Page 62 of Kingdom of Faewood

“Then what’s the problem? Why aren’t you happy?”

“I’m happy.” I gave him a dazzling smile, one so rehearsed that I could have done it in my sleep.

He took another step closer until his chest was only inches from mine. “Elowen,” he said gruffly. “The truth, please.”

My gaze flew to his, and I was once again awarded a clear view of his piercing blue eyes. They stared at me so intently that it was hard to look away, and once again, I had the feeling that he was studying me, trying to see into me.

“It’s nothing.” I ran a flustered hand over my chestnut-colored hair, but when another low growl came from him, I blurted out, “It’s just that, my entire life I’ve been dressed up. Asked to perform. Expected to play the part of the dutiful lorafin. I’ve been on so many shopping trips like this it’s hard not to fall back into the role I’ve always played.”

“And what role is that?”

“A lorafin slave who does her guardian’s bidding.”

Jax stilled. “Is that what it feels like I’m doing? Dressingyou up so you can prance around before me while I admire you?”

“I don’t understand.” I twisted my hands, for the first time not knowing how I was supposed to react or what was expected of me. “I’ve been putting on each dress, turning every time I’ve been asked to, yet you’re angry.”

“Goddess.” He raked a hand over his scarfed head. “Take it off.”

My stomach sank. “Oh...okay.” My hands automatically went to the dress’s clasp at my neck, and the gown began to slide down my body, the swell of my breasts appearing as the dress slid lower.

Jax’s breath sucked in, and his hands shot up to catch the dress before more of me was exposed. “Fuck, Elowen. Not here,” he said in a low, rough voice. “In the privacy of your dressing room.”

“Oh...Oh...I’m sorry. I misunderstood.” Flustered, I stopped the gown from falling lower. “But I thought you said to?—”

“I didn’t mean that you had to undress for me.” Energy soared around him, washing over me in hot waves. He quickly clasped the gown together at the back of my neck, his fingers brushing against my skin.

Feeling like the biggest fool, I hurried to change, and once I was fully covered again, I joined Jax, only to find him pacing and agitated.

“Is that whathewould make you do?” Jax nodded to theoutside, toward the front of the shop where his five friends and Guardian Alleron were waiting, before prowling to the other side of the shop and back.

“No.” I quickly shook my head. “Guardian Alleron never touched me or watched me undress, but some males asked to see more of me when I’d perform callings, and sometimes, he’d allow that.”

Jax froze, not one muscle moving. I could have sworn the air chilled around him too. “He did?”

I shrugged, and my stomach churned. “Not often, and he always gave me extra rulibs in my allowance when I wore more revealing dresses or bared parts of my flesh that I normally wouldn’t. If I agreed to it, it would always require a higher fee at the calling, but he never allowed me to be naked. Only small parts of me were exposed at a time. It was just to tease the nobles.Thathe would accommodate, depending upon the price, but he didn’t let them touch me. Lordling Neeble was the only one who did that.” I bit my lip, and those conflicting feelings rose within me again for Guardian Alleron. He’d protected me in many ways, but in some ways...he’d exploited my vulnerability. I’d always known that on some level. Yet, other than Lordling Neeble, he’d never allowed anyone to touch me. It was looking only.

I shook my head. Anger for him again simmered within me, and the sense of betrayal was sharp and stabbing. But that sense of love and devotion I’d always felt for him was still present too. I couldn’t deny that. He was still my father, theonly parent I’d ever had. And hope still lived within me that maybe in his own messed up way, he loved me too, because Guardian Alleron was, and had been, the one and only constant in my life. Despite everything he’d done.

Jax’s chest rose faster with each breath that he took. “So he treated you like a whore.”

My head snapped back. “No, he never asked that I bed a male.”

“But he had no problems with them looking.” His jaw locked again, that telltale sound of his snapping teeth drifting through the mask.

I gave a quick nod.

“Elowen, may I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Do you favor these types of gowns?” He waved toward the fluffy lavender one I’d changed into.

I glanced down at it, again not wanting to appear ungrateful. “I mean, it’s beautiful. I would never offend the shopkeeper by saying it wasn’t.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

My heart hammered when I glanced up to find him watching me again in that intense, all-seeing way of his.

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