Page 55 of Veil of Shadows

“Okay,” I somehow managed, and he closed the door.

My head pounded, and I cursed the leminai I’d consumed at a much faster rate than I should have, but I did as requested and forced myself to get up.

Someone had placed my bag inside my chosen chambers. It sat atop a large chest that hadn’t been in that spot last night.Someone had obviously brought the chest in too. Cocking my head, I opened it.

My eyes widened when I beheld all of the fine clothing. Dresses similar to the green one I still wore from yesterday were carefully packed, but there were other clothes too. Fine slacks, decadent sweaters, loose yet fashionable tops. It was as though an entire mini wardrobe had been crafted for me, but considering we didn’t know how long we’d be in Leafton searching for Bastian, I wasn’t surprised.

If I was the crown prince’s lover, others would expect to see me in a different stunning outfit each day.

Sighing, I chose a pair of slacks and one of the flowing tops. It was crafted from luxurious material, yet once on, it flowed over me like water. Smooth and comfortable.

Some of the ire I’d felt last night lessened. This outfit was befitting a mistress to the crown prince, yet it was also comfortable, and I liked it.

Once dressed, I made my way to the large living area. Everyone was already present.

Tentatively, I met Jax’s eye. His expression was guarded, entirely unreadable. “Thank you for the clothes. They’re beautiful.”

His eyebrows rose. “You like them?”

“I do.”

A devastating smile appeared on his face, and my insides quickened.

To cover up my reaction, I hastily turned away and grabbed some of the food on the counter, then helped myself to a cup of tea.

“First Match Final starts right at eight.” Phillen glanced at the clock. “Best be on our way soon.”

I hastily finished the meal, then we all set out again.

Five days passedof Jax and I playacting at being lovers, attending the Match Finals, watching the competitions, and searching for Bastian.

But no matter where we looked, we couldn’t find him.

I’d told Jax repeatedly that I could venture to the Veiled Between again to ask about Bastian, but the prince still adamantly refused. His concern for my well-being was bordering on crazy.

He wanted desperately to find his brother, yet he refused to even consider putting me in harm’s way, even if I did a calling for one of his friends that meant I wouldn’t be hurt as badly. Apparently, just the possibility of me being hurt wasn’t acceptable.

Jax’s extreme protectiveness made no sense to me whatsoever. I’d been hurt monstrously throughout my lifetime due to callings, yet I’d always survived. I healed quickly, and I’d proven that I was resilient, yet the prince looked positively murderous at the thought of further harm coming to me at his request.

So I finally stopped offering to venture to the Veiled Between. Instead, I helped the others as we kept looking for Bastian while waiting for Lander and Bowan to arrive at the week’s end.

Trivan and Alec traded places regularly as they perpetually kept eyes on the barn, but there was still no sign of Jax’s brother.

By the end of day five, even their determination looked strained. I was guessing that had something to do with the number of pine needles that both Trivan and Alec had to pull from their arses and hair every time they returned from a shift in that tree.

Also not surprisingly, after five days, the mood in our group had diminished.

Trivan, Lars, Phillen, Jax, and I trudged up the stairs, back to Jax’s suite in Leafton near the end of the week. Alec was once again in the tree, watching over the barn even though each day that passed, it seemed less and less likely that Bastian would ever return to it.

Phillen clapped the prince on the back when we reached the top of the stairs. “At least the others are arriving tonight. With more eyes and bodies, we’ll have a better chance at finding him.”

Jax didn’t bother replying but instead strode down the hall to the double doors. I followed behind him. It was now second nature to stay at his side after so many days of pretending we were together.

Yet behind the closed doors of his suite, it was another matter. I refused to share a chambers with the prince at night. And since I was careful to cleanse my chambers each morning of my clothes and scent, none of the inn staff were whispering that we didn’t share a bed.

Well, at least, as far as we could tell.

Grumbling, the prince hovered his finger over the door’s lock, his mood even fouler than it was this morning, and I had the strangest urge to go to him and try to offer comfort, but the second my feet stepped into the suite’s entryway, I drew up short.

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