Page 73 of A Trial of the Heart

“Now … Champion,” Minaeve spoke like nothing had happened, addressing me with anhonored titleeven though her tone was far from respectful. “You are the first… the only shifter to conquer the trial of the mind and retrieve the first key. We’re allhonoredby your bravery and celebrate your success.”

I highly doubted she believed I would survive. Maybe that was why she killed the others? Did they believe I would win and began whispering thoughts of a rebellion?

“Many of us are surprised that…you,out of all that have come before you, somehow managed to win. I wonder if the trials have weakened over theyears.”Minaeve lounged in her golden throne, casually flipping her hair over her shoulder.

I clenched my fists, biting my tongue to prevent myself from lashing out without thinking. My knuckles turned stark white in my grasp.

“If High Fae could enter, I believe this curse would’ve been broken long ago,” Seamus said.

No one is stopping you from trying, Seamus. I would love to see how the labyrinth would twist his psychotic mind.

“It’s the first step to rectifying the dark deeds that are damaging our world and its people,” I said in a flat tone that was neither harsh nor grateful to receive her praise. “It is my greatest wish for the wilt to disappear, and thenyouno longer have to strain yourself and others to combat against such a threat. Your magic will no longer be needed.” Daxton moved behind me, and I caught the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

The throne room became quiet, almost too quiet.

“Hand over the key,” Minaeve commanded, her tone flat with a hint of anger bubbling beneath the surface.

“No,” I said without pause. Was this bitch out of her gods-damned mind?

The high queen silently arched an eyebrow and leaned forward, glaring at me with daggers in her eyes. I had no doubt that had I been one of her subjects, she would have killed me on the spot for publicly defying her command. However, she was no queen of mine.

Minaeve, a look of displeasure on her face, placed her elbow on one of her crossed legs that opened to reveal the tanned skin of her upper thigh through the slit of her dress.

“I beg your pardon…shifter,” Seamus said, spewing the word “shifter” like it was something beneath him.

Seamus glided over to her side as his hand wandered over her exposed thigh. He trailed his fingers under her dress, venturing them higher as he sank to his knees at her side. His mood was a combination of excitement and amusement as Minaeve threaded her hand through her lover’s hair and down to caress his chest.

“Do I need to remind you of where you stand amongst our kind?” Minaeve said coldly.

Rage seethed in my heart. The fae might be immortal and able to wield magic more freely than we could, but a full-grown shifter with control over their animal form made a formidable match.

“I said no.” I drew my shoulders back and hardened my gaze. Daxton and Castor remained where they stood, lending me their unwavering support.

“I believe the champion has given her response,” Dax said, and the queen’s eyes snapped behind me to glare at him.

This was a dangerous game to play. Regardless of my hatred for her, she was still their queen. With her siphoned abilities, she held their power and a commanding rule over all her subjects. I knew Minaeve wouldn’t kill me, but that didn’t mean she would hesitate to make a show of her reign in front of everyone here.

“You must give the key to Rhett,” Minaeve countered, keeping her emotions locked under a veil of tranquility that made me nervous. “Rhett is the keeper of the scroll, and he needs the key in order for the second trial to be revealed.”

On cue, Rhett entered the room with the scroll delicately lying in his open-palmed hands. “If the champion would kindly grace me with the key, I can then read aloud from the scroll.” His demeanor was surprisingly indifferent. He did not balk at the three dead fae being carried away or the look of disdain on his queen’s face. It was almost like he expected all of this.

I clenched my fist around the key but saw no point or advantage in refusing this request. “Here.” I held out my hand.

Rhett’s dark hair brushed against his brow as his blue eyes scanned the trinket I held in my palm. His movements were swift and elegant as he glided across the floor to the steps below the queen. Once he reached me, he bowed to Minaeve before untucking the scroll and holding it out in front of him.

“If you would touch the key to the second eight-pointed star,” Rhett said.

“You don’t want to take it?” I asked.

“No. I don’t wish to see the horrors tied to the memory ofthiskey.”

I nodded, recalling his unique gift of seeing the past through objects. I could only imagine what flashes of torment he would be forced to witness if he touched this key. It had dwelled in the labyrinth for nearly five hundred years, witnessing untold horrors.

Reaching out, I brushed the key against the ancient scroll, and magically, the second descriptionappeared.

“What does it say?” the anxious crowd behind us called out. “Read it!”

Rhett seemed indifferent to the ranting and raving from the audience in the throne room. His eyes restlessly tracked over the writing on the scroll, undoubtedly putting the words to memory and analyzing what this task may hold.

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