Page 91 of Spirit Trials
“Wait.”
This new voice snaps me from my panic, and I gaze out at the crowd and watch as the girl who sat behind me stands up and walks to the stage. I stare at her, trying to figure out what’s going on. She approaches the stage but doesn’t walk up the steps. “Mr. Terron, Sir, I want to add this to Farrah Bromean’s count.” Her hand is shaking as she holds up a gold coin. My mind struggles to understand what it is she’s doing. “I should have given it to her when she rescued me, but I didn’t. I want her to have it now.”
I turn my gaze on Terron; he’s obviously surprised. He recovers quickly. “I’m sorry, but the time to award coins has passed. We’ve already totaled the—”
“Add two more to her count,” someone else calls out. My head whips over to the other side where a boy and a girl stand to their feet and approach Terron. “She saved my twin brother and I when we were being attacked in the water. We would have drowned without her interference.”
Terron’s already shaking his head. “I can’t—”
“I have another one.”
I watch as another girl approaches the stage. I have no idea who she is. “Farrah saved me from the fire. She could have just left me to die, but she didn’t. She gets my coin.”
“Here’s one from me.” I watch as a boy reluctantly walks to the front. “I attacked her in a tree and tried to kill her.” I hear a low sound behind me that I’m pretty sure is Rysden, but I ignore it. “She got the upper hand. But instead of killing me, she tied me to a tree.”
Two more competitors stand up and approach the stage. I’m so overwhelmed, I stop paying attention. When it’s finally silent, Terron turns to me. He stares at me a moment and then looks back to the crowd. “In all my years hosting these trials, I can honestly say this has never happened. But I believe we no longer need a tie breaker. I believe we have our champion. May I present to you, our Champion. Lady Mercy.” I hear Gavrin start to argue with Terron, but thunderous applause drowns him out. I manage to nod my head, even as the crowd chants my nickname over and over again. I finally look to Terron, pleading for him to end this so I can go sit back down. He puts his hands up and quiets the crowd. “Our champion not only managed to win this competition, but she also managed to produce a wolf and not just any wolf,” Terron adds. A quiet settles over the crowd. “Farrah Bromean produced a corporal wolf.” He lets that sink in a moment. Suddenly, the crowd is no longer quiet. “May I present to you, Solace, the mate of Shade, our mighty Prince’s wolf.” I turn in surprise and watch as Solace runs towards the stage. She bounds onto the stage in a single graceful leap. I watch as Jamik slips back into the crowd. Solace stands next to me, and I reach down and run my hand through her fur.
I'm so glad you’re here,I tell her.
Shade joins her a moment later, and I feel a presence at my back right before a hand lands at my waist. “Congratulations, Champion,” Rysden murmurs against my ear. I smile and let myself lean just the slightest bit against him. Feeling his strength at my back is a heady feeling, one I think I’d like to get used to.
“You got me a horse,” I say under my breath so only he can hear me.
“I did.”
“Why?” I can’t help but ask the question that’s been burning in my mind.
“I felt bad for what happened to yours. I’m sorry it took so long to get one for you; it was tricky finding one with her coloring.”
I can’t even right now.“Thank you, Rysden.”
“You already said that.”
I want to talk to him more, but right now, I just want to get off this stage. I gaze back out at the crowd that’s on its feet in wild celebration. I let myself enjoy it for just a moment and lean more fully against Rysden. He doesn’t budge an inch, but his fingers tighten on my waist. I find myself thinking that the only thing that would make this moment even more perfect is if my mother and brother were here to enjoy it with me. But for now, this moment is enough. Vaguely, I hear Terron make a few closing remarks, but I don’t really pay attention.
The tall, handsome Jaguar King steps in front of us. “Congratulations, Lady Mercy. You deserve the title of champion.”
I smile genuinely at him. “Thank you.”
“If you get tired of this guy, let me know,” he says with a nod at Rysden.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Kal?” Rysden growls at him. Kaldar just smiles and shakes his head before walking away.
I smile as I watch him go, enjoying the camaraderie between him and Rysden. My smile slips when the Wolf King steps in front of us. I stiffen, but I feel Rysden’s fingers move over my side smoothly, like he’s trying to keep me calm. I’ll have to admit—his fingers stroking my side like that definitely distract me. “Champion,” the king draws out. The way he says it sounds nothing like a compliment. He looks down at the two wolves at our sides. “How cozy is this?” I keep my breathing steady and even, refusing to respond to him. “So, you two are the new powerful couple. Have you bound your souls together yet?” Neither Rysden nor I answer that question, but he must be able to see right through me. He grins. “Why not? Haven’t decided if you really want to bond your souls together for all eternity? It is a pretty big deal. Of course, I’d hate for something to happen to one of you before that happens.” His smile is nothing but evil, and I feel Rysden’s fingers tighten on my side.
I meet his gaze head-on. “Where’s your wife today?” I ask.Two can play this game.
His eyes narrow on me. “She wasn’t feeling well, not that it’s any of your business.”
I cock my head to the side. “She wasn’t? Or she wasn’t allowed to come?”
His eyes darken dangerously, and his eyes snap to Rysden. “Keep your woman controlled.”
Rysden laughs so low in his chest, I can feel it reverberate through his chest against my back. “Did you watch any of the replay of the trial? You can’t contain a woman like Farrah.”
“Well, if you can’t, somebody else can!” The king snaps.
I feel Rysden step closer to me, putting our bodies impossibly close. “Careful, Father. That sounds like a threat.”
