Page 135 of A Trial of the Heart

Whips of black shadow surrounded Daxton. A loud crack echoed with a twist of his shoulder, making my stomach plummet and twist into knots. My animal raged inside me, urging me to break free of Gunnar’s hold and run toward him.

Like an unearthly creature of the wilt, Queen Minaeve magically stepped into view, standing above Daxton with a venomous look of satisfaction spreading across her glowing grin. Her skin shined with a golden hue against the silk of her black gown, with shimmering green and purple dust in her wake. The gilded crown of the Inner Kingdom rested comfortably atop her cascading raven hair, with the three sparkling stones shining like starlight against the burning city behind her.

Her mask of elegance and beauty hid her black cruel-natured heart. How many lives was she sacrificing today? How many innocents were dying all because she desired power above all else? How many more would feel the wrath of her magic in search of absolute control?

“Well, what do we have here?” Minaeve’s bitter voice echoed across the distance as she bent toward Daxton. “Apparently, the creature didn’t kill you,” she sneered, turning her eyes to glare at me within the Summit. “Well, that’s disappointing.”

“Don’t you fucking touch him!” I roared, almost managing to free myself from Gunnar’s grasp. The instinct to reach my mate fueled me with a rush of adrenaline. “I’ll kill you myself if you do!”

Minaeve’s haunting turquoise eyes, painted with a faint purple trail, followed the Summit doors’ archway. “Why don’t you come on out, Champion? We know you hold the second key. We’ve been patiently watching the scroll in our keep, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.” Her elegant midnight-black silk dress flowed behind her in delicate waves of finery as she circled Daxton.

“We?” Castor breathed.

“No!” Daxton grunted, but the queen cast her shadows to silence him.

“Shit,” Gunnar cursed, struggling to hold me. “Sky!”

“Release my brother, and you’ll have the key,” Castor announced, stepping closer to the ward’s boundary. “It’s as simple as that. There’s no need for war when we are on the brink of salvation. The shifter has only one more trial to defeat.”

“Hold your silver tongue,” Seamus spat, appearing from thin air at his queen’s side, the veil of magic hiding him slipping to the side. “This has nothing to do with the trials.Hiscrimes against Aelius will be answered.” Seamus was dressed in tailored dark green, almost black, fitted battle armor with a golden cloak draped over one shoulder. A smaller crown of gold encircled his brow, pulling his hair back and exposing the sharp lines of his high cheekbones. His eyes gleamed with pride as he approached Minaeve’s side—like he had won a prize.

Minaeve tenderly stroked Seamus’s arm, gaining his full attention. “My love, my king… Don’t allow your anger to jeopardize all we have worked for.”

“Did she just sayking?” Idris whispered from behind Adohan.

“She did,” the Crimson City high prince answered, his fire blazing wildly across his arms. “Gods be damned, he finally did it.”

“May I introduce you to your high king consort, my husband, Seamus.” Minaeve’s words struck everyone like a bolt of lightning from the sky. “I’m sorry you missed the ceremony. We were wed … and sealed in a blood oath shortly after your departure. Which means, HighPrinceDaxton,” Minaeve’s fingers traced over my mate’s shoulder until his chin was firmly in her grasp, “you’venot only attacked Aelius but the crown of the Inner Kingdom by dismembering my husband’s cousin, Anjani.” The coldness in Minaeve’s eyes sent a death chill up my spine. “I believe my king seeks retribution from Silver Meadows for this crime.”

“As do I.” Anjani emerged, allowing her illusion to disappear.

Her dark green eyes matched her cousin’s with sublime perfection. Her short brown hair was braided to the side, falling behind her shoulder as she strode to Seamus. She was dressed in dark green leathers to match her realm’s colors. Their likeness was uncanny, but Anjani’s features held a feminine air, with round lips and darker hair.

Behind Anjani, at least fifty guards stood, armed to the teeth and ready for battle.

Rhett, the scroll keeper, materialized to the far-right side of the stone steps leading to the Summit entrance. His piercing blue eyes widened for a second as he took in the scene unfolding around him, the ancientscroll of the trial clutched tightly in his hands. He held a scowl of disapproval, and I could have sworn I saw a flash of pity in his eyes when he looked down to see Daxton lying in chains with Silver Meadows burning around him.

“War with Silver Meadows will only result in your deaths,” Castor warned. “If you take our high prince, you’ll spark a flame that will engulf our entire world. Our people will not stand for this.”

“Nor will Crimson City,” Adohan bravely added, with Idris nodding in agreement.

“And what ofmymistreatment!” Anjani roared, holding up her severed arm as evidence. “He cut off my hand!”

“You tried to kill me!” I countered, the remnants of my power rising to the surface. “Daxton spared your life only because you didn’t manage to take mine.”

“He’s taking the role as your protector too far,” Anjani hissed. “Regardless of whether you’re whoring yourself out to the lot of them… you’re still just a half-breed shifter piece of trash.” She spit on the ground. “Even if you somehow managed to win two of the trials, there is still one more. The Heart of Valdor will never see you as worthy. Your blood is tainted.”

I blinked, almost dumbfounded at her unjustified resentment. Did she not want the wilt lifted?

“They still can’t sense your bond,” Castor cursed under his breath. “Gods-damned fool. That fact could help.”

They didn’t know Daxton and I were mates. Even now, he was hiding the threads of our bond from them—protecting me in every way he could. Well, now, it was time for me to start doing the same.

“Enough of this pettiness,” Minaeve said, almost sounding bored. Seamus stiffened, his eyes narrowing ashis lips pressed into a thin line. “You’ll have your pound of flesh when I deem it fit to serve, Anjani.”

Glancing at her king, I could see that Seamus was not pleased with her response. Welcome to the fucking team.

“Remember why we are all here. The trials of the Heart of Valdor. Our champion has successfully passed the second trial, and now we must ensure she moves on to the third.” Minaeve said.

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