Page 41 of Veil of Shadows

Slowly, he slid the chocolate inside, and my tongue flicked against it.

His aura grew, swelling around him to a palpable level as he watched my lips, his gaze once againhungry.

I sank my teeth into the chocolate and bit off a small bite. His eyes never left my mouth as I chewed and swallowed it.

He brought the remaining chocolate to his own mouth, and watching his lips close around it—around something that had just touched my tongue—created a mortifying stirring in my core.

Alec coughed again, and Trivan wasn’t even trying to hide his smirk, but Lars pointed to the map above the fireplace. “Why does the king have a framed map of the Solis continent and not our continent?”

Thankful for the distraction, I was about to comment to the guard that I’d once wondered the exact same thing, but then the king’s booming voice called from the doorway, “Prince Adarian! Such a pleasure to have you join us for the Matches in my kingdom.” The king bustled toward us. “I hear you just arrived, and—” He stopped short. “Elowen?”

It struck me that it was quite possibly the first time the king had ever said my name aloud. Normally, he referred to me asthe girlor something else that was equally abhorrent.

The king glanced between the two of us, his eyes widening even more. “I don’t understand. What are you doing with the prince?”

“Your Majesty,” the servant said from behind him, rushing into the room. “I tried to tell you?—”

“Leave us,” the king said dismissively, waving him away, and the servant exited the chambers, shutting the doors behind him.

Trivan bowed to King Paevin. “Prince Adarian is Elowen’s new guardian, my king.”

All of the males automatically dipped into bows, and I curtsied. Yet despite those gestures, Jax’s arm around me never faltered.

When we straightened, the king opened and closed his mouth, but no words came out. Wide eyed, he assessed all of us again.

“What in the realm are you talking about?” he finally blurted. “Last I heard, she’d been rescued by her guardian in Lemos, only to have the Dark Raider attack them in the Wood. All of the guardian’s hired hands returned in the days following that botched rescue, stating they didn’t remember much after waking upon the Wood’s road, only that they believed the Dark Raider was behind it.” He huffed. “But her guardian never returned, and neither didyou.” He turned his attention on me.

I shuddered and curled into Jax. His arm tightened around me.

The king’s brow furrowed. “Explain if you would.Howare you with Prince Adarian of all fae?”

“He...” I sniffed again. “The Dark Raider took both of us. Like you said, my guardian tried to rescue me, but in the Wood...” Another sob lifted my chest, and I brought a hand to my mouth to stifle the sound.

“The prince bought her from the Dark Raider,” Trivan said with authority in his voice. “My prince learned of her abduction from those who saw her with the Dark Raider, and he bartered for her release. And it’s a lucky thing that he did. She was in rough shape when we finally got her away from that dastardly male.”

“Boughther?” The king’s gaze immediately settled on Jax. “You bought her from the Dark Raider? You actually gave that mongrel rulibs?”

“I did,” Jax replied easily. “He had her in Stonewild when the exchange occurred. I saw it as my duty given what soil they were on.”

The king’s cheeks turned ruddy. “But how...how could such a thing happen? We’ve been searching for her since the day she was taken. Her guardian went off first thing the next morning even though he was injured. And I sent multiple hunting parties to secure the borders throughout my kingdom, just to ensure her safe venture home. All of those parties didn’t find anything except for Lordling Neeble’s group. He sent a dillemsill as soon as he located her, but nobody’s heard from him since. Have you heard any word?”

“Lordling Neeble?” Jax arched an eyebrow, his face a portrait of innocence. “I’m afraid I have no idea who that is.”

“My king, I fear the Dark Raider still has my guardian,” I said in a small voice, “but I don’t know how he fairs. As for Lordling Neeble...” I lifted my shoulders. “I didn’t realize other parties had been sent to search for me as well, but I never saw him.”

“You didn’t?”

I shook my head. “Are you sure he said that he’d found me? Perhaps he was mistaken?”

The king frowned. “Granted, it was the middle of the night when that dillemsill arrived, but the message said he was positive he’d found you.” He harrumphed. “And the rest of you?” the king demanded of Jax and his friends. “Do you know where her guardian or Lordling Neeble are?”

One by one, they shook their heads, their faces filled with looks of genuine confusion and bafflement. It appeared I wasn’t the only gifted actor in the group.

The king huffed. “I’ll have to assume the Dark Raider still holds Guardian Alleron, which doesn’t bode well for him I’m afraid. But as for Lordling Neeble, we can only hope for his safe return eventually.” Taking another deep breath, the king placedhis hands on his hips. “But as for the matter at hand, I’m in your debt for returning my lorafin to me safely, Prince Adarian. I shall of course pay you for her. I just thank the stars you were able to secure her release.” He held out his hand to me, his face expectant.

A flash of panic flipped my stomach, but before I could say anything, Jax replied in a cold tone, “She’s not for sale. I bought her, and I’ve ensured she’s stayed safe, unlike what occurred here in Faewood. Under siltenite law, that means she’smine.”

My eyes widened at the possessiveness that one word exuded, but I quickly schooled my expression into contrition.

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