Page 62 of Veil of Shadows

Above me, Jax grew entirely still, his body hot and heavy. Nobody moved or made a sound.

I wanted to wring my hands. I wanted to apologize.Nothingwas happening. The shipment was merely rolling by in several wagons. No kingsfae were about. Nothing seemed amiss.

Oh Goddess. What have I done?

But just when I was about to whisper that I was so sorry and had been mistaken, a burst of kingsfae atop domals abruptly appeared through the trees as if coming out of nowhere.

My eyes widened to saucers, and I clamped my lips closed to avoid making a sound. Jax turned entirely rigid, and in my next breath, he whispered a spell. Thick illusion magic from his Mistvale power cloaked all of us, hiding us completely, and a silencing Shield followed it.

The authorities spanned out. They must have been hidden underneath a powerful Shielding spell that they’d only just released. It was the only thing I could think of that wouldhide them for so long, but it wasn’t simple magic. A Shielding spell like that—if it didn’t come from one’s own magic—required potions carefully guarded by the authorities that were made by spellcasters from Mistvale and Ironcrest kingdoms using combined power. I’d heard such potions took months to properly produce, yet I wasn’t surprised if the kingsfae had drunk them to hide themselves.

One of the kingsfae glanced our way, but his gaze skimmed right over us, and I thanked the complexity of Jax’s magic. If not for that, despite the band’s dark attire, we likely would have been spotted.

Three dozen kingsfae atop domals trotted around the shipment. Swords were drawn, shields were held ready, and magic cascaded around them.

My hands fisted as the extent of the kingsfae’s might hit me. Magical devices glowed from within their ear canals, and I realized it was the same device the kingsfae had worn at the fountains. I knew those devices could be used for communicating, but something else I remembered registered in my mind. Something about those devices also preventing anyone with Mistvale magic from commanding them. Jax had once told me, if he was caught again, he wouldn’t be able to use his magic to command them again and escape twice.

“Any sign of them?” one of the kingsfae called.

“No, Commander.”

The commander snarled. “Enact the dome. He’s not getting away this time.”

One of the kingsfae threw something in the air, and a dome of magic burst into existence. It fell around the dozens of kingsfae, shimmering slightly in the darkness.

My eyes widened even more. I’d heard of the kingsfae’s protective magic over the seasons. It was a common tactical measure. Anyone who touched that dome was instantlyparalyzed for several hours. The power it commanded was so intricate, so potent, that few were able to withstand its wrath.

Despite my heart feeling about to burst, Jax remained unmoving. His body was as still as stone, and I questioned if he was even breathing. Everyone else was just as silent despite Jax’s Shield containing our sounds.

The commander glanced at a female beside him. “Sheralynn, scan the area.”

The female’s eyes narrowed, and a swell of magic emitted from her. She scanned the perimeter, likely using sight sensory Ironcrest magic. Since the kingsfae employed by each kingdom could herald from any of the four kingdoms, their combined gifts made them uniquely formidable.

“Risalto,” the commander called to another. “Tell me what you hear.”

A male nudged his domal forward, then he closed his eyes, and a puff of magic radiated from him.

A brief moment of panic hit me when I realized that Jax’s illusion magic and Shield could hide us from sight and sound, likely masking us from the kingsfae with the sight and sound sensory magic, but Jax couldn’t hide our touch.

I held my breath as the female continued to scan the area. A moment passed as she carried over the Wood, her eyes tracking over everything slowly. Deliberately.

And at the same time, the second kingsfae continued to listen.

Stars Above.It felt as though my heart was going to leap out of my chest.

“Nothing,” Risalto finally replied, opening his eyes. “If they’re here, they’re entirely unmoving.”

“Agreed,” the female said, and her magic died around her. “I see nothing unusual.”

I released a relieved breath.

The commander seethed. “But the king insisted they would attackhere. How am I to tell the king he was wrong?”

Jax tensed, the slightest tightening of his muscles.

I stilled.How does the king know that?

“I’m sorry, Commander,” the female replied. “But I sense nothing.”

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