Chapter One
Skylar Cathal
A piece of my heart ached to feel the crystallized olivine sands and bury my toes in the rolling surf. To have the warm ocean breeze skitter across my shoulders and transport me to a world that was safe and warm.
But that was a lifetime ago.
“I’m sorry, Daxton,” I said in an even tone, welcoming the cool breeze from the open door to our terrace overlooking Silver Meadows. “But I don’t agree.”
“I don’t agree with every suggestion you’ve presented, either, Skylar. But we must wait for—”
“My people don’t have time to wait, Dax!
” I slammed my fist against the table, chest heaving.
“Rhea informed us yesterday of Fjorda’s arrival, but their departure isn’t progressing as quickly as we hoped.
” I was worried about the safety of my pack.
“It’s been two weeks since Minaeve stole the Heart. Two weeks since—”
“Since I lost you.” Daxton’s voice was low and rough.
I froze in place, the weight of his sorrow flooding our bond at the memory.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, palms splayed on the table dividing us. “Trust. Me. I’m aware.”
Drawing a steadying breath, I rounded the table and reached for Daxton’s hand, needing his touch as much as he needed mine. He pulled me into his arms without hesitation. I pressed my face into the hollow of his neck, seeking solace in the quiet strength of his embrace.
“I know what you endured that day was beyond measure, Spitfire. But understand that my world ended that night. My greatest fear came to light when I was forced to watch you die.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, offering him a silent comfort, giving space for Dax to find his voice.
“Watching your light burn out, hearing your screams—” His breath hitched as he clutched me tighter, the tremor of his voice revealing the true depth of his pain. “Then, holding you in my arms as your chest refused to rise. It destroyed me.”
I moved to cup his face, staring into bright silver eyes, gleaming with untested wells of magic. “I’m here,” I whispered, kissing the hidden dimple on his cheek.
“These past few days, I’ve stayed awake some nights and watched you sleep just to make sure you’re real.” He stroked my cheek, leaning to kiss my brow. “That you haven’t left me.”
“Watching me sleep, huh?” I asked with a chuckle, trying to break the tension. Isn’t that a little on the overprotective side?”
“You have no idea how much I’m holding back and trying to give you space.”
And he had no idea how much I loved him for that fact.
Daxton was supportive, but each time I flew away in my phoenix form to practice flying or just stretch my wings, I felt his fear. I never stayed away long.
“Space is the last thing I want from you right now, Daxton,” I said, placing my hand against his chest and guiding him to sit on the table’s edge.
“Is that so?” he asked, gaze dropping to linger on my lips. “Show me, my queen.”
In an instant, my lips slammed against his as I moved to straddle my mate. Fingers tangling in his hair to pull it free from his top knot.
Daxton’s hands traveled along the backs of my thighs to hold me in place on his lap. His lips parted to taste me, and his tongue roamed my mouth, spreading heat from the tip of my head down to my toes.
“Daxton,” I moaned as the map of Valdor fell aside.
I shifted my weight forward, hearing figurines crashing against the ground. Daxton’s grip returned, no doubt leaving marks in my skin through my leathers as he held me in place. His hips causing friction in just the right places.
Since claiming each other in the meadow, Daxton had become my obsession. The private moments we managed to steal away together were my salvation.
Our kiss deepened with each passing second. Heat rolled through my core as his hardened length rubbed between the apex of my thighs. Consuming my senses, and—
“Oh, gods!” I screamed, jumping from his lap.
Daxton remained calm, using his ice magic to douse the flames skittering along the tabletop.
“Not again,” I groaned, covering my face with my hands.
Daxton chuckled as he sat up. “Control of your magic will come in time, my love. You’ve only just begun training.”
I scoffed. “If you say so.”
Since shifting, I was able to manifest fire magic in my human form—an unheard-of ability amongst my kind. However, since I inherited magic from my mother’s human side, the ability to control the fire from my animal passed to me as well.
“But we don’t have time, Dax.” I sighed, shaking my head.
“We will,” he said, moving to stand behind me, fingers tracing the mark on my neck. “This ensures it. And I intend to cherish every second of the centuries we will share.”
I leaned into his touch, my heart melting at the fact that the claiming mark of our mate bond extended my life to match his. It allowed our magic to be shared, including his immortal lifespan.
When we returned to Silver Meadows, Daxton sought out the ancient scrolls, hidden from Minaeve’s magic, that dictated the histories of shifters, High Fae, and humans.
For days, we searched through the texts, with Shaw eagerly joining us.
Mate bonds were common amongst shifters, almost expected, and declined in frequency amongst the High Fae.
But what surprised us was that bonds between our species were not as rare as we had once thought.
The claiming mark allowed power to be shared between a mated pair, paired with an elongated lifespan.
There were accounts of fae, shifters, and even humans sharing the mate bond.
“Fortunate for many of us,” I said, my thoughts drifting to Shaw.
Daxton sent Zola to Aelius with Rhett to oversee the transition and ensure the loyalty of the remaining High Fae. Shaw remained with me, but he was tense and constantly on edge at being separated from his mate.
With luck for once on our side, we learned that Seamus had plans in place to abolish the blood oath tradition of his people, refraining from practicing it since the wilt.
Even when his mind belonged to Minaeve, he unconsciously tried to protect his people.
Daxton took this news with a heavy heart, blaming himself for not seeing through Minaeve’s lies and for the fate Seamus was still drowning in as Minaeve’s blood-sworn subject.
Rhett, also known as Owl, explained that when he took his position within the court five centuries ago, an oath was made to Seamus, but it was absent of blood or magic. A secret rebellion against Minaeve’s will.
“I wonder if more mate pairings will appear when my pack arrives in the Inner Kingdom?” I asked, my mind racing along with my stomach. Gods, all this talk of war and politics really worked up my appetite.
“It’s likely,” Daxton answered as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “No matter what ceremony or coronation others believe we may need, I need you to understand that you belong to me, Spitfire.”
“And you are mine.” I smiled, turning around to kiss my mark on the base of his neck. “Forever.”
“Longer,” he rasped, fingers curling under my chin as he pulled me into a desperate kiss.
Gods, I wanted him. As my control slipped and I lost myself in my mate, I felt my magic flare.
I pulled back in a panic. “Ahh, I hate this,” I said with a growl of frustration. “I don’t want to catch the room on fire again.”
“Your flames never harm me.”
“I know, but I feel horrible for the mess I’ve made. I swear I’ve burned through the bedding at least ten times in the few days since we’ve returned. Our room has burn marks along the ceiling and floor!”
My mate shrugged. “I needed to redecorate.”
“Daxton,” I said with a laugh.
“Trust me, it’s worth it,” Daxton said with a sultry grin. “Come here, I don’t care if the world burns as long as I have you.”
Daxton’s kiss momentarily erased my fears, carrying me away on a cloud of bliss. I melted, eager to continue what we started, when my stomach dropped, and an unnerving sensation trickled from the crown of my head to the balls of my feet.
I froze. Eyes wide as I stepped back from my mate.
“Daxton,” I rasped. “Something is wrong.”
Knock, knock, knock.
“Sky? Dax?” a voice sounded from the opposite side of our door.
“Shaw?” I called out. “What are you doing here? I thought you were scouting the western areas for our people—”
“Daxton, Skylar.” Castor’s voice sounded next, causing us both to tense. “Please dismount from whatever position you are attempting before you burn the Summit to a crisp. You need to see this.”
Daxton’s expression turned cold. “What is it?” he asked, crossing the room toward the door.
“It’s Rhea,” Shaw answered.
Immediately, I leaped off the table, frantically running toward the door as Daxton swung it open.
“Solace is under attack.”