Page 87 of A Trial of the Heart

Gunnar leaned back onto his hands and extended his legs out in front of him in a relaxed position. “Yesterday, Daxton informed us briefly of what you’ve gone through, yes.” He paused for a moment, catching my attention. “But I always prefer firsthand encounters. It isn’t the same secondhand. And it isn’t healthy to bottle up what you are feeling and let it explode. Talking about it helps the healing.”

“Personal experience?”

“Absolutely.” Gunnar grinned.

“Daxton has been… He’s been there for me each step of the way since that night in the meadow. I’ve been able to confide in him more than anyone.” Gunnar’s smile grew wider as the corners of his brown eyes softened—something lurking behind that cheerful grin.

“What? What is it?” This was a different male from the general who had thrown me around and taken me to the dirt a few moments earlier.

“Nope.” Gunnar gestured with his palms facing me. “Not my place. No way am I stepping into that.”

“Not your place for what? There’s something you’re not telling me.”

“Damn right, there is. But understand this,” he added, leaning toward me and lowering his voice, “I may play the lighthearted, humorous role, but I also know when to keep my mouth shut.Thisis one of those moments.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fantastic. You’re going to be zero help.”

“With regards tothat? Abso-fucking-lutely. But regarding your training assessment, I believe I do have some news that will lift your spirits.”

“Really?”

He glanced backward toward the base of the mountain, where the Ice Gauntlet lay in wait. “I thinkthat,” he said, gesturing behind us, “is exactly what you need to prepare for the trial.”

“Really?” I questioned with eager, wide eyes. “Seriously?”

“I’ve noticed you eyeballing and practically drooling over it since you stepped foot into the training grounds.” I practically squealed with glee. “You’re not afraid of a challenge—good. Having the Ice Gauntlet as your training goal will help you defeat whatever creature you’re up against. You’ll need stamina, to be quick, agile, balanced, and strong enough to defeat this beast. The Ice Gauntlet will challenge all this and more.”

I turned and glanced up at the obstacle course built into the mountain. “Fuck, yes. I want to run the Ice Gauntlet.” I couldn’t help it… I loved this idea. This course was the best way to test my physical limitations and prepare me for the battle with the beast.

“Um… care to repeat that decision, Gunnar?” Castor’s tone was unmistakable. “You want a half-shifter whose animal hasn’t emerged yet to take on the most difficult assessment in the Inner Kingdom? Come on, Daxton, tell me you agree with me and not Gunnar on this.”

I turned and glanced near the tree line to find Daxton shirtless and downright delectable, likely fresh from his training session with the other cadets he had told me about earlier.

“What do you want to do, Spitfire?” he asked, knowing my answer, a half-smirk growing at the corner of his mouth.

“Spitfire?” Gunnar muttered to himself. “That’s endearing.”

Ignoring Gunnar, I smiled at Daxton, recognizing the tempting defiance in his silver-gray eyes. He wanted me to do this. He also believed that the challenge of the Gauntlet would be the perfect tool to push my training. “I want to run the Ice Gauntlet.”

“But this is anunnecessaryrisk! Magic does not work on the course. If she falls, you cannot teleport in to save her!” Castor pleaded. “Trainees die running it.”

“She won’t die in the Gauntlet,” Daxton answered. His smoldering gaze bore into mine, heat flaring in his eyes as his excitement for me rose. “Skylar is too stubborn for an obstacle course to kill her. She’s defeated the trial of the mind. I do not doubt her ability to figure out the course and complete it in a faster time than yours, brother.” Castor scowled.

My grin grew even wider, ignoring the pain of the split on my lip and jumping to my feet. “Let’s get started then!” I shouted, tracing my gaze toward the looming challenge I desperately wanted to conquer.

“Tomorrow,” Gunnar said.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I turned to him with a confused look.

Gunnar rose to stand next to me. “Believe it or not, there is a balance to life—even when you’re achampion of the trials—and I’ve been kicking your shifter ass all over the ring today.” He leaned in and sniffed the air around me. “You also need a bath.”

“You mean in everything besides…archery,” I countered, pushing him away. “Sorry, this is what hard work smells like. Must be new to you?”

Gunnar laughed. “Yes, well, I admit… that was surprising. I understand now why you were able to catch this one off guard and drill him with an arrow through the chest. I would decorate that mark and wear it as a symbol of luck if it were me, and then…” Daxton looked at Gunnar without saying a word, and the general stopped mid-sentence. “Like I said—balance. You need to recover if you plan on training for the Ice Gauntlet.”

I glanced between them, trying to decipher Daxton’s silent command, but I couldn’t figure it out.

“To the library then,” I announced. “We still need to figure out what I’m facing in the next trial.”

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