Page 32 of Veil of Shadows

“Hunt?”

“It’s an excuse I often use when I disappear for days, weeks, and on occasion, months at a time. Didn’t you know? The boys and I are all avid hunters, and of course, my guards always have to accompany me. We often disappear in the kingdoms to hunt game, and it can be quite dangerous.” His smile turned devious. “Hunting has been our favorite hobby for many full seasons.”

“Hunting is how you explain your time away when you’re conducting raids?” My eyebrows shot up. “And nobody’s ever questioned that? But you don’t return with any wild game, do you?”

“On the contrary, we always return with several kills.”

My jaw dropped. “But...you didn’t hunt anything while I was with you.”

“No,Ididn’t, but Alec and Quinn conducted an actual hunt while we werevisitingwith you. They had a dozen fimiquails for us to share with the chef when we made our official appearance last week.”

“Quinn? Who’s he?”

“You haven’t met him yet.”

“Oh...I forgot there’s still one more in your group, butfimiquails? Where in the realm did they get fimiquails?” The elusive and exotic bird was considered a delicacy and very hard to find. The birds were similar to dillemsills in that they could disappear. Frowning, I ran my finger along my collar, and a wash of its magic pulsed through me despite its repressed state.

Jax cocked an eyebrow. “Quinn harbors Mistvale magic in addition to shifter power. His magic is particularly helpful when hunting elusive animals.” The prince’s gaze dropped and lingered on my collar. “Is it bothering you?”

I started, taking a second to understand the abrupt subject change. “Are you referring to my collar?”

A pulse of energy swirled around him. “I’ve noticed you’ve been tugging at it.”

“No, it’s not bothering me. It’s just a nervous habit.”

“You’re nervous?”

“No, I mean . . . it’s just a habit.”

His eyes glittered, their endless depths threatening to pull me in despite my better judgment telling me to tread with caution around this contradictory male, but before I could say anything further, a bell rang on the ship.

“Fine fae of Stonewild Kingdom, lunch is being served below,” a crew member called and then bowed toward the prince. “Please join Prince Adarian for a relaxing afternoon and evening as we venture south to the exciting Match Finals.”

CHAPTER 10

I followed the prince below, and it quickly became apparent that the midafternoon meal was a grand production. It was held in the ship’s impressive dining hall. Sconces lit the walls, Stonewild banners hung from the ceiling, vases of freshly cut flowers perfumed the air, and large windows allowed one a clear view of the sea.

When Jax escorted me into the hall, the ship rocked gently beneath our feet. A large table sat in the center of the room, thirty chairs around it. Elegant candles lit the table’s center, magic suspending them to hover midair so they were never knocked over when the ship rolled.

Most on board were already present, and Alec and Trivan were in a lively discussion with those who had beaten us down here. One thing I noticed immediately—everyone was dressed regally. All except me.

Around the table, each House family wore their House crest somewhere on their clothing. On the males it was either on their sleeves, across a silk sash, or on the tassel of their shoulders. Wherever it might be, the crest was there if one only looked. The females were no different. All of them wore jewelry, mostlypendants with their crests proudly displayed in a gem’s center, but their crests were also visible on their rings.

These were the elite fae of Stonewild. House nobles nonetheless, and I was a slave dressed in black breeches and a simple crimson top.

My footsteps slowed, and a wash of embarrassment flowed through me when several turned to assess me, but Jax clasped my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. “You belong here just as much as any of them do,” he said so quietly that I knew only I heard him.

He squeezed me, and given his comment, it was as if he’d known exactly what I was thinking. His knack to always be so in-tune to those around him once again astonished me.

Taking a deep breath, I continued walking at his side and did my best to hold my chin high, but the feel of him holding my hand, for everyone to see, had Alec’s words pounding through my head again.

I fear our prince is smitten with you.

Aerobelle Dallinger’s attention snapped to Jax and me the second we reached the table. A wolf’s head was ringed in gold metal on her pendant, the small token proudly displayed between her breasts.

She beamed, all eyes for Jax, as though I wasn’t even there. “Prince Adarian, we’ve all been eagerly awaiting you.”

The other females perked up too, but smiles began to falter when they realized, one by one, that Jax was still holding my hand. Aerobelle at last seemed to realize the same. Her previous snub of me turned to a haughty glare.

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