Page 29 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

“I don’t know if that will work, but it means a lot that you would even try,” Kinsley says.

“Don’t fill her head with nonsense, Kins,” Harper snaps.

“It will never change. They’re too prejudiced against us; nobody’s going to change their minds.

They live their perfect lives with their perfect spirit wolves in their perfect homes and never worry about safety or food to put on the table for their perfect children.

” I want to make a wisecrack about how many times she used the word perfect, but I can’t bring myself to do it.

Before I can apologize, she continues. “Do you know what it’s like to watch a little kid starve to death? ”

I close my eyes. “Yes,” I whisper, but she doesn’t need to hear it.

She’s dealing with her own grief right now.

“Tell me what it’s like out there in the banished community?

” I ask. And so they do. For hours, they tell me about the hardships, the struggles, the lack of education and necessary food, the unfairness.

They tell me personal stories about family members and friends.

By the time they both go quiet, my heart is nearly overwhelmed with sorrow.

I want to help, but I don’t know how. I look back towards the house and wonder if I can influence Rysden to make changes.

That would mean taking on the king, and I don’t know if he would do that.

I study the moon as I think about what I know of Rysden’s mom.

For being queen, she’s certainly not visible in her role.

I wonder at the kind of life she’s had to live.

From what Rysden’s told me, I don’t think it’s been easy.

I wish I could meet her. I wonder if she looks like either of her boys, or if they both have their father’s looks.

Thinking of the king makes me angry. I wonder how he sleeps at night.

I hope horribly. Harper and Kinsley’s stories make me wonder how somebody could be so cruel as to banish people to a life of starvation and struggle.

“Do you think we’ll freeze overnight?” Kinsley asks, and I can hear her teeth chattering.

“No. It's cold, but we’re not in danger of freezing. And actually, sleeping in the trees is better than the ground. They block the wind, and it keeps your body warmer than sleeping on the ground. The foliage can trap heat and keep it in for longer under here, keeping us warmer.”

It’s quiet a moment. “Was that supposed to be a lesson?” Harper asks dryly, and I can’t keep in my laugh.

“Sorry. I love the trees; they’re my happy place.”

Harper groans. “Why couldn’t a nice warm bed with a fireplace nearby be your happy place?”

I smile and lean my head against the tree. “You know if I had to be trapped out here all night, there’s no two people I’d rather be stuck out here with.

“Ah,” Kinsley says sweetly. “We’re honored, aren’t we Harper?”

“To death,” Harper says deadpan.

The conversation dies down after that. We all three took naps today, but I can’t forget that we just finished our trial.

It’s going to take more than one nap to catch up on lost sleep and heal from our injuries.

I put my head back and close my eyes and let my mind rest. I doze off and on for the next few hours.

Eventually, the darkness around us begins to lighten, and I can start seeing details again.

Kinsley meets my eyes. “Looks like you had a protector all night,” she says with a nod.

I look down and see Shade camped out at the base of the tree. A warmth spreads through my chest.

“We made it through the night. Anybody ready to go inside?” I ask.

I climb down and drop to the ground beside Shade.

“Hey, Shade.” I reach out and tentatively run my hand through his fur.

“Thanks for watching out for me.” Intelligent dark eyes meet mine.

I give him one more pet and then stand. “Let’s go see what’s for breakfast.”

I lead the way inside. When I see the kitchen is empty, a giddiness fills me. I start pulling down bowls and finding the ingredients I want. “I’m going to make something for breakfast; why don’t you both go take a warm bath?”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Harper says and leaves.

“Do you want help?” Kinsley asks. “While I wait for Harper to finish?”

“Sure.” I give her a bowl to stir.

“What are we making?”

“My famous hotcakes,” I say with a grin.

I grab the skillet and pour oil in and wait for it to heat while I let the mix sit.

I also prepare an egg concoction that’s similar to a meat pie but with eggs for breakfast. Within minutes the first hotcakes are sizzling.

I snag the jar of honey off the shelf. As the fresh hotcakes come out of the skillet, I drizzle honey over them.

Soon the kitchen smells like a confectionary from the oil and the honey.

“What is cooking in here?” Lox asks, striding into the kitchen. He picks up a hotcake, even as I smack his hand. He whirls away from me and takes a bite. Even though I scolded him for eating, I wait to see his reaction.

His eyes light up. “These are so good,” he says around a mouthful.

I laugh; I can’t help it. “I’m glad you like it.

” I look up to see Rysden in the doorway watching me with those intense eyes of his.

I drop my gaze to the wolf at his side. “I see you found your other half.” I wonder what Rysden's going to say about it, but he says nothing.

He walks over and stands between Lox and me.

“You made these?” he asks.

For some reason, I get nervous. “Yeah. Want to try one?”

He picks one up and takes a bite. He doesn’t make a single expression; I’m used to that. He steps close to me, and my startled eyes lift to his. He reaches out and runs a finger over my nose. “Flour,” he says in a low voice. “These are really good,” he says without stepping back.

“Thanks.” My voice is breathless. I take a breath. “Well, we made it through the night.” He nods once before snagging a plate and filling it. “You didn’t have to send Shade,” I say in a quiet voice, so everybody doesn’t hear. “We were fine.”

“I didn’t.”

I frown. “But he was out there with us.”

He turns to face me. “I didn’t send him; he did all that on his own.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh right. He opened the front door himself?”

His eyes bore into mine. “He never came in. He refused to leave you outside unprotected.”

His words surprise me, and I force a laugh. “Unlike his bonded, right?”

“If Shade wasn’t out there, I would have been.” With those confusing words, he turns back to the food. He finishes filling his plate and hands it to me.

“Oh, I can get my own plate.”

“I know.” He doesn’t turn back to me as he fills a plate. I watch the muscles in his back contract as he fills his plate.

“You’re confusing, Rysden.”

“I don’t mean to be.”

I sigh. “And yet you are.” I leave the kitchen before he can say or do anything to confuse me more. I pull out a chair at the table and sit. Rysden shocks me by pulling out the seat next to mine, and I turn to him in surprise.

“What?” he asks.

“You never eat with us,” I point out.

He shrugs. “I wanted to.”

I have no idea what to say to that, so I don’t. Hector and Jamik join us at the table. “Where’s the tall, mouthy one?” Lox asks after a few bites.

“She was taking a bath, but she’s probably asleep now,” I say and take another bite. I look over at Kinsley who looks like she’s going to fall asleep in her food. “Kins, you go take the next bath.”

She lifts her head. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go before you fall into your food.”

Lox keeps a steady stream of conversation going, but I get up as soon as I’m done.

I feel exhausted all of a sudden, too. I know the longer I sit near the warm fire, I’m going to doze off.

I need to clean up my mess before I do that.

I set my plate in the sink and step back, right into a hard chest. I whirl around and meet Rysden’s eyes.

“Go take a bath and then get some rest. You can use my room.” His voice is a low rumble.

I wave him off. “I have to clean up my mess.”

“I’ll get it,” he says in return.

“It’s okay. I made the mess. I’ll—”

He snags my elbow, cutting me off. “You’re dead on your feet. Everybody’s fed, and your friends are taken care of. Go take a warm bath and then sleep. I’ll make sure you’re not bothered.”

I stare up at him. “Why did you make us stay in the trees all night?” My voice isn’t as strong as I wish it were in this moment. I can hear the lingering hurt, and I chide myself.

His hand tightens around my elbow for a moment before it loosens, and he runs his thumb over the bare skin there. He glances over his shoulder and then back at me. “The second trial. You have to stay in the trees,” he says in a voice so quiet, only I can hear him.

I stare at him. “Really?”

He nods. “But you didn’t hear that from me. I’m not supposed to tell what the trials are. Ever.” He shakes his head. “But I find myself breaking all sorts of rules when you’re around.” I must be more tired than I thought because his voice almost seems affectionate.

“So, you weren’t just trying to punish me?” The words slip out, and I bite my tongue.

“Punish you?” He looks confused.

“Never mind.”

“Tell me, Farrah.” His voice is gentle, even in his command.

His voice compels me, or maybe I’m just too tired to fight him. “I thought maybe you were punishing me for,” I pause. “Pushing you away.”

He laughs darkly. “It’s not the first time.”

My heart tugs in my chest, and I battle against the emotion there.

It’s confusing because I want to hate him for taking me from my mother and brother, and sometimes I think I still do.

But at other times, it scares me that I don’t think I hate him nearly as much as I should.

“You’ve been nothing but good to me since I came here.

I know I wouldn’t have made it through that first trial without your training. So, thank you.”

He stares at me intently. “Even though I’m the reason you’re in the trials in the first place?” There’s a darkness to his voice.