Page 51 of A Trial of War
“Hey,” he said softly, his rough voice breaking the silence. “You did it. You pulled him from the crossing.”
I shook my head, staring at Talon’s shallow breaths. “But for how long? I didn’t bring him back. I only gave him time, Dax.”
“Then we use it.” His glowing eyes met mine with fierce certainty. “We’ll find a way to stop this shadow rot, Sky. Together, we will find a way.”
For a moment, I let myself breathe. The night air was heavy with grief, but Daxton’s presence kept me from slipping under. Then—
“Skylar.”
The voice was a whisper, almost ghostlike. But unmistakable in who it belonged to.
My heart stuttered, and my magic flared instinctively. The bond that tied me to my beta ignited in my chest like a burning thread snapping taut.
“Where are you, Shaw?”
Daxton stiffened beside me, instantly alert. “Skylar, what is it?”
I couldn’t answer Daxton as I tried to focus on the pack bond. It pulsed, sending a wave of panic crashing through me. Shaw’s presence flickered, and a cold sense of dread curled around my throat. He was in trouble.
I quieted my mind.
“Solace.”The word was barely more than a whisper.
My pulse spiked, and the world tilted as adrenaline surged through me.
No, no, no. I was not losing him.
“Shaw! Shaw!”I called, reaching out with my magic, but the thread was fading fast.
“Skylar!” Daxton caught my arm. “What’s happening?”
“We need to go to Solace. Right. Now!”
“I’ll stay with the wolves,” Castor said. “Go.”
“Sail back to Silver Meadows,” Daxton said to Castor, before stepping to my side. “If you beat us there, call Crimson City and Aelius forces, prepare for our armies to sail east. Have Magnus ready the shifters and Gunnar our armies. Spread the word of Minaeve and Taran’s alliance.”
Castor nodded. “I will see it done.”
Daxton returned the gesture before stepping to my side and releasing his magic, teleporting us back to myhomeland.
Chapter Twenty-One
Skylar Cathal
The night air nipped at my skin as we rematerialized, our feet striking the earth in frantic rhythm. My heart raced with the desperate pull of the pack bond as it dragged me through the ruins of my home.
Solace. The word that once brought me joy and the warm embrace of safety was now a curse on my tongue. My former pack land was nothing, a place of only silence and ruin. But shifters were stubborn creatures; nothing would stop us from retaking our home and rebuilding.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my thoughts focused on finding Shaw and saving at least one member of my pack tonight. My magic hummed in response to my call, a surge of adrenaline urging me to race faster through the trees.
The drive to protect, as alpha, fueled my drained reserves, pushing against my shifter sleep.
It didn’t matter if I was exhausted from battling the shadows in Talon. I was going to make it to my beta and answer his call.
I didn’t know if Shaw was still alive. Gods, no.
He had to still be alive. I refused to believe any alternative.
