Page 24 of Veil of Shadows

“...I heard the prince had a guest staying in the palace. Nobody knew who she was, though, until yesterday.”

It was only when they reached the end of the hall that I drifted closer to Alec and whispered in his ear, “You weren’t kidding when you said that news travels fast through these walls. I’ve only been walking with you for two hours, and it seems as though all of the servants already know who I am.”

Alec turned to face me, but I’d leaned so close to him that our lips almost brushed.

I quickly pulled back, but all he did was lean closer, his own lips pressing against my ear. “And that, dear Elowen, is entirely the point of this little wander. By nightfall, your presence within these walls will already be seen as old, boring news. They’ll likely think you’re another conquest of mine who’s succumbed to my charms and is entirely helpless to resist my appeal.”

I scoffed in amusement. “If only that were true.”

He brought a hand to his chest. “Are you saying it’s not?”

His aghast look had me giggling again, and he nudged me playfully. The noble slipped his arm around my shoulders, steadying me as we both laughed like children until a throat cleared loudly from behind us.

Sobering, I peered over Alec’s shoulder.

Jax stood only feet away with his arms crossed.

My jaw dropped. Jax’s casual sweater and pants from last night were long gone. Instead, he wore official royal attire in Stonewild colors. Dark navy slacks and a navy jacket, both made of fine wool, covered his frame. Gold buttons trailed up the jacket’s middle all the way to his throat, and embellishments in cobalt blue, gold, and shades of green decorated his shoulder straps. A long forest-green cape was clasped around his throat,and the gold stitching along its edges was bright enough to reflect the sun.

He looked magnetic. Important.Regal. And in that moment, I felt the social differences between us so sharply that it felt as if a knife pierced the space between us.

But if the Stonewild prince noticed my response, he didn’t comment. Instead, his attention fixated entirely on Alec.

“Having a nice tour?” the crown prince asked, his tone brisk.

Alec, still grinning, immediately bowed to the prince, even though his arm stayed around me. “Your Highness.”

Jax’s gaze dropped to where Alec was touching me before shifting upward. A rising pulse flickered in his aura, so subtle that I would have missed it if not for his close proximity. “Ready to go, then?”

Alec smiled cheekily. “Of course, and it’s about time. I thought we’d never leave.” He tugged me closer, but I barely reacted. I’d gotten used to Alec’s frequent touches and teasing flirtations. It didn’t actually seem to hold any meaning. “And I did as you asked, my prince. I’ve been showing the lovely Elowen all over the palace, loudly telling our foreign visitor of our kingdom’s magnificent history and anecdotes.”

“Which apparently consists of stories from our youth involving drinking games.” Jax’s nostrils flared. “You’ve outdone yourself, Alec. Even I heard a few whisperings on my search through the halls trying to find you two.”

My eyebrows shot up. “You’ve been looking for us?”

“I have.” Jax’s gaze remained on his friend. “Lordling Graniteer seems to have forgotten that the ship we’re taking departs at two, and it’s already well past one, so we should be on our way.”

“Ship?” I repeated. “We’re taking ashipback to Faewood?”

Both males ignored me as Alec sighed loudly. “Oh galaxy, you’re right, I did forget, but no matter.” Alec ushered meforward, brushing past Jax in the process. The prince’s arm stiffened when we swept by him. “We’ll still make it. It’s not like it would depart without you anyway, my prince. Come on then, the southern kingdom awaits.”

CHAPTER 8

Outside, on the palace steps, I waited with Alec, Trivan, Lars, Phillen, and the prince for our ride to the wharf. Lander and Bowan were staying behind. The two of them would tend to Guardian Alleron as needed because while I’d been given freedom in my new life, my guardian had not. He was to remain a prisoner of Jax’s indefinitely, from the sounds of it.

A salty breeze drifted through the air as we waited for the enchanted carpet to pick us up. At least none of the nobles had to hide. As Alec had explained to me on our walk down here, Jax had told the king and council that he and several of his lordling friends wanted to attend the Final Match selections in Faewood before the Centennial Matches officially began.

Considering most of the nobility throughout the Silten continent were traveling to the Matches for at least a few days in the coming weeks, nobody thought anything of it, making it the perfect excuse to return to Faewood. And it also meant that neither Jax nor his friends and guards had to wear disguises since all of them were attending the Matches as themselves.

Consequently, Jax stood tall and proud, his jaw tight and his shoulders stiff. He was the portrait of royal disdain, and he’d been like that since he found Alec and me in the north tower.

I tried not to be bothered by the fact that we’d barely spoken. But ever since he found us, Jax had been distant. Cold, even. It was so different from the raw emotions we shared in the early hours of the morning, and I was reminded again that the prince wore many faces.

Taking a deep breath, I tried not to let that bother me. Instead, I shifted my attention to the city. The view was magnificent, and for the first time, I was able to see it entirely.

Jaggedston had been built on stone cliffs, overlooking the coast. The permanent presence of salt in the air permeated the breeze, and since the palace was perched high on the rocky terrain, the city spread out before us. The buildings and winding streets drifted all the way to the distant cliff’s edge, where the capital stopped abruptly above the plunging ocean shore.

Crashing waves from the Adriastic Sea pummeled the black sand at the cliff’s base, sending foamy spray splashing onto the beach’s ebony pebbles.

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