Chapter Twenty-Seven

W hips of black shadow surrounded Daxton. A loud crack echoed with a twist of his shoulder, making my stomach plummet and twist into knots. My animal raged inside me, urging me to break free of Gunnar’s hold and run toward him.

Like an unearthly creature of the wilt, Queen Minaeve magically stepped into view, standing above Daxton with a venomous look of satisfaction spreading across her glowing grin. Her skin shined with a golden hue against the silk of her black gown, with shimmering green and purple dust in her wake. The gilded crown of the Inner Kingdom rested comfortably atop her cascading raven hair, with the three sparkling stones shining like starlight against the burning city behind her.

Her mask of elegance and beauty hid her black cruel-natured heart. How many lives was she sacrificing today? How many innocents were dying all because she desired power above all else? How many more would feel the wrath of her magic in search of absolute control?

“Well, what do we have here?” Minaeve’s bitter voice echoed across the distance as she bent toward Daxton. “Apparently, the creature didn’t kill you,” she sneered, turning her eyes to glare at me within the Summit. “Well, that’s disappointing. ”

“Don’t you fucking touch him!” I roared, almost managing to free myself from Gunnar’s grasp. The instinct to reach my mate fueled me with a rush of adrenaline. “I’ll kill you myself if you do!”

Minaeve’s haunting turquoise eyes, painted with a faint purple trail, followed the Summit doors’ archway. “Why don’t you come on out, Champion? We know you hold the second key. We’ve been patiently watching the scroll in our keep, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.” Her elegant midnight-black silk dress flowed behind her in delicate waves of finery as she circled Daxton.

“We?” Castor breathed.

“No!” Daxton grunted, but the queen cast her shadows to silence him.

“Shit,” Gunnar cursed, struggling to hold me. “Sky!”

“Release my brother, and you’ll have the key,” Castor announced, stepping closer to the ward’s boundary. “It’s as simple as that. There’s no need for war when we are on the brink of salvation. The shifter has only one more trial to defeat.”

“Hold your silver tongue,” Seamus spat, appearing from thin air at his queen’s side, the veil of magic hiding him slipping to the side. “This has nothing to do with the trials. His crimes against Aelius will be answered.” Seamus was dressed in tailored dark green, almost black, fitted battle armor with a golden cloak draped over one shoulder. A smaller crown of gold encircled his brow, pulling his hair back and exposing the sharp lines of his high cheekbones. His eyes gleamed with pride as he approached Minaeve’s side—like he had won a prize .

Minaeve tenderly stroked Seamus’s arm, gaining his full attention. “My love, my king… Don’t allow your anger to jeopardize all we have worked for.”

“Did she just say king ?” Idris whispered from behind Adohan.

“She did,” the Crimson City high prince answered, his fire blazing wildly across his arms. “Gods be damned, he finally did it.”

“May I introduce you to your high king consort, my husband, Seamus.” Minaeve’s words struck everyone like a bolt of lightning from the sky. “I’m sorry you missed the ceremony. We were wed … and sealed in a blood oath shortly after your departure. Which means, High Prince Daxton,” Minaeve’s fingers traced over my mate’s shoulder until his chin was firmly in her grasp, “ you ’ ve not only attacked Aelius but the crown of the Inner Kingdom by dismembering my husband’s cousin, Anjani.” The coldness in Minaeve’s eyes sent a death chill up my spine. “I believe my king seeks retribution from Silver Meadows for this crime.”

“As do I.” Anjani emerged, allowing her illusion to disappear.

Her dark green eyes matched her cousin’s with sublime perfection. Her short brown hair was braided to the side, falling behind her shoulder as she strode to Seamus. She was dressed in dark green leathers to match her realm’s colors. Their likeness was uncanny, but Anjani’s features held a feminine air, with round lips and darker hair.

Behind Anjani, at least fifty guards stood, armed to the teeth and ready for battle.

Rhett, the scroll keeper, materialized to the far-right side of the stone steps leading to the Summit entrance. His piercing blue eyes widened for a second as he took in the scene unfolding around him, the ancient scroll of the trial clutched tightly in his hands. He held a scowl of disapproval, and I could have sworn I saw a flash of pity in his eyes when he looked down to see Daxton lying in chains with Silver Meadows burning around him.

“War with Silver Meadows will only result in your deaths,” Castor warned. “If you take our high prince, you’ll spark a flame that will engulf our entire world. Our people will not stand for this.”

“Nor will Crimson City,” Adohan bravely added, with Idris nodding in agreement.

“And what of my mistreatment!” Anjani roared, holding up her severed arm as evidence. “He cut off my hand!”

“You tried to kill me!” I countered, the remnants of my power rising to the surface. “Daxton spared your life only because you didn’t manage to take mine.”

“He’s taking the role as your protector too far,” Anjani hissed. “Regardless of whether you’re whoring yourself out to the lot of them… you’re still just a half-breed shifter piece of trash.” She spit on the ground. “Even if you somehow managed to win two of the trials, there is still one more. The Heart of Valdor will never see you as worthy. Your blood is tainted.”

I blinked, almost dumbfounded at her unjustified resentment. Did she not want the wilt lifted?

“They still can’t sense your bond,” Castor cursed under his breath. “Gods-damned fool. That fact could help.”

They didn’t know Daxton and I were mates. Even now, he was hiding the threads of our bond from them—protecting me in every way he could. Well, now, it was time for me to start doing the same.

“Enough of this pettiness,” Minaeve said, almost sounding bored. Seamus stiffened, his eyes narrowing as his lips pressed into a thin line. “You’ll have your pound of flesh when I deem it fit to serve, Anjani.”

Glancing at her king, I could see that Seamus was not pleased with her response. Welcome to the fucking team.

“Remember why we are all here. The trials of the Heart of Valdor. Our champion has successfully passed the second trial, and now we must ensure she moves on to the third.” Minaeve said.

“If you don’t release Skylar Cathal to us, the high prince and people of Silver Meadows will pay for their ruler’s actions here and now—with blood,” Seamus added. “Release her to us, and together, we can unlock the riddle to the third trial.”

“No…” Even with the gag of shadows, Daxton managed to fight through its hold. “Skylar, no!”

Minaeve almost looked shocked. “Silence,” the queen commanded her magic, extracting my mate’s silent scream of heart-wrenching agony. The sounds of his bones cracking shattered the threads of my sanity. “The victory of the trials will not belong to Silver Meadows.”

I couldn’t take this anymore. The city was burning. People were dying, and my mate’s life was in danger… all because of me. Screw this . I was not hiding from a fight. I wouldn’t stand for this. Not when I could do something to change it all.

“No!” I screamed as I reached for my dagger and sliced through Gunnar’s arm to the bone, forcing him to release me.

I couldn’t allow this to happen. I sprinted around Castor, whose eyes had turned black. A vision overtook him, allowing me to escape past the safety of the wards.

“Release him,” I commanded, angling my bloodied weapon at the high queen .

My animal rose within me, fueling me with power. The warriors surrounding her drew their weapons at my threat, but I did not back down. I simply stared at her, my eyes glowing with pure fire and a promise to drive the weapon through her blackened heart if she didn’t follow my command.

“Release the people of Silver Meadows. Call off your warriors or—”

“Or what?” Minaeve answered. Her eyes narrowed, meeting my challenge, and she waved a hand at her guard to wait. In this state, with her siphoned magic from all three high princes, I knew I wouldn’t be strong enough to stop her. Not right now.

I raised my dagger to my throat. “You’ll no longer have a champion to compete in your trials.” Blood dripped from my neck as I pressed the blade into my flesh. “You think I won’t do it?” I challenged. “Well, think again.” I stared her down, noticing her eyes flicker behind me to Castor, realizing the cause of his blackened vision. “That is my mate you have chained and bloodied on the ground. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to protect him and the people of this land.”

“She’ll do it!” Castor screamed, his eyes returning to their normal state.

I dropped my barrier and allowed my scent to fill the space. Anjani’s magic blinded Daxton to his surroundings, but he managed to pivot his head on the stone and still find me.

“No, Skylar.” He was broken and chained, but still he tried to crawl toward me.

“We all know the Inner Kingdom won’t last another hundred years against the wilt.” A piece of me believed they might survive despite the odds, but not if Daxton wasn’t in the picture. I had to be careful and play their games to win this. “I’m the only hope you have for a future. If I die, so do you.” I stared down at the queen with a savagery that rivaled the fires threatening to burn Silver Meadows to the ground.

“What are your terms?” Minaeve asked, spewing hatred in every syllable.

“What?” Seamus started, but Minaeve’s stare silenced his questions.

“Call off your warriors. Release the people of Silver Meadows.” I knew Daxton would have wanted to ensure their safety first.

“Done.” She waved her hands, and her black smoke flew out in all directions, dousing the flames and signaling a retreat for their troops through the portals she created. “Now, show me the key.” I reached into my pocket and withdrew the basilisk’s yellow eye, the eight-pointed ebony star gleaming in the pupil. The queen’s smile twisted like the black tendrils of mist at her command.

“Rhett,” Minaeve commanded, and he slowly stalked forward with the scroll in his oddly steady hands.

“Do you recall what you need to do?” Rhett asked me as he unrolled the ancient scroll. His eyes turned downward, cast away from mine, almost like he was ashamed to even look at me.

I nodded and silently brushed the orb over the second star of the scroll, leading to the third and final trial of the Heart of Valdor. The ink instantly formed on the page, but there were only two lines of text, followed by an illustration of what I needed to achieve next.

“What does it say?” Seamus asked.

Rhett finally looked at me with more than a mere question lingering amongst the abyss of his deep-set blue eyes. I re-read the two inked lines and gave him a shallow nod to read them aloud to the others. His midnight-black hair fell below his brow as he turned his chin down to read aloud. I knew exactly what I needed to do.

The trial of the soul … Gods above. This would be the most challenging task yet.

“ Retrieve the blade guarded by the alphas of old. Once the cut is made and the trials are complete, the heart will be unleashed ,” Rhett read aloud.

“What does that mean?” Seamus asked. “Show us!”

Rhett obeyed and held up the magical parchment. Without glancing at the scroll, Queen Minaeve’s gaze turned to me. She knew. She knew the identity of the blade without even looking at it, and she also understood that I knew it, too.

How could a shifter not know the blade guarded by the alphas of old? The ancient dagger carried by each alpha of the Solace pack. The blade that never dulled and could cut through anything in its path.

“I’ve never seen this weapon,” Seamus began.

“It’s the dagger carried by the alpha of the Solace pack,” Minaeve told Seamus. “It seems our champion must cross the sea and return with the blade to complete the third trial.”

“I’ve done my part…” I said slowly. “Now, release my mate,” I commanded in a low, even tone. “We’ll leave immediately to—”

“I think not.” I couldn’t help the twinge of fear curling up my spine at the wicked smile stretching across not only Minaeve’s face but Seamus’s and Anjani’s as well. “Daxton will remain our prisoner.”

“ What? ” I roared wildly. Rhett quickly disarmed me of the dagger, ensuring I couldn’t follow through with my threat from earlier. I glared at him, shaking with rage at him and for letting my guard down .

“Like hell we’ll let you keep him as your prisoner!” Castor echoed from behind me.

“Who’s to say you won’t retrieve the key with your mate in tow, and then leave us all to die? A life at home on the mainland with your mate at your side seems like a dream come true,” Minaeve taunted. “I wouldn’t put that past you.”

“I would never leave countless people suffering at the expense of my happiness like you do,” I growled.

She didn’t know I had already turned down that offer from inside the labyrinth. That I could never… Daxton could never recklessly abandon the people for our desires. We were not like the self-proclaimed queen.

“Right, because you’re selfless. ” Minaeve rolled her eyes as Seamus walked to her side near where Daxton was lying on the ground. He had barely moved, but I saw his chest rising and falling with each labored breath he fought to take.

“I remember,” Minaeve sneered. “You’re the first, the only shifter to volunteer for the trials. Taking the place of your gentle cousin. How noble.” Minaeve mocked as she bent toward Daxton. I stiffened with dread building with the beat of my racing heart.

“Touch him, and I swear I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” Minaeve challenged as she leaned in, taking Daxton’s chin between her fingers and tilting his head toward her. “He is my subject, and I will take the same offering of submission I have demanded for the past five centuries as I see fit. Someone must keep the prince who was promised in line…” Daxton tried to fight against the hold of the chains and magic even though it was useless. “The retribution I will take from him will be rewarding, as it has always been. ”

With that, she feverishly devoured Daxton’s mouth with hers, stealing a kiss while siphoning what remained of his magic.

Rage exploded inside me—pure, maddening, white-hot fury that burned like the sun itself. I reacted purely on instinct, retrieving my dagger from Rhett, who was preoccupied with the scroll, and sprinted toward them. My arm raised to strike, but as I brought my blade down with as much force as I could muster, however, it met the steel of another’s blade.

“Ah-ahh,” Seamus snickered. He moved to push me back. I was too distracted to counter his strike properly. My dagger flew out of my hand as his blade turned to slice the flesh of my arm. Moving quickly and showing his skill as a warrior, which I had gravely underestimated, Seamus maneuvered me toward his chest, his sword at my throat.

“Let’s see if this mate’s claim is true,” he whispered as his palm stroked my brow.

His touch was like a hot iron rod as he dove into my mind, painfully rummaging through my most cherished memories with Daxton. Seeing them all.

He saw the meadow in Solace the first night we met, the letters, the bathhouse, the green sand beach. Our first kiss on the Opal , our night together in Crimson City, the kiss on my wrist at the ball, and our intimate evening before the first trial. He watched our private moments with a feverish passion, seeking out more and more with each agonizing second. Then, he finally found the memory of the hanging valley. The significance of the moondance flowers when I told Daxton I was in love with him, and he confessed knowing the existence of our mate bond.

“There … it is.” Seamus’s voice dropped. He seemed surprised as he slowly pulled away from my mi nd. “It’s true ,” he breathed, looking at his queen, who stood with a heightened glow on her skin from her new swell of magic. “They have a mate bond. It’s not sealed, but it’s there.” Seamus trailed his nose across my neck, inhaling my scent. “She smells of him.” His hold on me did not slacken, but I could have sworn his stare softened. “Release his sight, Anjani.”His cousin looked at him, dumbfounded. “Obey, or you’ll lose your other hand and become entirely worthless to the Inner Kingdom,” he threatened.

With a wave of her functioning arm, Daxton’s eyes changed from white to his gray stare, locked onto me.

“Skylar!” Daxton groaned as he tried to crawl toward me. Even with his magic siphoned, iron scraping his lungs, and bound in chains, he still fought to reach me.

To my surprise, Seamus let me go.

I raced to Daxton and fell to the floor at his side, tears in my eyes as I tried to loosen the chains holding him, cupping his face in my hands as I lowered my brow to his, soaking in his touch.

“One minute,” Seamus told us before stepping back.

“You can’t be—” Anjani began protesting, but Seamus silenced her with a glare as he reached his queen’s side.

“You attacked his mate .” His voice had an eerie calmness that would even cause the serpent king to cower in fear. “Tricked her into almost falling to her death… In my opinion, his mercy was not warranted, cousin. If you had attempted to kill my mate, I would have killed you without a second thought.” He held his arm for Minaeve to take. “I saw everything. Their bond is true but not yet sealed. ”

“Because the shifter has not—”

“Precisely,” Seamus finished as Minaeve’s lips thinned and pressed into a hard line. “I know you enjoy your variety in companions, as do I, my queen, but it seems you may need to find a new one for the time being. The bond is not something we dare manipulate once consummated. It’s protected.”

“You’re fortunate you already wear your crown,” Minaeve growled. “What else do you have in mind?”

“You did choose me for my wicked nature.” He snickered, making me want to vomit. “Anjani can have her revenge in other ways. Her creativity will blossom while Daxton is in our keep.”

“Ahh. There … There’s the cunning, twisted mind I seek to devour,” Minaeve purred, pulling Seamus in for a kiss.

I pushed them aside, turning my attention to my mate. I reached for my healing magic, desperately wanting to help him.

“It’s no use, Spitfire,” Daxton whispered, somehow managing to rise onto his knees despite his injured shoulder and his arms remaining bound to his sides.

“Gods, above,” I cursed aloud. “Daxton, I can’t leave without you.” I sobbed, carefully wrapping my arms around his neck.

He took a deep breath, nuzzling into the base of my neck, entangling himself in my hair. Our combined scents surrounded us, leaving no room for doubt that we were bound to each other.

“You won’t,” he whispered as I pulled back, seeing the depths of his love shine even through his pain. “Remember, where you go, I go. You’re never alone, Spitfire, because you carry my heart with you. Always. ”

“I will return, Dax. I’ll return with the dagger, unlock the heart, and free you… all of you. I swear it.” I clutched onto him tightly. “I love you.”

“I love you,” he answered as I touched his lips, sinking into his kiss until the world around us no longer existed, utilizing these precious seconds together to try and memorize all that he was.

Gods, Mother and Father , I prayed. Watch over my mate. If fate guides me to unlock the heart, understand that any sacrifice you ask of me is not worth it if he is no longer in this world. Daxton is the heart and soul of his people. He is a true leader who will bring them out of the darkness cast by the wilt and the self-proclaimed queen. He is your warrior. He will fight to protect your children and save us all.

“Bring him to the portal.”

Hands seized Daxton, but still, he fought against their hold to remain at my side, the separation forging a chasm in my heart. Castor and Gunnar exited the safety of the ward to grab me and try to pull me back. In the end, Queen Minaeve had to threaten to take them as well if we didn’t cooperate.

Our hands were tied. Our fates decided. Daxton would be held prisoner until I returned with the alpha’s dagger. The blade my father and my alpha ancestors carried. The blade that Alistar, or perhaps now Gilen, held as our pack’s leader.

I had to challenge the current alpha… And I had to win.

Seamus grabbed Daxton’s chains as a portal appeared, shoving him toward the magical circle of swirling lights. I never took my eyes off my mate, catching one final look before being forced through the portal.

“You’re my light,” I said, fighting to hold back my tears. “You’re my hope , Daxton Aegaeon!” I roared, my voice loud enough for all of Silver Meadows to hear. “Each beat of my heart echoes your name. Every breath I take is filled with your essence. My love for you has no bounds of time or distance. I will fight through the great crossing itself to have you in my arms again. I will find you!” My declaration forced even Seamus to pause.

“We will always find each other, Spitfire. Every day … until there are none left.” And with those final words, Daxton was forced through the portal.

He was gone.

“No… No… No!” I roared so loudly that there wasn’t a single soul in Silver Meadows who didn’t hear my cry.

My power shot out from me, rippling across the landscape and causing a powerful force to shake the ground from under my feet. I collapsed onto the marble, the chasm in my chest opening and flooding me with wave after wave of unbearable sorrow.

Castor and Gunnar hung their heads and stepped back. There was nothing they could do to comfort me. They were just as afraid as I was. Daxton, their high prince, was gone, taken prisoner—again. Their high prince, whom they had sworn to protect, was once again held in the queen’s dungeons.

Light footsteps echoed on the floor beside me as a long crimson and gold cape draped across my shoulders. Warm arms encircled me with the gentlest of touches. Only the love of a mother’s embrace could reach me now.

“Skylar,” Idris whispered.

I fell into her open arms, allowing myself to weep without fear of judgment. She knew. She understood exactly what it was like to have her mate controlled and stolen from her .

Another pair of black boots entered my line of sight and I looked up through tearful eyes. Zola stood behind us, staring me down with fury burning in her darkened eyes.

“Now get up,” the Shadow Jumper demanded.

I controlled my breathing and wiped the final tear aside, facing her.

“You’re the mate of the High Prince of Silver Meadows. The slayer of the basilisk. Victor of the labyrinth. You do not give up. You never back down.” She bucked up her chin, staring up at me without a hint of fear or hesitation. “Call upon the Opal to take you to Solace. Reclaim the alpha’s dagger and return where the Heart of Valdor waits to serve you .”

Her calmness… Her certainty was odd, even for her. Then it clicked. I didn’t know why it took so long to realize what had happened. I cursed my foolishness for not noticing it earlier. But then again, my reactions helped make this all so real.

“What’s the plan?” I asked, turning toward Castor.

He tilted his head in confusion at first, looking at me like he was seeing another person altogether, and in all honesty, maybe he was. I was a half-human shifter torn from her home, separated from her mate, and tasked with achieving the impossible to save our world. These things changed a person. It made them harder, stronger. Transformed them into a survivor, a skillful warrior to call upon in times of need… and right now, we were neck deep in this mess of an existence.

“I know there’s a plan in place, Castor. There has to be. You, above all others, are not only one but ten steps ahead in your schemes. Gunnar and Zola could never be this calm while Daxton was captured or remain in the wards, let alone Adohan. Whether he commanded them to do so or not …”

Castor’s expression remained the same, but Zola’s grin only grew. Gunnar nudged Adohan, bucking his chin up in a smug manner that said, I told you so .

“You’re a sharp little arrow, aren’t you?” Idris added, patting my shoulder as she gently wrapped a cloth around my bleeding arm.

“This was not a definite plan but a precaution. He knew … Daxton knew the queen might do this, didn’t he?” I asked.

“You may be savvy enough to survive here, after all, Skylar Cathal,” Castor said, casually crossing his arms.

“There’s no way you would be this fucking calm otherwise, Castor,” I shot back, not needing him to confirm my suspicions. “Trust me, I will throttle Daxton myself once I return, and I know he’s safe for keeping this secret from me. But now. Now … you need to tell me the plan.”

“As you command, Alpha.”