Page 100 of A Trial of the Heart

Without uttering another word, Daxton strode forward, leaving my side, and threw the black bag from his other hip onto the dark wood sitting table in the middle of the room. The top untied, and out rolled a severed delicate, fair-skinned hand with a golden ring holding an elegant emerald in the center. The cut was clean, performed in one smooth stroke that could not have been done by any other blade aside from Valencia. The still oozing blood staining the table meant it was severed from a living host. The crimson liquid shimmered against the crackling fire in the hearth.

“Fuck,” Gunnar cursed under his breath.

“This… This is Anjani’s hand,” Adohan said with a wide, gaping mouth. Fear threaded its way through his darkened expression.

My gaze shot toward Idris, who held her composure, but I could see the alarm widening in her eyes as she clutched her unborn baby. “Daxton, this is a direct act against Aelius. Seamus will see this as an attack.”

“Crimson City cannot afford a war with Aelius right now, Daxton,” Adohan said. “You know this … or do you not remember what we discussed only a handful of days ago?”

“Silver Meadows is not asking you to march to war against Aelius.” Daxton strode to the center of the room, with all eyes narrowing on him. “This was my decision. My mercy.”

“Mercy?” Adohan stammered. “Do you understand the gravity of this? What Seamus will do to you with Minaeve’s backing?”

“I’m aware. And unlike Crimson City, Silver Meadows does not fear war. And unlike your sire, Adohan, we will no longer bow to tyranny and suffrage at the hands of self-proclaimed royals who treat us like puppets in a play. I’m done kneeling before a false queen. Silver Meadows will prepare for war when it comes to that. And we will be ready.”

“Ready and more than willing,” Gunnar added, bucking his chin and moving to stand by Daxton’s side. “Simply waiting for our high prince’s command.”

“And you choose now,” Adohan said, shaking his head. “Now… to do this?” Adohan yelled with fire curling across his skin, mimicking his internal rage. “Daxton, after everything, my friend, this … This could be your death sentence.”

“We will not allow our high prince to—” Daxton placed a silencing hand on his general’s shoulder.

“My hand was forced. I don’t regret my decision.”

Adohan fell silent for a moment, his mate reaching up through his blistering fires to grasp his shaking hand. “Let’s hope your decision does not condemn us all. You understand the consequences of your act then?”

“What consequences?” I asked, stepping into the circle of the High Fae.My heart thundered in my ears with concern for what this all meant for Daxton and Silver Meadows.

Idris spoke quietly. “Daxton has cut the hand of Seamus’s second, potentially hindering her ability to wield her particular magic of the mind.” Her voice was trembling at first, but then it steadied. “It is a direct attack against Aelius carried out by the High Prince of Silver Meadows.”

“Silver Meadows warriors are ready to answer their call,” Gunnar said.

“You may be bred to kill and fight,” Adohan sneered at Gunnar, “but even Daxton understands that there is more to war than wielding a sword.”

“Anjani’s unwelcomed presence here inmykingdom caused this,” Daxton growled. “She performed the first act of aggression. I was fair in my price. Allowing her to return home alive sent a warning to their kingdom.”

“And what warning might that be?” Adohan asked, crossing his arms. The band of gold adorned with rubies along his bicep glimmered as it caught the fading light from the fire in the mantle.

“That death is a quick mercy I shall not be granting them … if they endanger me or my people ever again.”

Daxton turned his gaze to me, and I could see the raging storm inside his eyes churn with an unyielding turbulence. For the first time since knowing him, he seemed unsure.

“The punishment, whatever Minaeve decides, shall be mine alone to carry. And no one else.”

“Daxton,” I pleaded, desperately wanting to comfort him and ease this burden in any way I could.

He shook his head. “No.”

In the next second, silver flashed in the room, and he was gone.

“Where did he go?” I stammered, looking around the room for someone to answer me. “We have to go after him.”

“Up for a stroll through the mountains?” Zola asked, and I nodded my head. “Good, because none of us are foolish enough to follow him in themood he’s in right now.”

Chapter Twenty

Thankfully, Idris called a pegasus for me to mount, and I was able to fly to the hanging valley beneath Meja, the tallest mountain, watching over Silver Meadows. The hike alone would have taken me all night, but it wouldn’t have mattered. All that mattered was finding Daxton. The winged horse neighed as we gracefully landed on the outskirts of the hanging valley with a serene meadow clearing just up ahead. I dismounted quickly, affectionately patting the mare’s neck before sending her off.

Zola told me where she believed I could find Daxton, but I didn’t need her direction. I could feel the essence of his magic by simply following my instincts. It was the same draw I had felt with him since we met. Bravely, I swallowed my nerves, allowing the pull of his magic to lead me to him.

---