Page 56 of A Trial of Two Worlds
A flinch in his expression told me that Gilen had known the truth of this for longer than he cared to admit.
“You’re not strong enough to defeat me,” Gilen said. “You haven’t mastered enough of your magic to shift, along with that mark on your arm that prevents you from doing so.”
“I don’t need to shift to overtake you in a formal challenge. I’m a Silver Meadows warrior,” I announced. “Trained by Daxton Aegaeon and General Gunnar. I defeated the trial of the mind and the body, and I will complete this final task. I will not allowyouto defeat me.”
“Don’t push this, Sky,” Gilen growled.
The door behind him crashed open, with Shaw, Xander, and the others filling the frame.
Gilen’s chest rose and fell with a mixture of rage and disbelief. “If you challenge me, I’ll kill you. I won’t have any other choice.”
I know.
“I, Skylar Cathal, daughter of alpha Emery Cathal,” I announced, my magic filling the space, “challenge Gilen Warrick as alpha of the Solace pack.”
The world seemed to stop, everyone and everything becoming deathly silent.
I stared at Gilen, no longer scared of hiding my true power. “Do you accept?”
“Get out,” Gilen snarled. “Leave my lands or pay with your life.”
“Skylar has formally challenged your right as alpha,” Shaw said, stepping into Gilen’s room with Xander racing to front his approach.
Both males bared their teeth with green magic shimmering around them.
“It would be cowardice to deny this, Gilen. You would be forfeiting your right to be called our leader in the eyes of everyone in this pack,” Shaw added.
Gilen cursed and turned on his heels to smash the canvases stacked in the corner. His rage took control, with his animal threatening to break through.
“Will you accept?” I repeated.
Gilen turned to me. My heart broke at the hurt and betrayal lurking behind his hardened stare.
“Let’s end this,” he answered. “Let this be the end of it all! I accept your challenge, Skylar Cathal. Tonight… Prepare yourself.”
“Sky.” Talon’s voice cut through the tension as Gilen glared at him. “Come on, let’s go.”
Shaw continued to face off against Xander, with Rhea draping a protective arm around Neera in the hall.
“I should’ve known you four would be in on this,” Gilen spat.
“Skylar is only doing this to protect us, Gilen,” Rhea exclaimed. “The fact that you can’t see past your own wounded pride is sad.”
“Keep that tongue caged inside your mouth, Rhea,” Gilen warned. “I’m still your alpha. I will punish those who dare speak against me and step out of line.”
This time, Talon moved to confront Gilen. His teeth bared as his eyes hardened like sapphires. “Do not threaten my mate, Gilen. Alpha or not, I won’t tolerateanyonespeaking to her like that.”
The two faced one another, the tension in the room thickening to an almost unbearable degree.
“Talon,” Rhea said. “Don’t. You’re right. Let’s go. It’s not worth it.”
Talon slid his eyes to me as I nodded, walking past Gilen and the face-off between Shaw and Xander. Neera reached out for me as I entered the hallway. I quickly met her embrace before returning my attention to those remaining in the room.
“I’m sorry it’s come to this, Gilen,” I said. “I truly am.”
“Save your words for prayers to the Gods,” Gilen said. “You’ll need their strength in the fight if you truly believe you can overthrow me.”
I glared at Gilen as Talon and then Shaw joined us in the hallway.
