“Better. Much better.” He sets the tray down. “Eat. The trial begins in two hours, and you’ll need your strength.”
Lyra eats with focused efficiency, and I recognize the shift in her—from exhausted refugee to determined warrior. She’s preparing herself mentally, and I fall into the same pattern, both of us understanding what’s coming requires our best.
After breakfast, we’re escorted to a preparation chamber where Mountain Cat garb waits—practical leather and fur designed for extreme cold. Lyra is given her own set, sized appropriately, and when she emerges dressed in our traditional clothing, something primal in me responds.
She looks like she belongs here. Like she’s already one of us.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she says, but she’s smiling.
“Like what?”
“Like you want to skip the trial and go straight to the claiming.”
I step closer, unable to resist touching her. “Can you blame me? You’re wearing Mountain Cat traditional garb. My instincts are screaming that you’re already mine.”
“Then your instincts need to be patient.” But she leans into my touch, just for a moment. “After the trial. After I’ve proven myself.”
“You’ve already proven yourself to me.”
“I know.” She rises on her toes to kiss my cheek quickly. “But I need to prove it to myself too.”
We’re summoned to the main platform where the trial will take place. The entire clan has gathered—warriors, elders, even the cubs watching from safe perches. This is more than just atest for Lyra; it’s a demonstration for everyone about whether integration can work at the most intimate level.
Keira stands at the center, commanding attention without effort. Beside her is an elder male I recognize—Elder Frost, the clan’s master of trials and traditions.
“Lyra Starling,” Keira’s voice carries to every witness. “You seek recognition as Magnus Ironwood’s intended mate. To earn this, you must pass the Trial of Worth—three challenges that test your ability to stand as his equal in our way of life.”
Lyra steps forward, head high, showing no fear. “I accept the trial.”
“The first challenge: Endurance.” Elder Frost gestures to the mountain face behind the stronghold. “You will ascend the Winter Path to the sacred overlook and return before the sun reaches its zenith. The path is treacherous, the cold extreme, and the altitude punishing even for our kind. Complete this, and you prove your body can withstand our environment.”
I want to protest—the Winter Path is brutal even for seasoned Mountain Cat warriors. But Lyra just nods, already assessing the route with a tactician’s eye.
“The second challenge: Wisdom.” Keira continues. “At the overlook, you will find a puzzle-lock protecting our ancestral cache. Solve it using ice magic principles, and you prove your mind can adapt to our ways.”
“And the third challenge?” Lyra asks.
“Partnership,” Keira says, looking between us. “You and Magnus will navigate the ice maze beneath the stronghold—a training ground for bonded pairs. Complete it faster than our current record, and you prove your bond is an asset, not a liability.”
Lyra glances at me, and I see the understanding in her eyes. These challenges aren’t just about her proving herself—they’re about us proving we work together seamlessly.
“I accept all three challenges,” she says firmly.
“Then begin.” Elder Frost marks the sun’s position. “You have four hours.”
Lyra starts immediately, moving toward the mountain path with determination. I force myself to stay on the platform, to trust her to do this alone as tradition requires. But every instinct screams at me to follow, to protect, to ensure she’s safe.
“She’s stronger than you think,” Keira says quietly, appearing beside me.
“I know how strong she is. That doesn’t make watching easier.”
“No. It makes it harder.” Keira watches Lyra begin her ascent. “Because you’ve bonded. Your leopard recognizes her as mate, wants to guard her against all threats. But she needs to prove she doesn’t require constant protection.”
“She’s proven that already. In the facility, during the fights?—”
“To you, yes. To me, perhaps. But not to the clan.” Keira gestures to the watching Mountain Cats. “They need to see that a Storm Eagle can match us. That integration at this level is possible. Otherwise, you’ll face challenges from those who believe you’ve weakened yourself by choosing outside the clan.”
I hadn’t considered that—the political implications of our bond. “Who would challenge?”
