Page 58 of Kingdom of Faewood

Jax inhaled sharply, and he rhythmically tapped his fingers against his thigh. “Since that pile of dung obviously didn’t help you, did anyone else? Did you ever report to the kingsfae what Lordling Neeble had done?”

I shook my head. “No. I never told anyone.”

Jax took a step closer to me. I dipped my chin as something stirred inside me, something I couldn’t name or identify as Jax’s potent aura and alluring scent clouded around me.

With a gentle clasp of my chin, he tilted my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Why did you never tell?”

Tears threatened to fill my eyes again, but I blinked them back. A grinding noise came from beneath his mask, and I could have sworn his jaw locked. “Because ofthis.” I ran my finger along my collar. “I have no rights as a caged lorafin, Jax. Not really. And it never happened again. At least my guardian kept his word in that aspect.”

Jax’s breath hitched, and a tidal wave of power rose around him. Stepping even closer, he lowered his head, then whispered in my ear, “If any male ever does that to you again, I want to know. Do you hear me?Iwant to know.”

When he pulled back, I was trembling but not from fear. Instead, disbelief at the quiet rage that strummed from him coiled around something inside me. He’d meant every word that he just uttered. I would have bet my life on it. And even more startling, I had a feeling if any male did hurt me again as Lordling Neeble had, Jax would dish out punishment that was just as cruel and savage as what he’d done to the dead noble today.

“Understood?” He let go of my chin, and for the merest moment, his finger trailed along my jaw. A slight glow filled his eyes again, but it was gone so quickly, I wondered if I’d imagined it.

A shiver pulsed through me all the way to my toes. “Yes, I understand.”

“Good.” He looked me over, his brow furrowing. His gazelingered when it reached my dress’s ragged hem and torn sides. “We’ll be in Fosterton by the end of the day. I’ll find new clothes for you then. Do you think you can ride?”

My arse ached, and the welts on my legs still throbbed even though my lorafin magic had healed most of them, but I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

By the timethe sun began setting in the vast Shadow Valley, lights from Fosterton blurred the sky ahead like pearls of sparkling sand. Jax had created another bubble around us, allowing us to travel in relative comfort. We’d ridden most of the day, moving in blurred speed as Phillen rocked beneath us and Jax sat right behind me.

Due to the heat and dry terrain, we’d had to stop more often for water, but other than that, it’d been a day similar to the previous. The Dark Raider had held me close the entire time, his arm locked around my waist and his chest moving in rhythmic, deep breaths against my back.

He hadn’t asked or spoken of the calling I was to perform for him tomorrow, and given the crazy events of the night, Iwas no longer certain I could. I hadn’t slept more than a few hours due to the lordling’s attack, and consequently, I still felt aches and pains from the callings I’d done for the king.

But I’d promised Jax I would, so I slept for most of the ride, trying to help my magic fully recharge. But it was hard to rest when sitting up, and each time I jostled awake, it was to Jax’s strong hold and warm breath on my neck.

At first, knowing that Jax held me so intimately had caused a moment of embarrassment to hit me, but when I realized he didn’t seem to mind me sleeping in his arms, I’d eventually fallen back into a light slumber, letting the soft lulling motion of Phillen’s gallop soothe me to rest.

It also helped that every time I grew conscious once more, I became aware of the fact that Jax’s hand had never strayed from its position on my hip. No matter what state I was in, Jax’s touches had always been respectful.

I was slowly coming to realize that the Dark Raider might be many things, and the brutal reputation he’d earned throughout the kingdoms was definitely warranted, but the one thing Jaxwasn’twas an abuser of females or innocents who didn’t deserve his wrath. Somehow, I knew that to the depths of my soul.

“Where are we?” I finally asked when I roused completely. The remains of sleep still filled my eyes, but in a small burst of magic, I cleansed my breath, teeth, and body, but my stomach let out a loud rumble, letting me know that another long day of riding had left me famished. Yawning, I arched against Jax. “Are we almost there?”

He sucked in a breath so quietly I almost didn’t hear it. My eyes flew open when I realized I’d just pushed my backside right into his groin. He shifted slightly, just enough that our contact broke.

Cheeks blazing, I worked to subtly put another inch of distance between us.

Jax waved ahead with his free hand. “We’re...uh, still in the Shadow Valley. We’ll stop for the night in Fosterton.” He rubbed his cheek, then added in a gruff voice, “Should be there within ten minutes or so, but we’ll stop at a shop first, to get you new clothes, before we find an inn and supper.”

Ahead of us, Guardian Alleron was atop Trivan since the blond had drawn the short straw today. As before, my former guardian was strapped to the stag, and given his hunched-over position, he probably slept too.

Jax had released his sensory magic on my former guardian before we’d left and had allowed Guardian Alleron some water and a small amount of food. My former guardian could once again hear, speak, and see, but the time without his senses and the tortuous pain that’d been inflicted upon him seemed to have left a lasting impression. Not once had Guardian Alleron talked back to Jax since being released. Instead, fear now filled his eyes every time he beheld the Dark Raider.

“How are your legs?” Jax asked quietly.

“They’re okay,” I replied automatically.

“Are they?”

I nodded. “They are. The sleep helped. My magic still isn’t charged enough for a calling, but I’m fully healed physically. Although, I don’t heal as fast as you.” I frowned, thinking again of the wound Jax had suffered from. I’d never asked him about it.

“I’m glad to hear it. In that case, we won’t also stop at the healer in Fosterton.”

I angled my head slightly to see him better, but I was met with the underside of his jaw and black mask. “What about you? Do you need a healer?”

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