Page 28 of A Trial of the Heart

Crimson City was beautiful to behold from the air, just like it was from the ground. Adohan and Idris’s red square-painted home in the center of the city was perfectly framed by their people’s buildings and houses. It fanned outward for what seemed like miles on both sides, with the winding crimson river cutting through the various twists and turns of the streets, bringing water and life to their home. The main city center with all the shops Idris dragged Zola and me through was quiet in the early morning. Merchant owners were just beginning their day, with the fae lights flickering inside the buildings.

The vast desert covered with sagebrush and patches of smaller tree outcrops disappeared in a blur behind us. We flew in a streamlined pattern through the air with Idris leading the way, Castor and Daxton surrounding me in the middle, and Adohan bringing up the rear. The speed and grace of the winged horses were remarkable. They were ten times faster than traditional steeds that would run across the ground. These beautiful creatures never seemed to tire as they flew with the wild winds, changing course with the Inner Kingdom passing us below.

Idris pulled on her reigns, guiding her mount higher up into the sky as the rest of us followed suit, making our way through the clouds. “Why are we flying so high?” I asked to the wind.

“The wilt,” Adohan hollered back. “This mountain area divides Crimson City from Aelius, the most infected region of the Inner Kingdom. It hasprogressed in the last century with the new decay appearing near the coast where you first arrived.”

I glanced over my shoulder, toward the ground, and realized what Adohan was explaining. The map of the Inner Kingdom that Castor had drawn appeared in my mind, and I understood why flying was our safest route. From the northeastern tip, around the black sand beach, the wilt was encroaching on the borders of the town of Niamh. This was why Daxton teleported us directly across the bay so that we could avoid any dangers—that didn’t happen, of course. But it only proved that the wilt was indeed growing.

It was growing… and somehow, I could also heal it.

It had almost killed me, though. My magic was not a solution to curing the wilt itself. Not now anyways.

I secretly hoped I would at least get to see the fallen fae before leaving, but Zola had already begun her journey back to Silver Meadows before I had the chance. A part of me knew it was likely for the best. I didn’t even know what I would say or do when I saw her.

Castor had been watching over her, trying to find ways to communicate and help her in any way he could. They said she hadn’t spoken a word since she was healed, and really, could anyone blame her? Who knew how long the wilt’s magic infected her? Naturally, other questions came to mind as we flew amongst the clouds. Would my magic somehow flare to life in her presence? And the trials…

Oh Gods. The trials would begin tomorrow. It was one of thoseHello, Sky, did you notrealize this was happening?moments.

As we bobbed and weaved through the white puffs of fluffy air, my mare seemed to playfully kick at the clouds, almost like she was bouncing on top of them. “I guess we all deserve a little fun, don’t we,” I said to her as I stroked the black velvety coat along her neck.

Gradually, a massive body of water appeared through the haze of clouds. “Sterlyn Lake,” Daxton called out.

“The home of the water nymphs, right?” I asked, recalling the short but important lesson about the different types of creatures that lived in the Inner Kingdom.

Castor’s pegasus came to my other side. “Yes. Nasty creatures, but they do have fascinating mating rituals that I encourage everyone to try for themselves.” He flashed a cocky smile.

There he was. The good old sultry, borderline inappropriate, overly confident Cas was back.

“Personal experience?” I asked into the whistling winds.

Castor grinned. “Skylar … it’s the only way to truly know.”

I caught Dax shaking his head, but there was a lightness to his gesture that made me relax. “Is anyone safe from that wide charismatic net you cast everywhere you go, Castor? Do you ever come up empty-handed?”

“Never!” He melodramatically gasped for effect. “I would never dream of denying the ladies of the courts—or anywhere—the pleasure of my company. I must admit, I do miss the lack of clothing from Solace, Skylar. It was so much easier to frolic in the brush or a nearby shop when there was literallynothingin the way. Gunnar would have a field day in your shifter lands.”

“Seriously, Castor?” I shook my head and couldn’t help but laugh. “You do realize when we shift into our animal forms, we have to undress or else we shred our clothing? There are piles of clothes stashed away in various hideaways near homes, trees, or bushes.”

“I know.” And something told me he did. “It was quite the view in the meadow when all the ladies shifted, and then again when the alpha’s son was yelling at you with nothing but—”

“Enough,” Daxton bellowed at Castor, his jaw flexing at the mention of Gilen.

“One day,” I said to Castor, “I bet that’ll change for you. Mark my words … someday, someone will make your world stop, and you’ll be powerless to resist them.”

“Ifthat happens, Skylar—and that is a very bigif—I would lay the world and all I had and am at my chosen’s feet—And I expect nothing less than perfection when it comes to understanding all the different ways I can please them. So, until that day arrives, I shall practice with any willing party.”

“Practice?” I arched my brows.

“Practice makes perfect,” Castor said as he kicked his pegasus to fly ahead.

“Castor is such a—” Honestly, there was no comparison when it came to Castor. He had a knack for blending in with whomever he was with while still being true to himself. It was impressive, to say the least.

“Castor is never shy,” Dax said as we continued to fly over the lake. “His bravery shines through in his self-confidence, and it’s one of the attributes I admire most about my brother. It’s also one of the reasons he attracts the attention of so many nightly or, in some cases, daily companions.”

“Notallfemales swoon over him,” I said.

Dax released a trivial, vibrating chuckle. “Oh really?” He steered his mount closer to Nisha. “What attributes doyoufind attractive then, Spitfire?”

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