Page 74 of A Trial of the Heart

“Well,” Rhett said softly so only I could hear him, “it seems now you have another monster to slay.”

“Read the scroll,” Minaeve ordered with Seamus now casually leaning against the base of her throne. His hands stroking her leg through the slit of her skirt.

“As you wish.”

Daxton stepped to my side and discreetly traced his hand against the small of my back as Rhett read aloud, turning to the court.

“To find the key that you seek, you must first defeat the beast.”Rhett turned toward the room, leaving the parchment clutched in my grasp.“To look upon my white crest is to know true death. I’m the king of my world, and only my equal can dethrone me. In the waters, I hunt, and in the darkness, I wander… now released from my silver cage of slumber. Between the slickened rocks, I creep, feeding on the weak and the meek. The first key will show the way to anyone who dares to come and play. My bars are gone, and now I’m free, but only the champion can take the second key. Two cycles of the Father shall pass and then I will forever be free at last.”

I listened to Rhett’s voice as I read the words again and again, trying to make sense of what monster lay in wait for me. “I have to defeat some kind of beast,” I said, “in two months?”

“A monster that embodies death itself,” Castor said, looking over my other shoulder. “Any ideas as to what this creature is?”

“I don’t want to make any speculation without further research,” Daxton said. “The library in Silver Meadows holds a collection on mythical beings thanks to our mother’s fascination with them. The clues are there. We need to figure out what monster we are facing to work on a specific strategy for Skylar.” He rubbed his chin, stroking his beard while reading the scroll again. “It also seems thatanyonecan enter this creature’s lair.”

“Who would want to willingly enter it is the better question,” Castor whispered. “You have to be out of your gods-damned mind to do something like that.”

“Thanks,” I said, glaring at Castor. “But why is this trial different than the labyrinth, where only I could enter?”

“Maybe it’s a test to see who’s foolish enough to enter the lair in the first place,” Castor murmured.

“Perhaps,” Daxton said. “Or the Heart of Valdor is testing not only your virtue and strength but that of its people as well. Are we worth saving if we don’t do all we can to help?”

Castor and I looked at each other for a moment before he scoffed and said, “Nope, I’m going with my first assumption. Foolish.”

“Or maybe the creature is hungry,” I said, recalling the monster from the labyrinth.

“Regardless, we still need to locate the lair,” Daxton said, “and see if someone besides Skylar can also enter.”

“Until we figure out what it is, no one will be safe, andno onebesides me will be going in there to challenge it,” I said in a hushed tone so only they couldhear me. “I don’t care if others can enter. This is my task. My responsibility.”

I looked at Daxton, who I knew was stupid or perhaps brave enough to contemplate entering the second trial with me. I wouldn’t have it, though. I couldn’t allow him to put himself in this kind of danger. Too many others were relying on him to lead and protect them.

“We’ll continue your combat training and ensure you’re ready for whatever you must dethrone in the second trial, Spitfire,” Daxton said with a proud grin. “Our warriors in Silver Meadows are the strongest fighters in the Inner Kingdom. We’ll make sure you’re ready. The trial of the body is a test of your physical limitations.” I knew it would come to this, and I was relieved to hear that Daxton was already anticipating it.

“Daxton,” Minaeve bellowed above the noise of the crowd.

We were lost in our conversation amidst the roar of the court doing the same. I almost forgot about her—almost. Again, luck wasn’t always on my side.

“Kneel.”

Daxton tensed as he lowered himself to a knee on the closest step before the high queen. I gritted my teeth in outrage for him.What could she possibly want now?

“Is it still Silver Meadows’ intention to guide and oversee the champion through the second trial?”

“Yes,” Daxton said. “As it was discussed beforehand. The trial of the body is a physical obstacle, and Silver Meadows holds the most skilled warriors in the Inner Kingdom. Bringing the champion to our lands to train prior to entering the second trial is the best plan for success.”

“And there are no other reasons why you’re so eager to take this shifter,” she sneered, looking at me, “toyourhomeland? Could you not remain here and train her?”

“The second trial is in Silver Meadows,” Daxton said.

“It is?” I whispered to Castor.

He looked at his brother, tilting his head to the side with narrowed eyes that suddenly widened with clarity. He nodded, his mind meticulously working through the possibilities Daxton seemed to have figured out.

“The silver cage of slumber refers to the silver ores that run through the ancient volcanic rock faces on the southern territories of my realm. No other land holds those magical threads,” Dax said.

Minaeve pressed her lips together and narrowed her brow. It was clear she couldn’t dispute Daxton’s reasoning, and she wasn’t happy about it.

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