Page 61 of A Trial of the Heart

The creature that I now knew was the labyrinth approached me with an inquisitive spark in his red glowing eyes. He still held Daxton’s physical form, his grin reminding me of a child anxiously waiting to play with their favorite toy.

“Your kissing was abysmal and lacked luster,” I said, bucking my chin and refusing to cower or back down.

“Ha, ha, ha,” he bellowed, folding over with amusement. “Mymy, you most certainly are aspitfire.” I narrowed my eyes and growled with displeasure.

“Move aside,” I demanded, trying to meander around him.

“Not yet,” he answered, rematerializing at my side and then appearing again at my front.

“What do you want?”

“I require an offering,” he stated, sweeping his arm toward the pedestal.

“What kind of test of the mind is this?” I said with a scowl. I didn’t have time for these games, and the air was getting thinner by the minute.

“Make me an offering worthy enough to pass.”

I looked into the red glowing eyes inside Daxton’s body, and my stomach churned. “Take your true form. Leave Daxton out of this so I can think.” His eyebrows rose, and he pondered my request momentarily before nodding and disappearing into the fog. “Thank you.”

You’re welcome. Now, there are the manners I believe we have been missing.

“You just tried to trick me into walking through death’s door at the fucking crossing into the afterlife!”

Trial of the MIND. I never said I would play nice.

“And the part where I was dangling above an abyss with monsters ready to eat me whole if I slipped from the vine? How was that of the mind?”

You volunteered to be here. No one forced your hand.I was about to argue, but as much as I hated to admit it, the labyrinth was correct.You had to mentally push past your physical limitations to surpass the pit of monsters. Now, give me an offering. Our time together is approaching an end, and I would hate to see your demise due to the ticking of our clock.

I stared at the pedestal for a long moment, contemplating what offer I could give that would allow me to pass. “How about a wager?”

Intriguing. Enlighten me.

“What if we make a bet? Care to test if fate is in your favor? Clearly, it’s not in mine, so what do you have to lose?”

Go on …

“I wager that I’ll win the trial of the mind.”

It’s absurd! Even if you make it to the center, no shifter can pass the final test—none have.

“I wager I will.”

And if you lose, we both know you die. But I wonder… what more is there for me to gain? What else do you offer to entice me?

“My soul.” Silence followed my words, telling me I had the labyrinth’s undivided attention. “If I lose, I will not travel to the afterlife with my ancestors. I will remain here, forever, with you. I offer you my soul if I fail the trial of the mind.”

That… is some offer.

“But if I win…”

You earn the key and are one step closer to unlocking the heart.

“But since I am potentially binding my afterlife to you and thisdelightfulplace, surely you see the reason for giving me something in return. As you’ve said before, no shifter will be able to pass, so what is the harm in humoring my offer?”

Very well. What is it you seek?

“A favor.”

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