Chapter Seventy-Seven
Shaw Black
I followed Zola through the mass entanglement of High Fae scattered amongst the camp, yet my attention fixated on her.
Her long braid of ebony hair swung by her hip as she walked.
I took the time to memorize her seductive curves as the heat rose in my core, my cock throbbing at the mere thought of running my hands along her dark-tawny skin.
Her footsteps glided across the earth, barely making a sound as she led us toward the surrounding tree line.
My Gods, this female is as deadly as she is stunning.
Once inside the forest, I paused and closed my eyes to inhale a deep breath. My panther sprang to life inside me. I loved the smell of the trees and wild grass, allowing it to calm and center my damaged, restless soul.
“Do all shifters have this type of response to a forest?” Zola asked, breaking me from my trance.
“Not all,” I answered with my eyes closed.
“But nature calls to us in a unique way that’s difficult to articulate.
It settles our animals and helps ground us.
” I opened my eyes to find Zola staring at me.
“This forest is brand new in a sense. It’s come alive again.
Reborn, and that is something to take note of. ”
“I can feel it,” Zola said.
She was only a few steps away, close enough for me to reach out and touch her.
“You can feel it?” I asked.
“Through your emotions,” she said, stealing my complete attention.
“The bond,” I said, not needing her to answer, sensing a hint of jealousy that made my panther purr with delight.
We remained silent for what seemed like hours, even though it was only seconds. Neither of us knew what to say or do next, which was not a position I was used to navigating.
“This,” I began, gesturing between us. “I don’t know what to do, Zola.”
She was unreadable. Her face gave no hint of what she felt or thought, likely a defense mechanism developed from centuries of building a protective wall around herself.
Even though I lived only a blink of time in this world compared to her, I understood why she was like this.
I understood the need to protect yourself against the darkness lurking behind shadows cast by the light.
Zola remained silent, and I chuckled to myself, admiring her cunning mind.
She raised her brow at me. “What?”
I couldn’t hide my grin if I tried, running my fingers through my mesh of hair as I dared to take a half step closer. “Sorry, I can’t help it.”
She tilted her head and narrowed her brows. “Help what?”
“I like you,” I said.
“You like me?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know me,” she replied, remaining in place.
Adjusting my weight, I dared to move closer, pleasantly surprised to see her position remain unchanged. “You’re correct,” I answered, noticing the slight twinge of her lips as she sucked in a breath. “But I’d like to.”
“Why?” Zola asked with a fire in her tone that sent chills of excitement along my spine.
My female was fierce, and I loved it.
“Because of this bond that the Gods sought fit to bind between us?” she asked with false sincerity.
“I won’t lie to you,” I said. “I promise I never will.”
Zola’s expression softened at this, and for the first time, I could see a crack in her armor lift.
I inhaled a caged breath as waves of emotion echoed through the bond. “I’m prepared to let you in, Zola. To let you see the good, the bad, and even the ugly. To lay myself bare and give this a real chance.”
My heart was racing as I hung in limbo, waiting for her reply. I had never been so bold with anyone, so open and willing to allow my walls to crumble. But somehow, it was different with her.
“I’m not sure you can handle my darkness,” she whispered. “No one can.”
“Try me,” I said, closing the distance between us.
Through the bond, I felt a vortex of conflicting emotions ranging from fear to hope, longing, and isolation, and finally, a deep sense of yearning that teetered on the side of desire.
I ran my fingers along the delicate curve of her chin, half expecting her to bite me in retaliation for touching her without permission.
Zola stilled against my touch. Those gorgeous eyes filled with shadows clenched shut as she reached to grasp my arm.
“You seem like an honorable male… I don’t want to break you, Shaw,” Zola whispered. “I can stand the world seeing me as a monster created by the wilt, but the idea of you, of my mate—”
I silenced her fears as my lips crashed into hers, lifting her off her feet and pressing her backside against a nearby tree. I didn’t know what came over me, but somehow, I knew she needed this. I needed this.
My cock throbbed, begging to be released and fill my mate until the worries of her world vanished. Gods above, I longed to claim this female and make her forget everyone that came before me because there would be none after.
Zola wrapped her legs around my waist, interlocking her ankles as she kissed me with a ferocity I was all too eager to match. The taste of her on my tongue drove me wild. Her soft lips parted, and I dove in without hesitation.
I moaned into her mouth, gripping her perfect ass in my hands as I settled between her thighs, her nails raking against my back. Zola’s moans of pleasure drove me into a high I never wanted to leave.
“Shaw,” Zola whimpered as I ground between her thighs. “Shaw, wait.”
I forced myself to pull back, allowing Zola to find her footing as I pressed my brow against hers.
Our breaths were ragged as I fought to regain control over my panther’s influence to take her against the bark of this gods-damned tree.
A deep growl resonated in my chest. The drive to bite Zola’s neck and claim her as my mate was fogging my mind.
“When you’re ready to trust me,” I rasped, stroking the wisps of black markings on her delicious neck, “you will share the story of these scars with me, and I’ll tell you mine.”
Zola reached for my right hand, bringing it to the light as she traced her fingers over the scars that damaged more than just my skin.
“I’m not asking you to accept the bond.” I sucked in a breath, holding it captive before releasing it. “I’m asking you to give us a chance.”
My female gazed at me like she was seeing the true depths of my soul, those dark eyes finding and accepting the truth I was laying at her feet.
“Very well,” she breathed, sending my heart soaring.
I ravaged her mouth once more, needing to taste her like I needed air.
“They’re back!”
“Hurry!”
“Come see them!”
Lost in our kiss, I almost missed the familiar surge of power and the knock against my subconscious. Reluctantly, I pushed away from Zola.
Skylar and Daxton had returned.
I gazed at the female in my arms with a renewed sense of life. I didn’t want to leave our secluded hideaway, but duty demanded we both return.
I bent one final time to kiss the nape of her neck.
“I will lay my mark on your flesh, my little shadow. But before I do, I want you begging me to do it.” I pulled back, my voice becoming more animal than the male standing before her.
“Because once I do, there’s no turning back. You’ll be mine, forever.”
Zola smirked, causing my gods-damned balls to ache. “Confident for someone so young.”
“Oh, I may be young, little shadow, but trust me, I’m far from inexperienced.”
“We’ll see,” she answered with a smirk as she faded into the shadows cast by the overhanging canopy.
“Try to keep up,” Zola mocked from behind, reaching into the pocket along her thigh and holding the alpha’s dagger out to me.
“You’ll need to give this back to Skylar.
It’s a pity I have to return it, though.
” She sighed, clicking her teeth as her eyes darted along the steel of the weapon.
I strode toward her, holding out my hand to accept the dagger. “Thanks for keeping it safe.”
“My pleasure.”
I closed the distance between us. “Oh, my little shadow,” I purred.
“You have no idea what I have in store for you.” I gripped her chin, bringing her lips to mine for one final kiss.
“You’ll forget every male or female in the centuries that came before me.
” I nibbled her bottom lip before pulling away, leaving her wanting more.
Zola went as still as death, her eyes closed as she sucked in a shuddering breath. “Well, we shall see, shifter.”
I couldn’t help smiling as Zola and I parted ways. She returned to their fallen friend while I ventured to find Daxton and Skylar.
Back at camp, I felt Sky’s presence in the clearing, surrounded by citizens awestruck by their very existence.
Daxton, the High King, commanded respect with his every breath, while Skylar, the shifter champion and alpha of the Solace pack, radiated raw, untamed power.
Individually, they were forces to be reckoned with—Daxton’s authority unyielding and Skylar’s strength unmatched.
But together, they were something more: a united front, a symbol of power and unity that inspired both fear and unwavering belief.
They stood as one. Even without the Heart of Valdor in our possession, I pitied anyone who dared stand in their way.
Wading through the crowd, I called to my alpha, “Skylar!”
Immediately, she turned to find me, keeping her hold on the male standing proudly at her side.
Sky wore a simple black slip draped over one shoulder.
Her golden-brown hair was pulled to the side, proudly exposing a bite mark along her neck.
I smiled. Seeing the blissful joy on my friend’s face brought happiness to my heart.
“Shaw,” Skylar called out as she released her hold on Daxton and ran through the parting crowd.
When Skylar died, when I watched her die, our connection as alpha and beta snapped, damn near breaking me. I shuddered at the memory, with my mind still second-guessing what my eyes were seeing, still doubting this reality until she jumped into my arms.
She’s here… She’s alive. My alpha is alive.
Tears of joy threatened to fall, but I fought to keep them at bay. My friend was here, and this wasn’t a dream. Pulling back, I cupped her face, finding those familiar amber eyes flaring to life with the fire I always knew burning within.
“What now, Sky?” I asked.
“Our actions of defiance may seem like nothing more than a pebble cast into the vast pool of injustice crafted by Minaeve’s hand—” Sky paused, her voice steady but charged with a newfound resolve.
I watched, captivated, as she embraced the fire she had kept locked away for far too long.
“And yet,” she continued, her gaze blazing with determination, “that pebble is enough to send ripples through the once stagnant waters. It is enough to disrupt, to challenge, and to spark a change no one thought possible.”
Daxton stepped behind Sky, and I dared a glance at the High King of the Inner Kingdom, the look of pride beaming from every facet of his being as he held my alpha in his gaze.
“So, a phoenix, huh? Well,” I chuckled, “we always knew you wouldn’t be a stealthy animal.”
Sky laughed. “What do you mean by that?”
“You are a firebird, Sky, a blazing beacon you can see for miles.”
My alpha smiled, giving me one final hug as her mate joined us.
“Daxton,” I said with a nod.
Daxton returned my gesture as Skylar returned to his side. Her arm wrapped around his waist as he pulled her close. I watched as he turned his head to kiss her brow, the mating mark on his neck visible along the collar of his shirt.
“Can you hear me?” I sent out a telepathic thought to my alpha’s mate. “Daxton?”
The High King of the Inner Kingdom tilted his head in my direction. His once gray eyes, now glowing with an alluring silver hue, narrowed as he stared me down. Instinctively, I lowered my posture, waiting to see what would happen next.
“Beta.” Daxton’s voice boomed inside my head, confirming my suspicion.
Skylar glanced between us, only taking a second to realize what was happening. “I always knew power should be shared with a ruling pair,” she said, smiling.
“And not just among the shifters,” Daxton said, taking Sky’s hand and turning to face the crowd.
“Skylar Cathal is my mate.” Daxton’s voice boomed over the clearing, his magic amplifying his voice.
“If you wish for me to remain your high king, then—” Daxton turned his head, locking his gaze on Sky’s.
She gave him a firm nod, pulling her shoulders back and holding her head high.
“Then she is your high queen.”
Silence crept across the meadow. No one spoke a word or dared to move. I silently knelt on the grass, allowing the High Fae to come to their senses and acknowledge Daxton’s proposal.
Castor stepped forward from the crowd with Nyssa at his side.
“Seems I’m a high prince after all.” He chuckled with a sly grin that only he could master.
“And you didn’t have to die for it to happen.
I’ll take that victory,” he said, kneeling before them while placing a fist over his heart and lowering his head.
Nyssa followed his lead, signing something with her hands before kneeling on the grass, while another dark-haired male joined the duo. Rhett, the High Fae who destroyed Minaeve’s crown, also knelt before Dax and Sky with a small gathering of warriors dressed in green armor behind him.
I stilled, realizing that some citizens of Aelius were somehow spared from Seamus’s oath and Minaeve’s control.
“Hail, High King Daxton,” a voice rang out.
Gunnar strode forward with Finn’s arm around his neck, limping at his side with Zola on the other. Sky sucked in a breath at the sight of the injured fae, but Daxton held onto her hand, silently bidding her to wait.
“Hail, High King Daxton,” Finn, the heir of Crimson City, declared. “Hail… High Queen Skylar.”
“Hail, High King Daxton. Hail, High Queen Skylar!”
“Hail, High King Daxton. Hail, High Queen Skylar!”
The crowd chanted again and again until the deafening roar of Daxton and Skylar’s names was all you could hear—all you could think.
Identical crowns appeared across their brows. One colored gold like the Mother’s rays lay on Sky’s, while the other, painted silver like the Father’s moonbeam, rested on Daxton’s.
I gazed at my alpha and admired how far she had come on this journey. However, a dark stain pulled at my heart, knowing we had so much further to go.
We might have won this battle, but a war was coming. And this war would be the toughest trial yet.
End of Book Three
Book Four
(Conclusion of the Valdor Series)
TBA: “A Trial of—”