Page 25 of Veil of Shadows

Farther down the shore, the huge wharf waited. In the distance, at least a dozen ships were docked at the port, some with sails raised, others waiting idly.

“Why are we traveling by sea?” I asked Alec just as our enchanted carpet flew around the corner toward us.

“Nobility often travels by ship, carriage, or enchanted carpet.” Alec nudged me. “Is it any different in Faewood?”

I shrugged. “I’m honestly unsure. I’m not well versed in Faewood royalty or nobility even though I’ve met the king a few times.”

Alec cocked his head. “Regardless, what about you, lovely Elowen? Do you enjoy traveling by sea?”

I lifted my shoulders once more. “I’ve never been on a ship, so I have no idea, but I’d just assumed, considering you’re all stag shifters, that we’d travel by land, and you’d all run, or—”I stopped myself. “Wait, areyoua stag shifter? Or something else?”

Jax, standing a few feet away, gave us a side-eye. He rocked back slightly on his heels, and a muscle began to tick in his jaw.

Alec chuckled and leaned closer to me, waggling his eyebrows. “That would be telling.”

I groaned. “Not you too. The prince also loves to keep me guessing.”

“Does he?” Alec raised an eyebrow in the prince’s direction, then slipped an arm around my waist, getting a squeak out of me. The muscle in Jax’s jaw ticked even more. “You’ll have to tell me more aboutwhat elsethe prince doesn’t tell you.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t keep the smile from my voice just as the gliding enchanted carpet reached us. “Well, that would be a bit hard, considering Idon’t knowwhat he’s not telling me.”

Alec’s sharp laughter rang through the air, and Jax said in a clipped tone, “The carpet’s here. Get on.”

I jumped at the anger in the prince’s voice, but Alec’s lazy grin only grew.

Trivan leaped onto the carpet first, flashing a smirk to a group of females who walked by on the street outside of the palace gates. But their attention wasn’t on the nobles. It was on Jax, and they seemed to be walking much slower than necessary, and more than a few smoothed their hair down their backs and glanced demurely over their shoulders.

But the prince didn’t so much as look in their direction, and considering the females in Fosterton had acted just as besotted, I could only guess this was the norm for him.

Still . . . my stomach tightened.

“Elowen?” Jax’s soft question had my attention snapping to him.

He stood atop the carpet, the wind ruffling his dark hair. Sapphire eyes blazed into me, and my pulse tripled its beat.

“May I give you a hand up?” Jax began to extend his arm, but Alec leaped onto the carpet.

“No need to exert yourself, my prince. I can help.” Outstretching his own hand, Alec asked, “Elowen? Can I assist?”

Jax’s fingers curled into his palms, and another flicker of his aura washed over me, similar to what I’d felt in the north tower. Stiffly, the prince gave both of us his back and said something to a palace guard.

I eyed the prince, then Alec. I knew something was at play here, but for the life of me, I didn’t know what.

I lifted my chin. “Thank you, Lordling Graniteer, but I’m just fine on my own.” I placed my foot on the wavering rug and ignored Alec, which didn’t seem to bother the noble in the least since he just grinned and clasped his hands behind his back.

The enchanted carpet only dipped an inch when I put my full weight on it, but I was still thankful for my breeches. They made moving so much easier than when I’d been made to wear gowns. If not for the stretchy pants, I probably would have been forced to accept Alec’s help.

I surveyed the large traveling carpet. “Where should I sit? Is here okay?” Before I could claim a spot near the side, Alectsked,and his hands encircled my waist. He lifted me to the center, and it was only when I was positioned right beside him that he let go.

I sucked in a breath at the abrupt shift in my movement. “Was that necessary?”

Alec grinned. “This is a much better spot for you, don’t you think? And until the day comes when you tell me not to touch you, yes, it was necessary.”

I was about to reply, but the prince growled, “Alec? Sit.”

“Ah, of course.” The noble elegantly lowered himself to the carpet, not even glancing toward the prince’s glare.

Brow furrowing, I awkwardly settled myself beside Alec as Trivan, Lars, and Phillen watched on with a mixture of amused expressions. Trivan even snickered.

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