Page 82 of A Trial of the Heart

A small grin tugged at his lips as if he were almost as excited as I was to show me his treasure trove.

“Cas, find Gunnar and Zola. Tell them to meet me in the War Room with Adohan within the hour. I need to hear the reports they gathered while we were away and address any concerns our people have raised. Also, Cas,” Daxton said to his brother, “send word that I will meet with the Dryads’ leaders within the week.”

Castor nodded, giving us both a slight bow before making his trek toward the training grounds on the other side of the palace.

“Alright, close your eyes,” Daxton said, guiding me through the entrance. “I want the unveiling to be special. The library is one of my favorite places to dwell when I have time.”I smirked, unable to hold back my excitement any longer, and happily obliged his request. Before I settled my nerves, Daxton whisked us away.

“All right, open them.”

The two-story library in the Summit held stacked shelves filled with countless volumes spanning every topic imaginable. If I wandered from one side to the other, I would become lost within the spanning aisles and tempting tales. It was a reader’s paradise, unmatched by any I had seen. The smell of this place was bewitching,with sections leading to cozy corners tucked away from sight and the musty scent of aged books that seemed to transport me into a different time and place. I was transfixed by the amount of knowledge I knew this sanctuary held. Majestic marble columns surrounded the intricate frescoes adorning the arched ceiling, and rows of beautifully bound books were calling me.

“Daxton,” I gasped, “this is unbelievable.”

His smile was serene as he guided me to the spiral staircase leading to the second floor. “The second level is the best place to begin searching for the creature you will face in the upcoming trial. There is also an area dedicated to different plants and other wildlife you might encounter here. I can show you different sections about history on the lower levels and possibly our archives in the city center if you believe it will help.”

“This will do for now,” I answered, half-hearing what he said—still mesmerized by the sheer size of the library. “Wait, there are archives as well?”

“Yes, this library is our family collection, began by my mother. But the archives in the city’s center are for all of us to share. They hold the scrolls of our history that are looked after and kept safe.”

“You must show me the archives later, but for now … this is a good place to start.”

“Very well. I’ll leave you to it then.” Daxton chuckled, realizing I was more than happy to be left alone. “I’ll come back for you as soon as I’m able.”

“I’ll be here,” I said, motioning to the stacks of manuscripts I was ready to rummage through. I traced my fingers along the spines of a few books along the first row, reading the various titles and deciding where I should start. “You gave a secret bookworm an entire library to themselves… good luck ever getting me to leave.”

“I’ll take that challenge,” Daxton answered, giving me an amused look that had my toes curling. “Good luck.” In a silver flash, he was gone.

I began diving into the section describing the different types of fae creatures, then decided to indulge in a volume dedicated to the land’s geology. The riddle described the creature’s lair, so the clue identifying it could lurk in where its cage was held.

The charm and allure of the library proved to be a good distraction. Most of the day had already passed, and the sun hovered closer to the seas in the west through the skylight windows.

I finished rummaging through a fae creature book and made notes about the landscape of Silver Meadows but then meandered to a different section dedicated to folklore. I grabbed a few titles and searched for a nook to curl up in and begin researching. In the second story, where Daxton had left me, I found a chaise in the corner, near a picture window. As I sat down, I realized his scent was embedded in this place. My animal stirred as I relished in the feel of him, even in his absence. I would wager that this spot, in particular, was his hideaway. Draped by a tapestry on one side with the other hidden by a large potted plant. It was perfect.

Kicking off my boots, I lay down on the large chaise and tucked a pillow on my lap to begin reading. I became lost in the pages, blissfully ignoring the lapse of time and diving head-first into the folklore tales of the Inner Kingdom. It wasn’t until the fae lights appeared that I realized what time it was. The snacks I stored in my pack were almost gone, but surprisingly, it hadn’t deterred me from my reading. I had almost finished the second book when I could no longer seem to hold my eyes open. Exhaustion tugged at every aching muscle and dark corner of my consciousness, and still, I could not bring myself to sleep. I leaned over onto my side, resting with the book still open and my eyes skipping over the words, trying desperately to keep awake.

I didn’t stir or flinch when the weight of the book disappeared because it was immediately replaced by his hand intertwining with mine. Daxton silently slid in behind me, tucking me in close to him with a hand possessively curled over my waist. It seemed so naturalthat I didn’t even think to second-guess how or why he was here.

“I see you found my reading spot.”

I smiled softly as I sank into his warm embrace. Somehow, his presence allowed the rest of the world to slip away. With him, everything was different. There were no lingering dangers or fears when he was with me. It was just us.

“You need sleep, Spitfire,” he whispered as his scruff brushed against my cheek. “Tomorrow will come soon enough.”

“What if I can’t sleep? What if I’m too scared to close my eyes and realize this is all a dream? That I am still locked in the labyrinth and my soul…”

“Your soul?” He was deathly still, his grip bringing me closer. “What happened in the labyrinth, Skylar?”

“I want to tell you… but it’s something I’m having a hard time believing myself,” I whispered. I still couldn’t believe I had dared to bargain my soul. I shuddered as the monster from the deep crept into my mind. Daxton reacted to my fears like they were his own, moving over me and cupping my cheek. I slowly opened my tear-soaked eyes to find his.

“Skylar.” His voice was calm despite the concern lingering in his gaze. “It’s over. You don’t have to—”

“But I do, Daxton,” I practically yelled as my facade of strength shattered. Daxton moved back against the chaise and cradled me in his arms. I sobbed for everything I went through—and everything I still had to overcome in order for our world to be free. “What if… What if I can’t do this, Daxton?”

“What if you can?”

I turned to look at him. His expression was so soft and comforting that it made my heart skip a beat.Gods above, he was so ridiculously handsome it wasn’t even fair. His hands softly stroked my arms before moving to my shoulders and making small circles against my back as he cradled me in his embrace.

“What if you can, Spitfire?”

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