in step behind me.

According to Castor, the arched formation of lighter stone glowed brighter the closer the key was to its entrance. “Like calling to like,” he said. “The key to the first trial recognizes its counterpart.”

It made sense.

Traversing down the cliff face was simple enough—a mindless task after training on top of mountain ridgelines and preparing for the Gauntlet. The rock face cascaded in a simple pattern, creating steps that we easily scaled down.

Ocean waves crashed against the rocks below, the spray slowing our descent as the slickened stone held little to no grip. The colorful orange and yellow rays of the morning sunlight bounced against the smoothsurface of the volcanic rocks, shielding the entrance of the trial in shadow.

“High tide must cover half if not the entire entrance,” I said.

“That’s what Castor’s intel suggested. I imagine that’s how the serpent king can devour his ocean prey. They venture unknowingly into the caves and are trapped.”

As we reached what we believed to be the final ledge, I pulled out a small handheld mirror from my pocket. Holding out the front of my bow, I moved it to the top wooden arch, waiting for Daxton to seal it in place with his ice magic.

“How does the balance feel?” he asked.

I straightened my left arm and lightly pulled back on my bow string, carefully bringing it back to rest. “Perfect. Just like we practiced.”

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