Page 17 of A Trial of the Heart

I whimpered, bracing myself to witness another death as the strength in my limbs disappeared. I barely noticed Zola’s hands holding me upright against the wall as she tried to speak to me.

I didn’t hear anything she was saying, my attention focused solely on Silver Shadow—my protector. His eyes flipped back to me, and there was a soft flare of concern that crossed his gaze. Then they immediately returned to stone as his focus shifted back to Seamus.

“Daxton!” Adohan screamed once more.

“Grahhh!” Roaring with frustration and rage, Daxton reluctantly released Seamus, allowing him to crumble to the ground, gasping for air.

“How did you manage to bypass my wards without me knowing, Seamus?” Adohan demanded.

“Since Queen Minaeve’s last offering from the oh so generous High Prince Daxton…” Seamus lifted his brows to me, and I returned his stare with a narrowed glare of pure hatred. “Our queen has been able to siphon enough of his magic to begin experimenting with portals. She can now summon them for instantaneous travel. Granted, they are not as quick or strong as Daxton’s teleportation, and each portal needs anintended destination. But it is a successful doorway for a short period of time.”

“Then you can leave,” Daxton snarled as Adohan placed a flaming hand in the center of his chest. “Now. Before Adohan’s reasoning runs dry and your blood stains my blade.” A long silver sword appeared, strapped to Daxton’s back. He reached for the hilt, drawing it clean from its sheath.

“No need to be rude now,” Seamus taunted. “I intend to leave right away… withher.” Seamus pointed a finger in my direction.

“Do you have a death wish, Seamus?” Adohan spat, putting himself between the males once more. I could see pure hatred and wrath in Daxton’s expression, and I knew Adohan would not be able to hold his friend back much longer. “I’m accompanying them to Aelius tomorrow. Tell Minaeve she has my word and that she will receive my offering at the gathering as well.”

That seemed to get Seamus’s attention. “Yours—Ekon? Freely?”

“No,” Daxton said.

Adohan steadied his breath. “Only if you leave my realm now, Seamus.”

“Very well,” Seamus said quickly, extending his hand out to Adohan, but the Crimson City high prince merely glared and crossed his still-flaming arms in front of his muscled chest. “Glad to see your mind is still sharp, and the mating bond hasn’t dulled your senses completely.” Seamus strutted out to our left and casually wiped his green jacket clean of any dust or residue. “Until the ball, beautiful Champion,” he said in my direction and dashed away into the darkness.

Dax turned to Adohan. “You can’t be serious, Ado—”

The High Prince of Crimson City held up his hand, respectfully silencing his friend. “We both know I would have too regardless. My mate bond wasn’t going to spare me forever, and I knew that this time around, I would be forced to submit my power publicly to Minaeve.” Daxton’s eyes softened with sorrow and regret. “You cannot sacrifice yourself for me this time, my friend. It’ll be all right. We’ll all get through this,” he added. “Now, tend to her.”

Daxton turned toward me in the shadow of the alley and reached out to take my hand. I gladly accepted it, and he didn’t hesitate before scooping me into his arms and teleporting us back to Adohan’s home without another word.

I felt so raw and shaken from my encounter with Seamus that I didn’t know what to think or feel. All I knew was I wanted to scream, yell, and possibly break things. I wanted to thrash out at the world and roar until my throat was raw and my eyes could no longer create any tears.

“Spitfire,” Dax whispered, clutching me tightly against his chest as my body shook with rage.

“No!” I screamed as I pushed him away.

Leaping out of his arms, I landed firmly on my feet, sprinting toward my room without looking back. Memories bombarded me from all sides. Once again, I was trapped in the hunter’s keep.

I loathed the fact that Seamus had done this to me, that hecoulddo this to me. And I detested myself for allowing it to affect me like this.

I was weak.

How would I ever defeat the trial of the mind if this mere memory almost broke me once again? This kernel of darkness that I tried so hard to vanquish was rising like bile in my throat. I needed to block out theworld so I could fight to breathe once more. I didn’t want to burden anyone with this trauma, let alone have anyone else see it and judge me for my failure.

Soaring down the hall, I flung open the door to my room before turning around and slamming it shut. I reached down to bolt the locks so no one could enter after me. Tucking my knees to my chest, I collapsed onto the cool marble floor. Roaring, I pounded my fists against the door frame. Screaming into the emptiness of my soul, trying to cleanse my body of the pain I was forced to relive once again.

“Skylar … Skylar,” Daxton pleaded from outside my door. “Please, let me in.”

I couldn’t bring myself to unlatch the lock. I couldn’t allow him to see me like this. “I need to be by myself,” I whimpered, loud enough that I knew he heard me. “Please, Daxton.” I cried out. “I have to do this alone.”

“No, you don’t,” he said. I could hear his labored breathing on the other side, and I knew he desperately wanted to break through the divide between us. “I’m here, Spitfire. Remember, you’reneveralone,” he said in a pining whisper. “I’m not leaving… I willalwaysfind you.”

I didn’t say the words that I now knew by heart.

No, instead, I shut him out, dragged myself away from the doorway and toward the bed. Burying my face into a pillow I screamed and yelled without fear of others hearing me. After what felt like hours, I caught my breath. I curled my knees inward and rocked my body back and forth, trying to calm down. I recalled my training with Shaw and began grounding myself in that safe world. I would not be a victim of my fears.My animal’s presence lightly drifted in the back of my mind, trying to comfort me.

I refused to be weak. I couldn’t afford to be.

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