Page 15 of Veil of Shadows

Some of the tension in my shoulders eased, and the painful beat of my heart lessened.

I didn’t know if I could trust him completely. Didn’t know if he would ultimately abandon me, as so many others had, despite his concern that a Mistvale fairy might command me to revealwho the Dark Raider was, but in this task, I thoughtmaybeI could believe him fully.

“Elowen?” he said gently.

Finally, I gave a single nod and hoped I wasn’t making the biggest mistake of my life. “Okay, Jax. I’ll trust you.”

CHAPTER 5

A moment of lightness broke through the prince’s aura. “Why don’t you sit for this.”

He led me to one of the plush chairs and then rounded on my former guardian. “You’re to use the adaptor to permanently loosen the collar to the maximum of your ability.”

Guardian Alleron opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Jax growled, and a pulse of his magic puffed out of him around my guardian.

My guardian sucked in a breath when Jax’s magic lifted a second time. “The collar is designed to never allow her to access the full capabilities of her powers,” he said in a rush. “Nor is it designed to leave her indefinitely without its suppression. I can only do so much.”

The sound of Jax’s teeth grinding came from beneath his mask. “How long will the collar stay loose on her if you command it now?”Jax’s Mistvale magic coated his words, forcing an honest answer from the receiver of his question.

In a rush, my guardian said, “I honestly don’t know, but my guess is a few weeks. A couple of months, at most. I’ll have to wield my adaptor again at some point to ensure she stays freeof its afflictions.” He gave Jax a pointed look, but I caught the meaning of his words too.

If I wanted to remain free, Jax would have to keep my guardian alive. I wouldneverbe free of him. Not even in this.

From Jax’s sharp inhale of breath, I knew in that moment he understood that I could never be rid of my guardian either. Not completely at least if I didn’t want to suffer for the rest of my life with a full-blown working collar.

My shoulders slumped, and it felt as if my soul withered.

Still staring at my guardian, Jax said on a low growl, “Gods, you’re a monster.” I could have sworn he was seething beneath his mask. “Do the best that you can. Tell the adaptor to keep her free for the maximum length of its ability.”

My former guardian’s jaw worked, but Jax’s magic took hold, and he was helpless to resist. It suddenly struck me that not once had my guardian spoken directly to me, only to Jax, reminding me of the command Jax had given to him days ago in the Ustilly Mountains on our ride to Stonewild.You’re never to speak to her again.

My lips parted as the strength of Jax’s magic struck me anew.Dayshad passed since that command, and his power still held.

Guardian Alleron faced me, his expression hard, intense, and resentful. But Jax’s magic wouldn’t allow him to delay. He ran his thumb swiftly over the adaptor in a series of taps, then whispered a few words.

I held my breath. Waiting. Watching. I was ready to pounce upon my magic and wrestle it into submission if I felt about to explode.

A wash of magic shimmered in the adaptor’s gem. An answering pulse came from the stone at my throat. It warmed, more so than usual, then vibrated, and a lightweight feeling shimmered over my entire body.

The veil of my collar’s magic, which always felt as though it suppressed me and caged me in, began to lift. It felt as if a heavy cloak was being removed from my innards. That weight upon weight of solid bricks that had been heaved upon my shoulders began to levitate upward until my shadowy lorafin magic soared beneath it, rising, flying, and existing almost entirely unchecked.

In another breath, the cloak disappeared, nearly vanishing from existence, and it struck me that Guardian Alleron hadneverloosened my collar’s restrictions to this extent. Not even close.

My eyes widened when the freeing feeling flowed through me. I still felt the power of the collar, but it was farther away, as though it kept a watchful eye on me but wasn’t hovering. Like a mother would do with a child, watching and remaining there, ready to pounce if needed, but giving the child the false sense of freedom and independence.

Despite the collar not being removed completely, I felt light. Airy. As though boulders of suppression had just...disappeared.

I waved a hand through the air. Magic crackled along my skin and along my fingertips. Power barreled down my limbs,magnificentpower. I was tempted to test it, to see what I was capable of, but...

An image of fae screaming before me shot through my mind, the vivid details resurfacing of that horrid day all of those summers ago.

I quickly brought my hands back to my side.

Breaths coming faster, I waited. Waited for my magic to rise up and take over, exploding out of me and dooming us all.

The crown prince studied me, his gaze intense and focused. Steady puffs came from beneath his mask, as though he was breathing faster. “How do you feel?”

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