Page 3 of A Trial of the Heart

“Castor has a unique type of survival magic of the mind. That’s what we describe it as anyway: a gift from our mother’s heritage and the Aelius bloodline. I can be in one place magically and then another, while Cas receives visions when he or someone near him is in mortal danger. It’s a premonition of death.”

“Interesting. It’s like a warning from death itself?” I asked, and Dax nodded.Alright, good to know. “Do you think the High Fae I healed will have any residual powers or abilities?”

“That is a question Adohan and I have pondered since we arrived. I can’t see why not, but it is difficult to tell. This is also why I summoned Zola as soon as we arrived in Crimson City.”

“How did you manage to get a message across an entire continent?”

Dax smiled softly. “We have enchanted parchment that is able to relay messages to its counterpart—regardless of the distance. Write a message on the paper, and it disappears here andappears on its other half.”

“Wow,” I replied. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how effortlesslyyou are able to manipulate and use magic like that here.”

“You will.” He said it so nonchalantly, like it was a fact and nothing more. Daxton’s body relaxed against mine as a tranquil breath of silence passed between us. Giving us time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the moment together.

“All right, so Zola,” I murmured, trying to recall the different members of his court. “Oh, she’s your spy that was …”

“Exactly. If anyone can help guide the fallen fae you healed, I believe she can.”

Zola was Daxton’s spymaster from his realm in Silver Meadows. Her description in my lessons with Castor was brief because she wasmadeor, in other words, changed by the wilt. Infected with dark magic but somehow survived, granting her magical abilities that she didn’t have before.

“Zola should be arriving shortly if she’s not here already. She can travel quickly across the Inner Kingdom with her shadow-jumping abilities.”

“Her what now?” I cocked an eyebrow at him, flashing him an apparently humorous look because his smile curled all the way around the side of his mouth, revealing the dimple on his right cheek.

“It’s similar to my teleporting magic, actually. She can move from shadow to shadow, blending into them if needed and disappearing from sight.”

“I can see why she is your lead spy.”

He nodded. “That among other deadly skillsets. Castor and I trust her honesty and intuition. She was loyal to my mother and to Silver Meadows for well over five centuries. My allies are due in large part to her ability to learn and deliver secrets.”

I nodded as I eagerly swallowed the rest of my water, moving to try and stand up from the bed. Dax quickly extended his hand to help me stand. Normally, I would have laughed and shooed it away, but instead, I chose to humor him. My lightweight, practically sheer nightgown flowed loosely over my torso. I imagined it was necessary to wear clothing like this in the humid desert climate. Anything more would be suffocating.

The elegant fabric flowed just past my knees with straps that crisscrossed along my back, turning into a single strap that fastened over my shoulder. It was hands down one of the finest things I had ever worn, and this was only a nightshirt. The concept of such finery, especially with clothing, was not a custom amongst the shifters, but apparently, it was for the High Fae.

Dax led me toward the balcony, reaching for a golden cord and pulling it to the side to unveil the beauty of Crimson City outside my room. Unlike the landscape where we first landed, this was a busy, bustling city full of commotion and life. Markets, homes, and a vast array of businesses lined almost every corner of the landscape spanning below.

Merchants carried various foods, fabric, or other trinkets they brought into shops for customers to buy and trade. The city was vast and seemed to stretch on for miles, with us smack dab in the center of it all. Off to the side, I noticed a wide, winding river ebbing and flowing through the center. Bridges crossed over deeper regions, while some of the calmer bends were filled with children laughing and splashing in the water to cool themselves from the blistering heat.

“What do you think?” Dax asked as he stepped behind me, discreetly brushing his palm against the small of my back.

“It-it’s…” I fumbled, trying to answer. I was still a bit awestruck by the sight and sheer size of this place. “We don’t have anything like this back home.”

“Crimson City is a stronghold in the high desert near the Spine Range mountains, the closest realm to the main territory of the wilt.” Dax directed my attention west toward the vast peaks that spanned as far as my eyes could see. Familiar shadows lurked over the land, looming with the threat of death and destruction.

“High Prince Adohan enjoys being in the center ofeverything,” Daxton said, with a hint of amusement. “So naturally, he built his home at the apex of his kingdom where he can oversee his people.”

“Is this how Silver Meadows is arranged?”

“No,” he said, and I sighed with relief. Crimson City was thriving and beautiful, practically bursting with vivacious life and culture. But it was almost too much for me. “You’ll see Silver Meadows soon enough, Spitfire. Bringing you home to my kingdom will be a day I remember for the rest of my immortal life.”

When he said things like that, it made my world come to a halt. What did Dax truly want with me? Healways seemed to hint toward a deeper connection or even feelings of affection, but I knew this wasn’t logical.

“Because when we travel to Silver Meadows, it means you’ll have successfully passed the first trial. A task none before you have accomplished.”

Ah, there it is. I stepped away from Daxton in the doorway, leaning against the open window where a welcomed breeze helped cool my fevered flesh.

“Right, the trials,” I said plainly, trying to ignore the sting of pain in my chest. “When will we travel to Aelius, then?”

I retreated to protect myself. I had been fooled before, imagining and believing I shared deeper feelings with someone else not too long ago. I needed something… more. I wanted someone to truly love me for me. Not because of my magic or success in the trials.

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