Page 69 of Veil of Shadows

No sooner had those words left Trivan’s mouth, than the prince snarled softly at his friend. “No, Phillen. It’s out of the question. Elowen doesn’t know what traveling to the Veiled Between will do to her, even if she doesn’t use anyone’s magic. With that collar on, she could still be hurt. That possibility remains, because she doesn’t know since she’s never done it before. And I will not allowanyone’smagic to hurt her again, so she’s not doing callings for any of us.” The prince stalked off before anyone could reply, and his aura left a cloud of malice hanging in its wake.

I released a breath and fell back onto the couch. “Is he always this stubborn? What if I’mnothurt when I try? He has to know that sooner or later I’ll travel to the Veiled Between, with orwithouthis permission.”

Alec and Trivan shared a veiled look, then Alec replied, “No, Elowen, he’s not usually like this. He’s never been like this with any other female.”

“It’s true. Jax is very . . . protective of you,” Lars remarked quietly.

Phillen nodded, then all of the males shared a look.

“What? What now?” I blurted. “Do youallthink he has feelings for me?”

Everyone blinked mutely, and Alec frowned. “I’m beginning to think it’s more than that.”

“I think you might be right.” Phillen sighed and leaned forward in his seat, his burly arms draping over his knees. “Jax’s behavior around you, Elowen, isn’t like him. It’s making a few of us wonder about a few things.”

I furrowed my brow. Magic stirred inside me, rising like a slow-growing flame. “What do you mean exactly?”

Trivan snickered. “I think I’ve already figured it out, but I’m waiting to see how long it takes the rest of you.”

I didn’t bother replying to him. He’d likely enjoy watching me guess what he meant.

Lander stood. “Let’s all remember that Jax is stressed about Bastian. He’s not himself right now, so perhaps we should all stop speculating.”

I knew he was right. It was obvious Jax wasn’t happy that we were no closer to finding his brother, with a botched raid on top of it, but as for why he adamantly refused to let me visit the Veiled Between again on his behalf, especially if there was a chance Iwouldn’tbe injured... It was silly.

But it didn’t sit well with me that Jax was in such a foul mood. For some reason, an ache formed in my chest, and I burned to go to him, but I knew I couldn’t. Jax wasn’t mine despite the roles we were playing during the day, and even if he did have feelings for me, he was to eventually wed another.

Besides, I was still a lorafin. Stillother. His realm and mine were never meant to collide.

Jax returnedto join everyone for a quick meal. A mountain of food was lined on the kitchen counters that the inn staff hadbrought up. Platters of grilled meats, roasted potatoes, fluffy rice and pitas, vegetables of every variety, and a range of sauces made succulent fragrances waft through the air.

By the time we finished, all three moons were high in the sky, and everybody began to disappear to various chambers for the night.

I began to walk to mine, but Jax stopped me. “Elowen?”

He stepped into my path, and his nearness immediately made my stomach tighten. He stood only inches away, his aura like a warm caress around mine. All week my magic had been responding to his more and more. Tingles immediately shot to my core, my belly tightening in his presence.

I tilted my head back. “Yes?”

“I never properly thanked you, for what you did in the forest tonight. You saved all of us.”

“Oh...” I nodded quickly, my pulse leaping despite his innocent remarks. “It was nothing. I kept thinking about Cassim. I could never knowingly allow another child to grow up without their parent. Not if I could help it. I would do it all over again, not just for Cassim’s sake, but for all of yours. But you’re welcome.” I made a move to step around him, but he stepped into my path again. Stopping, I gazed up at him, my head cocking. “Was there something else?”

His throat rolled, his aura spiking. “There’s...one other thing I wanted to ask you. If you’re willing, I’d like you to sleep in my chambers tonight.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Yourchambers?”

He tentatively reached forward and ran his fingers down my forearm, lightly caressing my inner wrist. “Yes.”

A blast of shivers worked up my arm even though his touch was nothing new. He’d been doing things like that all week, even more so when we were in public, yet every time we made contact, my body practically convulsed withwant.

“I heard several inn staff talking when they were leaving tonight after delivering the food,” he continued. “One of them commented that she didn’t think we’d been sharing a chambers at night.”

My lips parted as his fingers continued doing those embarrassingly pleasurable movements. “But I’ve been so careful. Every morning, I make the bed, then cleanse the room of my scent.”

His brow furrowed. “Apparently, it’s not enough. They’re starting to suspect that we’re not sleeping together because your scentisn’tin my room.”

“How would they know that?”

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