Page 85 of A Trial of Two Worlds
I collapsed onto my hands and knees, praying she was near and this wasn’t all for nothing.
“Queen Minaeve!” Rhett hollered as he raced across the room.
Seamus and Minaeve slowly rose to their feet, ignoring Rhett’s presence. Their eyes were solely locked on me. My heart began racing as Rhett bent to pick up Minaeve’s fallen crown—his eyes turning stark white.
“Give that back to me!” Minaeve snatched the crown from his hands and placed it on her head.
Rhett remained still as the frantic screams and cries of the injured surrounded him, his vision slowly returning to an all-knowing deep-blue stare.
I watched him carefully. His emotions were quickly concealed, disguising any reaction to what he saw. But he wasn’t fast enough to conceal it entirely.
“Of course,” Rhett said, lowering his gaze and kneeling amongst the rubble. “I’m so sorry, my queen.”
Another explosion boomed on the far side of the room, collapsing the main doors and trapping those of us who remained inside.
“Zola!” I roared once more.
My desperation rapidly grew as fear began to encircle me like a vice.
No,I told myself. Fuck. No!I wouldnotfail. I refused to.
I needed to get the scroll to Skylar, ensuring that she didn’t fall into Minaeve’s hands and become a pawn in her quest for power. The primal need to protect my mate drove me past my exhaustion, urging me not to give up.
“Daxton!” Off to the side, cloaked in the shadows near the corner, I found Zola. Her eyes were wide with fear, her voice laced with panic.
Another explosion thundered in the throne room. The vibrations of the blast knocked everyone off their feet while vibrant colors danced over their heads. Sparks of energetic flames spiraled in different directions, causing everyone to take cover.
“Hurry, Daxton!” Zola called out. “I can’t—”
“I know!” I yelled as I crawled toward the shadows.
Zola couldn’t chance leaving her position. Her magic only remained undetectable as long as she stayed in the shadows.
With my power completely drained, I struggled to drag myself across the floor. Every muscle in my body screamed at me to stop. Begged me for a release.
My only solace was the hope of seeing Skylar again. When I would be able to hold her in my arms, and by the grace of the Gods, I would never let her go.
“Daxton!” Zola screamed. Her arm extended past her protective hideaway.
“Seize them!” Seamus commanded. “Before they escape!”
I forced my limbs to propel me forward. My roar of pain filled the room as I lunged for Zola’s outstretched hand.
“Gotcha.” Zola gasped as she helped pull me into the shadows.
Once my feet were tucked into the corner, Zola’s magic encased us, transporting us outside the palace and away from the screams of terror and destruction.
The kiss of cold night air caressed my beaten body and felt like a gift from the Gods themselves. Before I could take a full breath, however, Zola jumped us into another shadow.
And again.
And again.
And… again.
Fifteen fucking jumps.
Each one twisted my stomach, making my body feel like it was being pulled through a hailstorm with gale-force winds. Zola’s magic was agiftfrom the wilt.Traveling within it held unpleasant side effects that I was unable to combat with my power drained. Each jump felt like an assault.
