Page 23 of A Trial of the Heart

I didn’t want this to end. I didn’t want him to ever leave.

“Will you stay with me tonight, Dax?” I bravely asked, pulling back.

The High Fae prince took my chin between his fingers and possessively bent to kiss me once more. “The threat of the entire population of fallen creatures couldn’t pull me away from you tonight, my Spitfire,” hesaid with a satisfied grin that exposed the dimple on his right cheek. “I’m yours.”

I kissed that masked dimple, following his lead as he turned me around to tuck my backside into his front, encircling me within his strong arms.

I was very aware that I was still naked, but it didn’t bother me. In fact, I enjoyed the thought of nothing but Daxton covering me tonight. I shifted and pressed my back up against him, feeling his hard shaft pulsing against me through his pants.

I tilted my head up, giving him a questioning look. “Don’t blame me for being attracted to you,” he teased. “Tonight, however, was meant just for you, Skylar. I hope I was a decent enough distraction this evening?” Daxton asked as he leaned to kiss my brow.

“Morethan decent,” I said as I reached back to pull his lips to mine. His hand moved to grasp my breast, and I could tell by the hardness of his erection that he was enjoying this almost as much as I was.

“Sleep, Spitfire,” Daxton commanded with a heavy tone, biting his lip to try and remain focused. “I won’t leave you tonight. I promise.” He grabbed the sheet, pulling it over us both and snuggling in to hold me once more. I struggled to keep my eyes open as he pulled me in tight against his chest. “Sleep,” he instructed once more. “Together, we’ll help keep both our nightmares at bay.”

I nodded and nuzzled into the nook of his arm. Daxton’s presence granted me the feeling of safety, something I doubted I would ever find in this lifetime. I closed my eyes, and for the first time since my capture by the hunters, I found a peaceful, restful night’s sleep.

Chapter Six

“Keep trying, Spitfire,” Daxton encouraged. “You were able to form a barrier with your magic when Seamus was invading your mind. Try to focus like that again and create a shield around yourself. It will help protect you from other forms of magic and detection.”

“But that was instinct,” I murmured. “I wasn’t thinking. I was just… reacting.”

Daxton propped himself on his elbow and cocked his eyebrow at me. “It doesn’t mean you give up. Try again.”

“How?” When he didn’t reply, I grunted in frustration at his stubborn silence. “Fine, I’lltryit again.”

“There she is,” he said with a saccharine grin that I knew I could never be angry at for long.

Dax and I awoke well before dawn, and although we hadn’t left my bed, we were still relentlessly working on accessing my magic. He told me that all I had to do waswillmy magic to perform a new task. My powers should adapt and change if I was stubborn enough to see it through. Easier said than done.

My magic thrummed through me, trickling along my middle like a babbling brook, where my animal’s presence always seemed to spring from. Luckily, the task of summoning my magic was not difficult, and Dax saidthat this was the trickiest part. Well, for him it was anyway. I just couldn’t seem to figure out the connection of pulling from my well and altering the intent of it. Shifters were not trained to manipulate their magic like this, but I had to adapt. If I wanted to survive in the Inner Kingdom, I had to equip myself the best I could.

My will. My will, I repeated, and suddenly, it clicked.

Alphas utilized magic with their command, and lucky for me, I had some experience in that. With a new spark of determination, I called upon my power, imagining it coating my skin, creating a protective bubble around me that mimicked a shield of armor.

Daxton reached up and gently stroked the hair along my brow, allowing his finger to caress my neck as his lips followed suit. My eyes rolled back in my head, loving the feeling of his touch, longing for him to continue what we started last night.

He unexpectedly pulled away, and I snapped my eyes open to see his cocky grin. “You did it, Spitfire.”

“What, really?” I sprang up with the biggest grin on my face as the sheet I was holding freely fell to my waist. Daxton’s eyes widened, and I could see the hunger of arousal shine as his eyes roamed over me. I quickly remembered that I was naked and reached down to cover myself.

“Don’t,” he said, reaching out to pull me on top of him. “I’m very much enjoying this morning’s view.”

I straddled Daxton’s hips, planting my hands on his firm chest, before running my finger through his tangled mop of silver and black hair. “Are you, now?” I teased as I bent lower to whisper in his ear. “It’s hard to tell when you concealyourscent. You know … Shifters love utilizing our sense of smell. It heightens everything for us.”

His grin widened enough for his dimple to make an appearance. “Very well then.” Once his scent hit me, my body melted on top of his. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—resist the pull toward Daxton. The drive to be near him was practically instinctual. I followed his lead and lowered my barrier next., watching his eyes spark with lust as he recognized the change.

“You wicked… breathtakingly beautiful female,” he growled as he captured my mouth with his. Our kiss deepening as—

“Knock, Knock.” The sound of Castor’s voice put a halt to our kiss as he banged on the frame of my door. “I hate to interrupt, but we’re leaving for Aelius within the hour.”

Daxton grunted and tried to ignore his brother as I shifted my hips over the top of his hardened shaft. “You’re not helping,” he whispered to me as I giggled, and he nibbled on my ear.

“Says who?” I whispered as I turned to nip at his bottom lip. “This is all part of the fun.” I gently kissed his cheek, moving onto the base of his neck. Daxton tensed as I pressed my hardened nipples into his bare chest, creating the friction I craved from last night. He firmly grabbed my ass and caressed my backside, moving his hips in rhythm with mine. Gods, this was amazing, and I hadn’t even had my full taste of him yet.

“Daxton!” Adohan’s voice joined Castor’s.

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