Page 55 of A Trial of Two Worlds
“I couldneverallow you to claim me.”
“Even if it meant you would leave here tonight with the dagger in your hands and sail off to complete the final trial?”
My chest ached, understanding that I had no choice; I was going to hurt him.
“I see,” Gilen muttered with discontent, his jaw clenching as he cocked his head to the side, trying to detect my scent. “Why can’t I smell you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
I hesitated.
“Why can’t I smell your scent, Skylar?” he growled, rising to tower over me.
My animal fueled me with the power to meet his challenge. “Because I’m shielding it. I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention.”
“Reveal it,” he ordered, expecting me to follow his command.
I blinked as I looked at him. “Why?”
Gilen clutched his fists at his sides. “I don’t know why I’m surprised at your defiance. It was a charming trait in our youth, but now… it’s infuriating. This is not a game.”
“You should’ve asked me nicely,” I fired back at him. “This could’ve gone very differently.”
Gilen was not my alpha.
“SSSkylar,” Gilen snarled, frustration laced between each syllable of my name.
I refused to submit. “Gilen.”
He slowly stalked to my right, cocking his head to the side, assessing me like I was a threat in his home instead of his childhood friend, recognizing the intent behind my stare.
“Where exactly is your High Fae protector?” he asked. “Did you lie to me? Are he and their queen hiding or simply waiting somewhere in the woods or on the ship that carried you back to the pack lands? Are you a threat?”
“Daxton is not here,” I said, my voice steady despite my rage. “He’s waiting for me to return.”
“Daxton.” Gilen rolled his neck, almost like his name made his skin crawl. “Pathetic.”
“What did you say?” I narrowed my eyes as Gilen froze, feeling the pulse of my magic fill the room.
No one was allowed to insult my mate.
“He swears to protect you, yet in your final task, he’s nowhere to be seen. Pathetic—”
Anger swelled in my chest, but instead of attacking him, I lifted my shield, allowing my scent to fill the room.
Castor would be proud.
Gilen staggered backward, bracing himself against the wall. “How?” he rasped with wide eyes.
“Daxton Aegaeon, High Prince of Silver Meadows, is my mate,” I declared as I watched Gilen’s hope of claiming me vanish.
“Your scent. You… You haven’t shifted yet. How could this happen?”
“It doesn’t matter right now, Gilen. Now, I’ll ask you again.” I sighed, softening my tone. “Will you give me the dagger?”
His lips pulled back in a snarl. “You dare ask this of me? You dare challenge my role in this pack? You?”
I met his snarl with my own.
“You,” I roared, “are not the only heir of an alpha in this pack! You do not hold the sole claim to the title.”
