Page 85 of Veil of Shadows

She hobbled to me, her short furry legs the color of the sky. The rest of her was a mixture of beiges, dark greens, light pinks, and blues. Her glossy fur perfectly blended into the many colors of the Wood.

“I’ve been so worried about you.” She hugged my arm, and I patted her back. Our size difference made affection difficult,but Esopeel was one of the most caring wildlings I’d ever met. She straightened and looked me over. “Once the news reached me that you’d been taken, why, I don’t think I’ve had a decent night’s sleep since.”

I gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry for worrying you. If I could have sent word to you that I was fine, I would have.”

She inclined her head. “No matter. You’re here now, and you appear well, but is it true? Were you actually abducted from the horrid guardian of yours?”

I winced. It was funny how everyone else had seen Guardian Alleron for who he was, but it’d taken me many moments over the past few weeks to truly accept that he’d never been a father to me.

Shaking that painful fact off, I replied, “I was, but that’s a story for another time.” I glanced briefly over my shoulder at Jax and his friends. They were concealed within the foliage, not moving a muscle. Turning back around, I smiled and settled myself onto the damp soil.

Esopeel glanced over my shoulder, and her eyes grew wide when she spotted Jax and his friends standing a few paces behind me. They were still mostly hidden.

Esopeel’s nose twitched when she scented the breeze. “I see you’ve met some brommel stag shifters.”

I wasn’t surprised that she guessed their shifter species since cerlikans had a sharp sense of smell. “I have, and that’s actually why I’m here.”

“Oh?” She sat beside me on the Wood’s ground and folded her hands in her lap. “Does knowing them also explain why it’s been weeks since I’ve seen you?” She tapped her chin. “I believe the last time I saw you was when you were riding that ridiculous carpet with your guardian. Had I known that day would be when you’d be taken, why I would have...” She let her words hang when it became apparent to both of us thatthere was little she could have done. While wildlings were quite aware of the comings and goings in the Wood, few siltenites ever paid attention to them when they tried to raise the alarm about something.

I nodded solemnly. “I know, but the fact that you would have tried to help me means the realm to me.” I patted her hand gently, careful not to tap too hard since I was so much bigger than her. “Actually, my new friends are the reason I’m here. We’re looking for someone and hope you can help.” I quickly explained what Bastian looked like, then the clearing we’d just stumbled upon. “It was so odd because I could have sworn that clearing wasn’t there a month ago.”

Esopeel’s eyes widened, and she clutched one of my fingers, her tiny paw wrapping around my knuckle. “It wasn’t. There have been many strange things happening in the Wood lately.”

“Really?” I frowned, cocking my head. “Are you referring to the Centennial Matches and how they cleared some of the Wood for it?”

She shook her head rapidly. “No, not that. Those were all approved clearings by the wildling mayors. I’m talking about the other activities. The ones that have nothing to do with the Matches.”

A chill ran down my spine as though a gust of wind from the Solis continent had just rushed through the Wood. “What are you talking about?”

She continued in a hushed voice, looking around every now and then. “There have been strange occurrences in these parts lately. That clearing you stumbled across only being one of them. The mayors have gone to the kingsfae multiple times, trying to tell them what we’ve observed, but they keep brushing us off, tellingour kindto get back in the Wood where we belong.” She sniffed indignantly, and a flush of heat worked up my neck.

“How rude.” I clenched my hands into fists.

“I know,” she huffed. “But perhaps you could get them to listen.”

I hunkered down closer to her. “Tell me everything.”

By the timeEsopeel finished recalling what she and other wildlings had witnessed in the Wood, it felt as though rivers of ice flowed through my veins.

“You’re certain?” I asked when she finished. “Half-breeds have been seen regularly in these parts, and they’ve made homes underneath the soil?”

“I’m more than certain. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

“And all of these half-breeds wear metallic anklet jewelry?”

“Indeed.”

I frowned, wondering why they would all have matching anklets. “What about the half-breed we seek? The one with permanent antlers, have you seen him?”

She cocked her head. “It’s possible. I’ve seen so many half-breeds lately, but I can’t say for certain.”

Jax’s aura pounded into my back. Esopeel had flinched every time a pulse of it hit her, so I’d shifted my position and tried to shield her from Jax’s power. “Do you know how we could enter the caverns beneath that clearing?”

She shook her head regretfully. “I’m sorry, but no. The usual tunnels we’ve used to access that part of the Wood had been sealed. But I can tell you whatever’s occurring beneath the surface there, it’s evil, Elowen. Magic pulses around it underground. Heavy,darkmagic. Nothing good is occurring there.”

My pulse turned thready. The chill in me grew. Dark magic. Hidden caverns. Matching anklets on the half-breeds. I had toagree with Esopeel. An ominous tone rang through everything she’d revealed.

“Thank you for sharing what you know.” I squeezed her paw gently.

---