Page 77 of A Trial of War
“I could never forget,” I said softly, “but I wonder ifyouhave. Why side with them, Gilen? Why serve someone who’s slaughtered your kind? Who burned your forests and chained your kin for experiments and torture?”
For a moment, something flickered across his face, a deep pain that lingered beneath the surface. But in the next heartbeat, his expression hardened once again.
“You think I fight forthem?” Gilen spat. “You think I haven’t seen what your father does to my people? Please. I’ve lived my entire life between rules built by others. And now, it’smy turn.”
He stepped closer, his breath misting as his eyes began glowing with magic, giving them a haunting honey color like liquid gold. But thankfully, the blade had dropped from Wyndfall’s throat.
The fury in Gilen’s voice trembled beneath the weight of old wounds. “I was cast aside from the Solace pack. Overlooked.Expectedto fall in line. But no longer.” His teeth bared in a grin that held no joy. “I’ve accepted that I’ll forever be alone in this life, and there’s no use fighting it. Now I make my own rules. Now I’m the master of my own fate.”
“You are not alone in this life, Gilen,” I said, my voice steady, even as my heart pounded. “Together, we can build a safe world for everyone.”
He gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “Tell me, Princess, what has peace ever given me? What mercy did Skylar grantme when she challenged me and declared that I was unfit to lead my own pack? When she denied me yet again!”
My breath caught. So that was it, the true wound beneath his rage.
“I was never meant to be an alpha,” he said, voice dropping to a low snarl. “I’m a lone shifter bound to the skies, and I will have my revenge on those who thought to embarrass me, to belittle me. Skylar should have killed me when she had the chance.”
Wyndfall’s breath came ragged, his eyes on me, silently pleading,Don’t provoke him further.
I bucked my chin up and met Gilen’s golden stare anyway. “You call yourself a lone shifter, yet you let another’s orders chain you again. Minaeve doesn’t want to set you free, Gilen. She wants a leash around your throat.”
Gilen only smirked. “Maybe. But I’d rather wear a leash by my own choosing. And if bringing you back wins me the freedom and a life of my own, so be it.”
“You could’ve been so much more,” I said quietly.
His laughter was low and dark. “Spoken like a child born to finery and given their heart’s desires,” he said. “You’ve never had to claw for survival. Never had to live as prey in a world that only respects predators.”
He leaned closer, the edge of his knife catching the first light of dawn as it neared. “I learned long ago that mercy gets you killed. Fear keeps you alive.”
“Then I pity you,” I said.
His eyes dipped to my bodice with a smirk, and I froze.
“Interesting.” He chuckled, reaching to pull the enchanted parchment that Skylar gave to me free.
“No!” I struggled against my captor’s hold, but it was no use.
His smile faltered before returning, colder than before. “You’ll learn, Princess,” he murmured. “Soon enough. I’ll even let you witness this lesson firsthand.”
Turning, he addressed the men holding my captain. “Move out.”
They wrenched Wyndfall forward, dragging him toward the shadowed path that led out of the village. I was pulled to my feet and silently followed, because there was nothing else I could do. But as we walked into the fading mist, I swore that this would not be the end of our rebellion.
Not for me. Not for my people.
I prayed to the gods that our other soldiers had evaded capture and would carry out our contingency plans.
I had a promise to keep and an ally to support.
Even if I became the first sacrifice, I would gladly have my blood be the price of peace.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Shaw Black
The clang of steel reached me before I even stepped into the training yard.
I’d just returned from visiting with my brother, Talon. It was hard for me to see him like this, but I made sure to check in on him every day and give him updates on how things were running in his absence. He would physically stay behind while we all left for Solace, but we would carry him in our hearts to battle.
