Page 27 of A Trial of Two Worlds
I couldn’t extinguish the spark of joy that flickered in my heart at the thought of seeing them again. Despite the despair and absolute horror of the trials thus far, reuniting with my family was a silver lining.
I felt my heart ache as I stilled.
Clenching my eyes shut, I reached to grip my chest. I couldfeelhim. His pain morphed into my own through our bond. I shuddered, fighting the draw to succumb to the heartache of knowing he was being tortured. His presence was a mere flicker, disappearing in the next second, but still, it haunted me.
I will find you. We will always find each other.
Like magic, his words echoed in my mind, strengthening and comforting me like they always did.
And for once, I was not going to question how or why they appeared.
Dusk began to settle as I reached the thick patch of woods outside my family home. I could smell the scent of my cousin, Neera, first, followed by a trickle of Magnus and then, surprisingly, a strong presence of Shaw. Continuing forward, I also detected Rhea’s scent faintly swirling into the mix.
Outside, the lanterns were not lit, and I couldn’t smell anything brewing in the kitchens.This is odd. At this time of day, I would assume Julia would be brewing up a storm to feed Magnus and Neera. Even with me gone, Magnus alone could easily finish our entire family’s helping of food if we allowed him to.
Tilting my chin up to investigate further, I detected the scent before hearing the commotion in the woods to the northern side of the clearing. If my animal had not pushed me to be on high alert, I might have missed it.
Exiting the condensed thicket of brush and trees across the way was a beautiful doe with dark brown fur, a golden hue decorating the ridge of her back. Calculating green eyes, the same Cathal green eyes that Neera and Magnus held, scanned the clearing. The doe tilted her head up to the sky and sniffed at the air before she released her magic with a green shimmer and shifted into her human form.
It was Neera.
Neera had shifted!
I moved to stand and call out to her, but the snap of a branch sounded behind me, followed by a low snarl that made every hair along my neck stand at attention. It wasn’t the growl of a bear, a wolf, or even a mountain lion. This was something much bigger and much more terrifying.
I gripped the hilt of my dagger, preparing to defend myself. But before I could turn and make my move to attack, I had become the prey.
Ooof,I grunted as my back slammed into the ground.
A massive, black-furred paw pressed onto my chest, pinning me on my back. Sharp, deadly talons extended from beneath the layer of smooth midnight fur. The growl emanating from this animal was laced with a promise of death, and yet, I was not afraid.
I knew exactly who this was.
The hot breath of the beast brushed across my face as it pushed the hood of my cloak back with its nose. A massive panther, the size of a large horse, stood over me. Long, lethal ivory teeth bared and ready to rip out my throat, until… until his gaze finally met mine.
Shaw.
His bright hazel eyes were unmistakable, along with his scent I knew all too well. My dear friend, who, like me, held scars that dwelled deeper than the marks left on our skin. My friend, who faced his own fears to assist in my rescue and helped guide me through my recovery. The friend I could always count on, no matter what.
“Shaw,” I said, releasing my shield and revealing my scent.
Slowly, his sharp claws retracted, and the pressure on my chest lessened. He blinked rapidly. Those predatory feline eyes scanned my face as he sniffed the air around me.
I remembered that my scent had altered, integrating with Daxton’s, but surely he knew it was me? Right?
“Shaw, it’s me!” I managed to sit up and unfasten my cloak. “It’s me, Sky.”
His lips pulled back, and his teeth flashed, the threatening growl of his animal radiating from his massive chest.
Shit, he wasn’t entirely convinced.
I called upon my animal’s help to bridge the connection with his panther. When I first saw Shaw after my capture, I was surprised by how they seemed to respond to each other’s grief, comforting and strengthening each other with a unique bond.
My power began to build, filling my limbs with magic. I rose to stand, refusing to back down. “Shaw,” I said slowly, my voice laced with a power I didn’t completely understand. “It’s me, Skylar.”
The panther blinked, tilting his head to the side and looking me over once more. A soft purr replaced his menacing growl as he lowered his gaze and bowed his head in a sign of submission.
I released the tension in my shoulders with a soft sigh of relief. The panther and Shaw realized this was not some kind of trick or impersonation.
