Page 34 of A Trial of Two Worlds
“No,” I said in reply. I looked across the room, knowing they all felt the power of my alpha command. “All right, just to recap,” I said, crossing my arms, “shifters and humans are on the brink of war, if not already in it.”
They all nodded.
“My aunt is—” I didn’t finish the thought. The sting of anguish cut me like a knife. I shook myself, biting my lip to keep the tears back. “Practically everyone can shift and… Magnus is lost in his bear form.”
I looked at Neera as her eyes darkened, and I wished I could take away her pain, to bring back the light that used to shine so brightly in her eyes.
“And now, I have to complete the final trial. Who is…” I took a deep breath to prepare myself. “Who is the alpha?”
“Gilen,” Rhea answered in a distasteful growl.
“Fantastic,” I replied, glancing at Talon.
“What do you need to do for the final trial, Sky?” Neera asked.
“The alpha’s dagger,” I said.
“Shit,” Talon swore.
Rhea’s face paled as Neera clutched onto Shaw’s arm with wide eyes.
“You plan to announce a challenge,” Shaw said, not as a question but as a statement.
“Yes,” I answered with confidence. “If it comes to that.”
Shaw nodded. “I’ll be there with you.”
“So will we!” Rhea added with authority.
I looked at Rhea’s mate, knowing I was asking Talon to do something practically unheard of.
“Call your alpha,” I said. “As his beta, you can inform Gilen of what I intend to do.”
Talon’s expression dropped as his face hardened like stone. “I’m… I’m not the beta.”
My eyes widened with shock. “What?”
Rhea scowled, a guttural growl sounding in the back of her throat in defense of her mate.
“I’m not Gilen’s beta.” Talon’s crooked nose twitched to the side as he tried to mask his unease with the topic. “So, I’ll have no problem standing on the sidelines as you challenge him.”
I knew there was more to this story, but the looks Shaw and Rhea shot my way were a warning not to press the matter further.
The bond between a beta and an alpha had a will of its own.
“I’ll ask Gilen to give me the dagger first and try the friendly approach,” I said.
Everyone in the room just stared at me.
Shaw, the brave one, broke the silence of the group. “You’ll have to—”
“I know,” I interjected, understanding settling within my heart with what needed to be done. “I’ll attempt to talk to him first. I have to try.”
“Good fucking luck with that,” Rhea mumbled. “My advice? Make sure your plan B is really plan A.” Shesighed deeply. “You’ll have to challenge him, Sky. And you’ll needto win.”
Chapter Sixteen
Castor Aegaeon
