Page 19 of A Trial of the Heart

“I was young and fucking foolish. Naive to this role and responsibility, and to be honest, I was distracted. Since our mother’s passing, and my father dying in my arms on the battlefield, I was also Castor’s sole guardian.”

I nodded, trying to encourage him to continue.

“But,” Daxton rasped with a twinge of regret, “I was also arrogant. Believing that with my father’s strength and title that passed to me, I was too powerful to succumb to anyone’s will. I didn’t recognize that Minaeve was setting a trap. She drugged me with a potent weaponized iron dust. That, combined with the help of her siphoned magic from Seamus and Adohan’sfather, left me outmatched. I was Imprisoned beneath Aelius until I willingly swore fealty to her crown and offered her my magic.”

The depth of Daxton’s revulsion for Minaeve was coming to light. He resisted her tyranny, and as punishment, she tortured him. “How long? How long were you kept a prisoner in her hold?”

“Years.” He tensed as he leaned backward on the bed, his features cast in both shadow and sorrow.

“Zola,” I said remembering the mention her loyalty to their mother, “did she help look after Castor when…?”

“Yes, and I will forever be grateful for her aid in watching over my brother when I couldn’t.”

Silence passed between us, the tales of Daxton’s past clutching the threads of my heart and threatening to shatter it to pieces.

“I would still be there if she hadn’t threatened Castor’s life and the salvation of Silver Meadows. I would give anything to protect my people. It’s my duty and honor, with the power I inherited, to ensure they’re safety.” There wasn’t a single piece of me that doubted his confession. “So, when my kingdom was threatened and Castor’s life hung in the balance, I was forced to accept her rule.” He threaded his fingers with mine, trying to steady himself. “I still have night terrors from my imprisonment, and unfortunately, every century, I’m forced to relive them all over again.”

“Does the queen—” I stopped, swallowing a pain that cut me so deep it was hard to breathe.

“During my offerings, and then when it’s time for the trials…” Daxton became deathly still, his hands clutching mine. “I’m forced to sleep with her, yes.” The pain of his confession struck my core, my soul aching in ways I never knew it could. “It’s her revolting way of attempting to control every gods-damned thing in my life.” He turned away, and I knew there was a wall of shame keeping his gaze hidden. “She’ll make a public spectacle of our submission at the gathering before the trials begin. Since I’ve recently bedded her, I pray to the Gods I won’t have to do it again. Seamus is more than happy to fuck his queen; he should be able to appease her appetite.”

I now understood the depth of Daxton’s rage when I mentioned his kiss with the queen in Solace. My own wrath began bubbling to the surface at the thought of Minaeve with Daxton, but I forced myself to shove that ugly jealousy aside. He was forced to sleep with her, and the knowledge of that damn near broke my heart.

We both carried such horrific pain and suffering. It was hard to fathom how either of us was still breathing—let alone surviving.

“And Adohan?” My chest tightened with putrid disdain for Minaeve. Forcing this treatment upon her people so she could absorb their powers was wrong. There was nothing about her that seemed right, in my opinion.

“He’s mated. Thankfully, she will not command him to bed her since it’s taboo to force a mated High Fae to do so. But she’ll expect his submission and an offering of his magic.”

“Daxton,” I said his name softly, hoping he would be able to bring himself to look at me. To my dismay, he stared off into the darkness, lost in a never-ending well of spiraling shame and sorrow. “What can I do?”

If Daxton could manage to combat his living fears, then so could I. Maybe not alone, but possibly together, we would be strong enough.

“You, Spitfire—” He braced himself on the edge of the frame before daring to meet my gaze. “You don’t need to do anything more than you already have. You’ve given me a reason to hope again. I wasdyinginside before I met you, with no end in sight to the life I was forced to lead. You’re my salvation, Skylar. Always challenging me to keep fighting despite the odds. If you can manage to defeat your demons, then I know that I can, too.”

I slid closer toward him, settling between his legs once more, and encircling my arms tightly around his neck. I threaded my hands into his free-flowing hair, pulling him close. A deep, sensual humming sang through my body as he sank into my arms, molding his frame perfectly around mine.My animal’s power surging to the surface in response to my proximity to this magnificent male.

Power pulsed between our bodies as we molded together like two halves of a whole. Daxton’s hands tentatively glided over the curves of my hips before resting on the small of my back. I clutched onto him, reveling in his embrace, trying desperately to comfort him like he always did for me. His arms moved to encircle my middle as my legs straddled his waist.

Even still, I needed him closer. I craved his touch like a drug, and I couldn’t stop my memories from racing toward the kiss we shared on the bow of the ship. I raised onto my knees to cradle his head against my chest, feeling him sink into my embrace and desperately grasp onto me with everything he had.

“You’re so brave, Daxton,” I whispered, resting my cheek on his brow. “Every day, you somehow manage to stop the world from crumbling around you. Always sacrificing yourself for the sake of others. You inspire resilience in the face of fear and never stopdefending those you care for.” I spoke the words I knew he needed to hear. What I knew and believed in my heart to be true. “I see through your mask of Silver Shadow, I seeyou, Daxton Aegaeon.”

He took a deep breath as his hold on me constricted. “I’m sorry,” Dax mumbled against my chest, catching me by surprise.

“What for?”

“I’m sorry I offended you earlier today.” He gripped my hips tighter, his fingers digging into my sides, refusing to let me go. I could feel the tension and angst through his touch, and it worried me.

“What do you mean?” I managed to pull back, searching for an explanation hidden in his unspoken words.

“I know I disappointed you when I spoke about Silver Meadows,” Dax said. “Ineverwant you to feel like a prize or a trophy, Skylar. When you win the first trial, I want to bring you to Silver Meadows, not because you were victorious, but because I want to share my home with you.”

I bent to gently kiss his cheek just above his hidden dimple. “I would love to see your home.”

It meant the world to me that Daxton had recognized my reaction from this morning. But there was still an unknown truth wedged between us that made me hesitate.

What were they discussing before I entered the gathering this morning? What didn’t I know?

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