Page 72 of A Trial of the Heart

“Glad your logic decided to take over, brother.”

“I can still surprise you?Oh joy, lucky me,” Castor taunted with a heavy sigh.

Daxton discreetly stroked my upper back with his fingertips as his hand came to a rest on my shoulder. “Ready?”

I nodded, and together, the three of us returned to the Court of Aelius.

The gold-plastered arching doorways leading to the throne room, where we had danced the night before, opened as we approached. The raised platform holding the singular throne of power held the fae queen, who waited patiently for us to approach. Disdain painted her menacing turquoise eyes, highlighted with faint purple accents and flecks of gold.

The High Fae crowded in from all sides, wearing elegant garments decorated in colors of green, silver, and red to honor the realms from which they hailed. Most fae from Crimson City had darker complexions but, not all wore red. Some donned silver as well.

Silver Meadows was an open realm, welcoming to anyone who pledged loyalty to Daxton and his crown. Since Adohan took the ruling seat from his father afterhe perished in the wilt, Crimson City began adopting a similar governance model.

Aelius, however, didn’t. They remained isolated under the high queen’s authority and power. Seamus hadn’t seen a reason to share their practice.

This evening, males, females, and even children were in attendance. All three kingdoms had sent representatives to witness the trials, but from the shocked expressions and gawking faces, I could tell they had hoped but in reality none of them had expected me to survive.

I walked forward as the crowds divided, allowing us to pass through.

Daxton and Castor entered behind me, following my lead. This bold gesture was sure to be noticed by every citizen in attendance tonight.

Idris stood with Adohan, near the steps, securely holding her to his side. Her dark brown eyes were wet, not from tears of fear or sorrow but from joy.You did it,she mouthed to me, placing one hand on her very pregnant belly.Thank you.

I inclined my head to her and smiled kindly in return.One down. Two to go,I mouthed with a wink.

Idris held a powerful essence with a compassionate heart that could break down the toughest barriers anyone could think to build. I knew that was how Adohan fell for her. The High Prince of Crimson City was cocky, perhaps arrogant to a fault, but he had Idris to center him and set him straight when he needed it.

The Crimson City high prince and his lady wore triumphant smiles that spread across the entire room. I watched as Idris clutched her mate’s hand and looked up at him with a beaming sense of hope that would encourage even the grandest pessimist to believe.

I didn’t stop until I was directly below the steps to the lone throne that held the High Fae queen.

Seamus stood beside Minaeve, casually leaning against the back of her singular golden seat. His tousled blond hair and eyeline dipped to his queen as I halted on the final step before her throne. Despite High Prince Seamus’s obvious devotion to his tyrant ruler, I sensed an unspoken tension between them.

Did Seamus truly love his queen? Was this devotion more than just a drive for power and control?

Minaeve’s glittering crown lay atop her head with an elegant arrangement of white flowers braided into her ebony hair. Her outward appearance hid a power-hungry ruler who only held her throne because she siphoned magic from others.

My gaze flickered toward her crown, the three shimmering stones decorating her brow. They hummed with foreign magic that likely caused her tanned skin to glow or highlighted the turquoise color of her rounded eyes. Regardless, I dreamed of the day this self-proclaimed queen no longer sat on her throne.

I couldn’t help but wonderhow many of the High Fae supported her rule. What would happen to their lands if I unlocked the Heart? Even though I wasn’t a High Fae, I cared about what happened to the Inner Kingdom and its people.

I paused at the bottom step, my animal stirring in my center in response to the queen’s flaring magic. It spread out across the room, making everyone tense with unease.

“Before we reveal the second trial, there’s an issue that needs to be addressed,” Minaeve said slowly, her eyes shifting across the room.

Without warning, her shadowed vines of magic darted from her fingertips and spread throughout thecrowd, whizzing around the High Fae in attendance, finding their intended targets. It happened so fast. Only the loud cracking sound of bones snapping indicated the deed was done. The limp, lifeless bodies of three High Fae in the court dropped dead on the white marble floor, two wearing green and one dressed in silver.

“Addressed,” Minaeve said.

I stilled. Disbelief rushing through me, followed by pure blinding rage. “What … What is the meaning of—”

“You don’t speak or question my court, shifter.” Minaeve’s magic filled the room, pressure building all around us. A firm warning that at any second, the queen could and would use her magic to kill those who she saw fit to address.

Still, despite her vast well of power, my amber-glowing eyes met her turquoise gaze without fear or trepidation. Very different from our first meeting.

How naive I had been then, but not now.

I made a silent vow to the Gods that when I released the Heart of Valdor, I would protect the High Fae kingdoms and help all of Valdor heal.

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