Page 28 of Veil of Shadows

The captain sashayed toward Jax and then clasped the prince’s forearm, shaking it in a formal greeting before bowing. “It’s a true pleasure to have you on board, my prince.”

“Thank you, Captain Mezzerack,” Jax replied, his tone crisp.

Other fae, not crew, moved in around us from across the deck, and with a start, I realized there were many other noble siltenites also on board.

I did a quick count as I took another sip of champagne. There were around twenty other siltenites present. And given that all of them were dressed in gowns and fine apparel, I knew they were either members of the ten Houses or nobility of high standing.

A quick survey of their clothing soon revealed they were House members. On the sleeves of the oldest fae males were crests signifying which Houses they belonged too. The same crests hung from pendants around the females’ necks.

My heartbeat picked up. Every single fairy on this ship was of noble standing. Every single one except me.

I counted three Houses from Stonewild, yet I didn’t know their House names or what magic they possessed. But of the group, there was an older male and an older female. Four younger females also accompanied them, who I could only presume were their daughters or nieces. The second group held an old male and six young females—another father and his daughters or nieces, I was guessing—and the last was an older female with five younger females.

Frowning, I assessed them more. The ship was literally crawling with young females. None of them appeared old, and all of them were gazing at Jax with stars in their eyes. And it hit me very suddenly who they likely were.

“Are all of these females potential betroths for the prince?” I whispered to Alec.

He inclined his head as the captain continued speaking boisterously to Jax. “Indeed they are. How did you know that?”

I made a noncommittal noise. “Just a guess. Saramel told me he’s to be wed next summer.”

“Unfortunately.” Alec shrugged. “The prince isn’t keen on the idea, but royal protocol and all can’t be ignored. And seeing athird of the potential betroths are all right here, I have a feeling the queen arranged this. She’s been trying for months to get his courtships going, and she likely knew the prince wouldn’t be able to avoid the females she and the king have chosen on a ship.”

I smiled, but it was strained. “How . . . resourceful of her.”

“Indeed. The queen can be quite single-minded when she decides she wants something.”

I took another sip of champagne, not wanting to delve much thought into what the queen had in store for her son.

The captain took a step back from Jax and waved toward the sails. “Now that everyone’s on board, we shall make haste to Faewood Kingdom.” He turned his attention to the other siltenites. “I do hope you enjoy the journey.”

The nobles raised their glasses, some murmuring pleasantries while the females continued giving Jax moon eyes.

Jax merely smiled tightly and took another sip of champagne.

The captain barked several orders at the crew, and within minutes, the anchor was lifted, the sails were billowing, magic shimmered in the air, and the ship headed toward the sea.

A fairy with an air element stood at the stern of the ship. He whipped his hands through the air, and a huge gust of wind abruptly propelled the ship faster forward.

I cast the prince another glance, but several of the females from the Houses had encircled him. They peppered him with questions about what he hoped to see at the Matches.

Jax’s jaw remained tight, but he spoke with all of them, answering politely, and even laughed a few times.

A pang cut through my stomach so sharply that for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

Turning away, I discarded my champagne glass to a nearby servant, then placed my hands on the ship’s railing. I watchedas Stonewild grew smaller the farther we sped out to sea, and I wondered if I would ever consider that land my home.

Since Jax planned to keep me forever, thanks to my uncovering their identities, that meant I would inevitably be returning to Stonewild’s capital.

Perhaps I would inhabit the enchanted chambers for the rest of my days. Or maybe Jax would move me somewhere else in the palace, in which I could move more freely from my chambers. All in all, I had no idea what the coming summers would bring, but I knew my fate lay along this northern coast.

Because whatever was ultimately decided, Jaggedston was where I lived now, which meant that come next summer, I would have to watch when Jax wed another.

My fingers curled around the railing so tightly my knuckles turned white. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I needed to remember why I was here. I’d wanted to help Jax. I’drequestedthis.

Which meant that I needed to stop these strange reactions that Jax elicited in me and force myself not to care when he laughed or touched other females.

I needed to accept my fate for what it was—I was to be owned by him, and he was to marry another.

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