Page 84 of Veil of Shadows

Bowan cleared his throat, then shook his head as his face became a mask of confusion. “At the Wood’s edge, Bastian appeared, but he didn’t reallylooklike Bastian. He wasn’t smiling, and he didn’t say anything, and something about him seemed off. He turned wordlessly and led the group of half-breeds into the Wood on the trail we were just on. I followed them for a bit, but when they never deviated from the wildling trail, I left and came back to get you in hopes we could catch up to them.”

Jax growled low in his throat. “Butwheredid they go? Like Trivan said, they couldn’t have just vanished in thin air from here.”

“Unless they had portal keys?” I offered. “Even though that’s unlikely. Or if a Solis fairy was with them, they could have mistphased them out of here. Or perhaps they went underground?” I thumped my foot on the soil.

“Underground?” Jax’s attention snapped to me, and the second our gazes collided, that wild light entered his eyes, a blue glow appearing in his irises. But he shook himself, and in a flash, it was gone.

I stared at him warily.What in the realm...I didn’t know much about mate bonds, but I was starting to wonder if that had something to do with his bizarre behavior.But we’re not fully mated, so how can that be?

Shaking that thought off, I cleared my throat. “Um, yes, underground. It’s common in this area of the Wood for wildlings to have extensive dens beneath the soil. There are also underground rock tunnels and caverns in this part. Some are quite large.”

Alec cocked his head. “How do you know that?”

I shrugged. “On the days I wasn’t doing a calling, I often spent my time in the Wood. My guards would give me space since there weren’t any other siltenites nearby, and I’ve always found nature calming. The galaxy and the Wood are my solace. Even though my guardian and I had only moved here recently, I’m no stranger to this area of Faewood, and I’ve always made it a point to befriend local wildlings. A few of them told me about this area not long after we settled here.”

They all glanced downward, and Jax ran his hand along the soil again, Lander doing the same. The rest fanned out, all of their nostrils flaring as they scented the Wood and perimeter anew.

On the opposite side of the clearing, Bowan put his hands on his hips, and a ray of sunshine shone upon his brown skin. “They definitely didn’t move past this clearing.”

“Agreed.” Phillen stood opposite him on the outer circle, nodding. “I can’t scent anything past the soil there.” He pointed to where Lars and Trivan were both prowling.

Jax scowled. “But how would they have gotten underground?”

“Ifthey’re underground.” Trivan drummed his fingers along his thigh. “Like Elowen said, if they had a portal key or were with a Solis fairy, it’s possible they transported elsewhere from here.”

Bowan laughed. “And when was the last time you saw a Solis fairy on this continent?”

Jax arched an eyebrow. “My fellow royal, Norivun, was here just last summer when we met about the Lochen’s raids.”

“But that was for a political reason,” Phillen countered. “Surely, whatever’s happened to Bastian isn’t political. And nothing going on in this clearing would draw the attention of foreign royals.”

My brow furrowed as I listened to them arguing about what could have happened, then I sighed in annoyance. “You know, I could simply ask my wildling friends what they know about this area. Or if they saw anything. They may be able to help.”

Everyone grew quiet. Lander cocked his head, Phillen scratched his chin, and Jax eyed me with interest.

“Do you know them well enough to ask that?” the prince asked.

“I do. I’m good friends with a few of them.”

“Well, then that would be quite . . . logical,” Trivan finally stated.

“In that case, follow me.” I turned away, intent on finding Esopeel. Of all my wildling friends in this area, she was most likely to know of any unusual changes made in this clearing.

Against my better judgment, I glanced over my shoulder at Jax.

His eyes were glowing again, and a slow grin spread across his face as he watched me.

My heart began to pound.One night. We had one fantastic, amazing, mind-blowing night together, but he’s to wed another. Calm yourself, Elowen.

I snapped my attention away from the male who was fated to be my mate and tromped through the Wood.

CHAPTER 23

It didn’t take long to find Esopeel. Thecerlikanwildling had lived in this part of the Wood her entire life. Her den was only a short distance away, in a large burrow near the palace lands bordering Emerson Estate. I’d met her within the first week of moving to Faewood, and she’d been delighted that a local siltenite—one considered a lady nonetheless—had wanted to befriend her. Since most siltenites and other high fae of our realm viewed wildlings as lesser, her gratitude hadn’t surprised me, but it still irked me. She was just as intelligent as me, so to think others viewed her aslessalways rubbed me the wrong way.

“Elowen!” she said brightly when I crouched near her den’s entrance. She crawled along the dirt tunnel, parting the leaves that shielded it from the rain, and then emerged. “My dear girl, it’s so good to see that you’re all right!”

“Hi, Esopeel, I’ve missed you.”

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