“I know,” Neera said as she hugged me, forcing our party to stop on the trail. “I’m just so glad you’re back.”
“For now,” I answered, hugging her tightly and stroking her hair just like I remembered Julia doing countless times in our youth. “I’ll have to leave again.”
My cousin looked up at me, the jade in her eyes shining brightly with admiration and love. “I know you do. And you will win this final trial.”
“You won’t be alone in this, Sky,” Shaw added, his voice collected and centered, just like him. “We know you will return to the Inner Kingdom with the alpha’s dagger and unlock the Heart of Valdor.”
“Besides,” Rhea taunted, “I’ve been waiting years to help you convince—” Rhea’s stopped as a loud call rang out overhead. A glimmer of gold and russet feathers soared through the clouds and away from Solace.
“Gods be damned!” I cursed. “Where’s he going?” I turned to Talon and Shaw for an answer.
“Shit,” Talon cursed. “He must be leaving on patrol.”
“Well, stop him!” I demanded. “Shift and call out to him!”
“He’s too far away, Skylar,” Talon said, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Only his beta can call him at that distance.”
“Then let’s go find his beta.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Skylar Cathal
I marched up the familiar steps of the alpha’s manor. Shaw said he could smell the beta’s scent from inside the compound. Raising my closed fist, I pounded on the doorframe.
“Xander!” I shouted at my ex-lover, my anger rising, cursing my luck. “Xander, it’s me. Open the door. I need you to call the alpha back!”
A scuffle sounded along with hurried footsteps inside the manor. It was unusual for pack members to knock, as we were always welcome, but I had not sworn allegiance yet to our new alpha. In fact, I was preparing to do the opposite if he did not listen to reason.
The handle to the large double doors turned as Xander’s tall, robust frame filled the entrance. “S-Skylar?” he stuttered, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. “How? When did you—”
I held up my hand to silence him. “I’ll explain later, but first, you must call Gilen and bring him back immediately.”
I was done waiting.
Xander shook himself, his back straightening, embodying his role as second in our pack hierarchy. “Thealpha will return tomorrow,” he answered. “If you need a meeting with him, you’ll have to wait until then.”
“Bullshit!” I roared and stepped closer.
A low warning growl emanated from Xander’s chest as his cocoa-colored eyes sharpened on me.
“Call him now,” I demanded.
His threatening rumble didn’t frighten me. After the basilisk and the labyrinth, I wondered if anything could.
“Gilen will return tomorrow.” Xander didn’t back down, his bear likely close to the surface as a light shimmer of green danced across his tanned skin. “Watch yourself, Skylar. You may be the champion, but—”
“But what?” I growled, refusing to back down.
“You don’t hold a rank within our pack. You’re only—”
“Careful how you choose to finish your words.” Shaw cut in, stepping to my side, his magic flaring as he met Xander’s stare. “As beta, it’s your job to help protect our pack and ensure our alpha is guided and supported. I respect your position in this role. But if you dare speak of Skylar in that way again, you will feel my claws at your throat.” Shaw’s voice was as cold as death itself.
I watched Xander’s brows narrow, his eyes fixated on my friend. “Brave of you to challenge me, Shaw. And here I thought you were the intelligent one of your little group.”
Shaw’s magic pulsed wildly from his center, followed by a deep, menacing growl at the back of his throat.
“Come on, Xander,” Talon said, stepping to his brother’s side to try and defuse the fight brewing at the alpha’s doorstep. “You know Gilen will want to see her.”
