Page 135 of A Trial of Two Worlds
Daxton’s head spun to his brother before rapidly returning to me. “Fuck this! No!” Daxton screamed as his fists pounded against the magical barrier. The tunnel threatened to collapse around them in his attempt to reach me.
“I’m sorry,” I rasped. “Daxton, I’m—”
“No!” he roared again.
“Dax—”
“Don’t you dare speak like that! Don’t you darelookat me like that, Spitfire!”
My limbs hung lifeless at my sides. Summoning my courage, I forced myself to raise my gaze and find my mate’s. He would never forgive me for this, but I prayed to the Gods above that he would someday understand.
“Stop,”I commanded inside each of their minds.
Daxton and Castor’s expressions dropped as they heard my voice, and Shaw—Shaw’s eyes widened in a pained understanding of what I was about to do.
“You will not pass through the barrier until my magic releases you.”The power of my words settled as an unbreakable command none of them could resist.
“Shaw,” I pleaded, biting my lip to keep it from quivering. “Bring the dagger back to our people. Guide Gilen in his role as alpha and help protect our pack. They’ll need you now more than ever, my friend.”
“No!” Shaw sobbed, followed by a bellowing roar as he shifted into his panther, trying but failing to resist my command.
“That’s why you didn’t kill him during the challenge,”Shaw growled.“You’ve known since then?”
“Someone had to lead in my place,”I answered.“Gilen will become a strong leader and protect our people, but only if you are there to help guide him. I’m asking you to do this as a final request from your alpha, and as your friend.”
“Skylar, please, there must be another way.”
“There isn’t, Shaw. It must be an alpha, the same as it was before.”
The roar from Shaw’s panther shook the walls as he fought against my command. His forelimbs shuddered as his tail twitched, his head finally bowing in defeat as his eyes clenched shut.
“Castor,” I said, turning my back toward them and stepping to the pedestal holding the Heart of Valdor,careful not to disturb the bones of my ancestor near the base.
“Bull-fucking-shit reason for having me here, Skylar!” Castor sneered, his anger a mask for the agony he tried to hide.
“I’m still holding the promise I made to you when first arriving in Silver Meadows,” I said, meeting his hardened stare as I turned around the pedestal.“Butyou, Castor. You must bring him back from this.”
“He won’t… Daxton won’t—”
“He must!”I screamed with angst.“You must bring him back. Daxton is the key to this victory and the freedom of your people.”
I understood what I asked of Castor was steep, but that was why I needed him here. If anyone could help Daxton, it would be him.
Castor remained silent. His brows furrowed as he cursed under his breath, turning away and fisting his hair in frustration. “I don’t…Skylar—”
“I know,” I answered softly, feeling the emotion behind his words.
And for once, he couldn’t seem to speak.
My hands trembled as I raised them to the Heart, the magic calling to me and my animal. The star markings on my arm began to glow as my fingers lightly brushed against the ruby-red stone.
“Skylar,” Daxton cried out with pained emotion in his voice. “You can’t—”
My body trembled as I gazed toward the barrier, feeling my mate’s wrath daring to tear through the magic separating us.
“There’s no other way,” I sobbed, fighting to hold back my tears.
“We’re in thistogether, Spitfire. This… This can’t be it. I can’t lose you when I’ve only just found you.”
