Page 20 of Veil of Shadows

It hit me that the reality was, Jax was the only fairy I had now. He said he couldn’t let me be free, not after I learned who he truly was, which meant in the days to come, he would always be at my side, at least to some capacity.

And for the first time, that thought of my new cage brought me comfort, not despair.

I sniffed, and even though my tears had dried completely, Jax’s hands still drifted up and down my back, and a low, soothing sound hummed in his chest.

But I didn’t pull back. Not yet. To feel another hold me like this...it was too hard to let that go, so for this one moment, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to enjoy it.

The clock struckthree in the morning by the time I finally pulled free, but despite holding me for who knew how long, Jax’s arms tightened when I inched away, and then, as though catching himself, he released his grip.

“Thank you,” I said, those simple words not doing justice for all he’d just done for me. I wiped at Jax’s wet clothing and laughed softly. “I swear I normally don’t cry like this.”

He brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “I don’t mind.”

I swallowed the ball of emotion clogging my throat and gazed up at him. The night sky pierced the window and highlighted the planes and angles of his features.

Fluttering feelings stole over my heart again, and as I gazed up at the Dark Raider, it struck me that I could still find happiness and meaning in my life, if only I chose to grasp it.

“Jax? I have a request.”

He cocked his head. “What is it?”

“Take me with you to Faewood tomorrow.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You want to come along?”

“Yes. I can help you find the male you’re seeking. If needed, I can travel to the Veiled Between again to find his exact location, and?—”

“No.” Jax said the word so quickly, so fiercely. “I willneverdo that to you again.”

“But . . . I want to help you.”

His jaw worked, and the aura around him grew. “Elowen, I would rather die than see you again in the state my magic put you in.”

“Even if it means that doing so finds the half-breed you’re seeking? That it pinpointsexactlywhere he is?”

A stirring of magic billowed around him, radiating off his broad shoulders like waves in the sea. It lapped through the room, roll after roll of raw power. He sucked in a breath. “You know that I want to find him, rather desperately in fact, but after everything I’ve done to you...” He shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

My brow furrowed. “I could still help you. I know that area of Faewood better than you. I can still aid in finding him, even without my magic.”

His gaze softened. “You trulywantto help me?”

I somehow managed to nod, but when he looked at me like that, with his eyes smoldering in intensity and the potent magic inside him flooding the room, it was hard to think straight.

And stupidly, I found myself blurting out, “Saramel told me the male you’re looking for is your half-brother. It makes me see things a bit differently.”

A guarded expression fell over his face. “She told you that?”

“Don’t worry. She bound me to secrecy in a bargain. I can never tell anyone what she told me without your permission unless they already know about Bastian too.”

His brow furrowed. “Tell me exactly what bargain you agreed to.”

I repeated it. Word for word. And when I finished, I lifted my shoulders. “As you can tell, she was thorough. Nevertheless, she said she would probably be put on extra kitchen duty for a week after you found out, but she thought me knowing was more important than any punishment you’d give her. But please, don’tmistreat her. I begged her to tell me. If you want to take your anger out on anyone, it should be me.”

He let out an aggrieved sigh, then placed his hands on his hips and looked toward the ceiling. “Damn. That female is always trying to do what she thinks is right even if it defies me.”

“Which one can argue is an admirable trait. Please, Jax, don’t punish her. She was just trying to?—”

“I know. Don’t worry. Her bargain covered what it needed to, and I won’t order extra duties to be given to her. But believe it or not, that’s not why I’m angry. I’m upset because I was trying to keep you out of this, as preposterous as that may seem, considering I’ve turned your life upside down, but I meant it when I said I wanted to free you after you located Bastian for me. I never meant for you to become involved in this any further.” He frowned heavily, his aura dimming. “Being associated with me puts you at risk, Elowen, even though I want you—” He took a deep breath. “I don’t want you at risk. You’re safer away from me. It’s why I’ve never told you anything.”

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