Page 44 of Veil of Shadows

“Elowen?” He leaned closer again, and his nose brushed along my ear as his scent billowed around me. “Are you sure?”

I snapped my spine upright. I hadn’t realized what I signed up for when I agreed to this, but I managed to get out, “Yes, my prince. It’ll be okay.”

“You two reek of lust, you know that, right?” Trivan called from behind us.

Jax cast him an irritated look.

Trivan held up his hands in surrender, yet a cheeky grin emerged on his face. “I was simply pointing it out as a way to tell you that you’re doing afantasticjob in your roles.”

Alec sighed again. “And here I thought I stood a chance at becoming Elowen’s lover after our time together in the palace and ship.”

Jax cut him a look so hard, it could have punched through Alec’s jaw. “Alec. Enough.”

Alec bowed again but even more dramatically.

The charged atmosphere around us grew so energized, that by the time we reached the outward part of the Matches, more than a few siltenites were openly staring at us. I told myself it was because I was plastered to the side of a foreign crown prince, and it wasn’t actuallymethey were looking at. But when several nostrils flared as we sauntered past, I couldn’t help but wonder just how potent my arousal truly was.

“Someone please kill me by week’s end,” I mumbled under my breath.

Jax’s fingers tightened at my waist. “It would be a pity to partake in such a violent act with a female as lovely as you,” he whispered. “I fear I would never get over it.”

His comment sounded teasing but the slight heaviness in it gave me pause.

I shook my head. Surely, I was being delusional. Jax would whole heartedly get over my passing if such a tragedy did ensue, even if he did want me as his mistress. Obviously, the roles we decided to play were impairing my judgment. It was best I rememberedwhywe were actually here and not get lost to the sensations the crown prince was provoking in me.

My thoughts returned to Ladies Aerobelle, Penepee, and Lucille on the ship. In only a full season’s time, one of them could be his wife. Unlike everything Jax and I were doing, which was temporary.

We kept walking toward the Matches, and the sights grew closer.

“There’s a new barn just over there,” I whispered and pointed subtly to the structure I’d spotted atop the enchanted carpet.

Jax angled us that way, but everyone still kept their attention on the events, our destination not entirely obvious.

Corralled domals whinnied in the distance, and another roar cut through the sky when the larpanoon let loose another bellow. Most of the fae wandering around the enclosures were in pairs or small groups, and thankfully, the fearsome beast garnered most of their attention. But whenever someone did happen to glance our way, a flurry of whispered comments followed.

“Isn’t that the crown prince of Stonewild?” someone muttered under their breath.

“It is. I heard he might be here to watch the Finals.”

“But who’s with him?” another hissed.

“Probably his current lover. Look how close they’re walking.”

“I heard he’s to marry soon,” another whispered. “That poor female. She’ll be thrown out like yesterday’s trash in no time.”

I stiffened when that comment swirled toward me on the breeze as we grew closer to the barn.

“Does this look familiar to what the semelees showed you?” Jax asked me quietly.

I studied the dark-wood siding and peaked roofline. “Not the exterior, no. They never showed me that.”

“Let’s go inside.” Jax angled us toward the main door.

Two wildlings stood near it with large forks. They were spearing hay and tossing it onto a small wagon.

When we passed, they stopped and bowed at Jax. Others did the same when we drifted by them. The entire time, Jax either ignored them or dipped his head, and it struck me that this was who Jax truly was. He might be the Dark Raider at night or during clandestine endeavors, but in reality, he was the heir to Stonewild’s throne.

The truth of that struck me so completely that I nearly stumbled.

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