Page 83 of Kingdom of Faewood

But nobody was about.

Somebody must have snuck in here and then out.

Realizing that nearly made my heart stop, and considering this new discovery made my stomach turbulent, I wasn’t able to eat.

I was standingnear the window an hour later, desperately trying to see some kind of detail through its thick fog, when a soft knock came on the door.

I jumped, just as an unlocking spell followed, and given the aura wafting under the door, I knew who it was.

Tensing, I watched as the Dark Raider opened the door and stepped into the room. He did it so fast thatI couldn’t see any details of the hall behind him, but I did see enough to know it was a hallway, not another stone tunnel, but as soon as that detail revealed itself, it disappeared.

For a moment, we both stared at one another. Once again, Jax wore a mask and a bandana, but his clothes were different. Instead of leggings he wore black slacks. And in place of a tunic, he wore a thin gray sweater.

I could tell even from the distance that the material was finely woven. Jax hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he had rulibs. Apparently, he was as wealthy as Guardian Alleron.

Our gazes stayed locked, and my heart beat even faster as cold fury began to consume me. My collar rattled violently against my throat, but I didn’t even try to stop it.

“You’ve returned.” My comment came out as frosty as the window behind me.

His throat bobbed in a swallow. “Good morning,” he offered.

I curled my hands into fists.

He took a step toward me, but an air of hesitance billowed around him, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was feeling guilty for what he’d done to me, or perhaps he was feeling guilty for whatever he was about to demand.

Of course, I had no way of knowing. As always, his features were hidden behind that damned mask.

“Back to hiding then?” I asked in a sardonic tone as I arched an eyebrow. “You certainly had no problemsnotwearing that mask yesterday when we arrived.”

“It’s a necessity.”

I scoffed. “Of course it is.”

The mysteriousness of him only added to his commanding presence. I was itching to know what he looked like, but I figured at this point the likelihood of that happening was as promising as me traveling to planet Jeulic.

He walked slowly toward me, each step silent on the thick carpet, until he stood only a foot away.

“How did you sleep?” The muted sunlight hit his eyes, and his irises became a dazzling display of blues and navy.

“Oh, just fine, thank you. And how about you, Dark Raider?”

My syrupy tone had him huffing, but instead of replying, his finger began to tap against his thigh. He gestured toward the food tray on the table in the attached sitting room. “Did you eat?”

“No.”

The tapping increased. “Would you like breakfast first? Before the calling?”

My lips thinned. So that was why he was here.Right down to business then.I didn’t know if I should be offended or relieved.

Shrugging, I replied, “It honestly doesn’t matter. If you’re eager to get started, we can begin.”

Hesitantly, his hand drifted forward until it brushed against mine. In my next breath, he clasped ahold of me. Mychest tightened at the feel of his hard callouses. Eyes sparkling like sapphires, he squeezed me gently.

“Thank you. After this, I’ll release you, ensuring your freedom from that collar to the best of my ability, and I’ll be sure you have enough rulibs to start whatever life you’d like.”

Hope surged within me. Stupid,stupid, hope.When will you ever learn, Elowen, that you can trust no one?

“I’ll believe that when I see it.”

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