Page 80 of Veil of Shadows

Sunlight streamed into the room, and one sniff told me that the scent of sex hung heavily in the air.

I blinked sleepily, a smile forming. Jax and I had donemanyactivities throughout the night. A giggle escaped me, and I quickly slapped a hand to my mouth to muffle any further sound. But I couldn’t help another small laugh because the crown prince of Stonewild had taken my virginity. His need through the night had seemed insatiable, but each time, I’d been just as ready for him.

Stars and galaxy, I’m not a virgin anymore.My heart felt so content that it took a full minute before reality began to seep in. Bittersweet reality. I’d given my virginity to my mate, but I could never truly claim him as mine. And that fact burrowed itself into my bones.

The room continued to brighten, but the light within me dimmed. My claim on Jax was coming to an end. We had this night, this one perfect night, but he was still the heir toStonewild, and I was still a caged lorafin. Nothing could ever come of this, even if the gods had created us as fated mates.

Still...I smiled again. I could enjoy it while it lasted. I would forever savor the memory, and for this one delicious moment, he was still wrapped around me.

I snuggled closer to him. The prince’s deep, rhythmic breathing continued, and I allowed myself time to memorize my mate—the feel of him, his strength, his tenderness, his unbelievably arousing aura that had commanded me completely. Everything about him I wanted to hold close.

I wanted to remember all of the best details, and the only regret I had was that we hadn’t engaged in any positions other than him taking me from behind. Rutting seemed to be what he enjoyed most, but I cherished that too, and I would remember it forever.

Sleepily, I sighed against him.

Jax stirred on my next breath, and a tingle of his magic puffed in his aura. Still asleep, he tightened his arm, then his hand strayed lower, fingers dancing along my skin toward my?—

The door banged open. “Jax, wake up!”

I started at the sound of Bowan rushing into the room, and a squeak emitted from me.

Bowan stopped halfway across the chambers, his feet planting to the carpet. His jaw dropped, and his gaze shot to the floor. “Oh, shite.”

The emission left him just as Jax growled awake. The prince’s arm locked around my waist, dragging me against him, and then a terrifying snarl tore from his mouth just as his magic speared toward the intruder.

Jax’s magic hit Bowan at full force. Bowan twitched upright in a rigid board, his mouth opening and closing, but no sound came out. His entire body began to convulse, then his mouth opened in a silent scream.

Stars and galaxy, the prince was inflictingpain.

I shook Jax’s arm, which was like trying to remove a steel band. “Jax, it’s just Bowan!”

But the crown prince’s arm just locked tighter around my waist.

Sleep was still evident in his expression, so I wiggled against him, hoping to snap him out of whatever sleep-crazed instinct had just overtaken him. “Jax, it’sBowan!”

In his next blink, the prince’s eyes widened. “Goddess,” he rasped. He released his magic, the power around his friend obliterating.

Bowan blinked and sagged, nearly crumpling to the floor. Somehow, he managed to stay upright, but the second his gaze snagged onto Jax’s, he snapped his attention to the floor once more.

My heart beat frantically becausethatwas quite the wake-up call, yet Jax just pulled me against his chest again, then gathered the covers around us to cover me completely.

“What in the realm are you doing in here, Bowan?” he growled. “And it better be an absolutely fucking fantastic reason. I almost killed you.”

“I...” Bowan’s gaze stayed on his toes, but slowly, he began to lift his head.

“Don’t look at her when she’s not dressed.” The energy around the Dark Raider soared as his Mistvale commanding magic speared his friend.

I gaped and whipped my attention upward to face Jax and demand to know why he would command his friend like that, but the prince’s focus didn’t waver.

Bowan immediately dipped his chin downward, then inhaled deeply. And even though he kept his attention latched to the rug beneath his feet, I couldn’t help but notice his shockedexpression. “I’m...I’m sorry, my prince. I meant no disrespect. I didn’t know.”

“What do you want?” Jax demanded. “And Galaxy Above, Bowan, never enter my chambers like that again when I have her with me.”

“I understand now, but...well, I didn’t expect to find her in bed with you or to know that you?—”

“Enough.” Jax snarled, and his body nearly curled around me. “For the last time, what do you want?”

“I’m here because I saw Bastian,” Bowan said in a rush. “I saw him this morning in the Wood with a group of half-breeds. If we’re fast, we can catch up to them.”

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