Page 85 of Kingdom of Faewood

Just as soon as it started, though, it stopped.

“Sorry,” Jax said sarcastically, then prowled closer to Guardian Alleron. “My mind twitched.”

My guardian leaped back, and Jax stopped just short of him.

“You do that to her again, and then pretend that itwasn’tintentional, and I’ll make the next time I hurt you a hundred times more painful. Do you understand?”

Guardian Alleron cowered. “Yeee . . . yes, Dark Raider.”

The rest of the males watched on, not interfering, but tension strummed from them, and I swallowed the fear rising inside me. Jax was ruthless, trulyruthless. I’d been a fool to think I could ever trust him.

Bottom line, Jax had no qualms about hurting others. He’d likely eventually hurt me too, even if I’d thought he would never hurt a female. I just hadn’t provoked him enough yet.

I need to get out of here.

Guardian Alleron bobbed his head. “I sincerely apologize. I’ll ensure her collar isn’t triggered again.”

Jax placed his hands on his hips. “Will this calling hurt her?”

Guardian Alleron’s lips thinned. “It’s nothing she can’t handle.”

“That isn’t what I asked,” Jax growled.

“I’ll be fine,” I called. “Come, let’s get this over with.”

The Dark Raider searched my guardian’s face one last time before stepping to my side. He hovered his hand over mine. “Is here okay?” he asked gruffly.

My entire body locked up, but I nodded. “There’s fine.”

His hand gently entwined with mine, and a current ran up my arm that had nothing to do with the adaptor or my collar.Stupid, Elowen, so stupid. You’re seriously still attracted to him?Iwanted to hang myself.

“When you’re ready, Elowen.” Guardian Alleron pressed the gem on his adaptor in a series of specific taps, and a rush of magic washed around my throat.

The collar loosened its vise-like hold on my power, slowly falling away until it no longer felt like a constant pressure around my magic. But it was still there, still monitoring me. If the collar sensed that I was becoming too free of its grip, it would strengthen once more and rein me in.

I closed my eyes and opened my senses just as Jax’s abilities spiraled into me.

CHAPTER 21

A slam of power skated over me, stabbing and firing just beneath my skin. The force of it was like a living dragon, roaring its might on a tight leash. My breath caught. Power,so muchpower. Jax had more magic than any fairy I’d ever encountered.

Trembling, I forced myself to concentrate even though I dreaded what was to come.

Best not to think about that. Just get this over with so you can get out of here and away from the Dark Raider and away from these illicit feelings he’s born in you.

Breathing deeply, I fell inward, following the pull of the darkness inside me. I dove down, down, to the center of where my powers lay.

My magic’s enchanting coldness swirled around me, and I cradled the darkness that flowed through my veins and commanded my essence.

Take me away.

My magic heeded my call and flowed out of me, detaching my soul from my body and venturing me to the Veiled Between—the realm between realms, the plane that existed between life and death.

I shot through the galaxy, traveling instantaneously with my lorafin magic until I drifted in nothingness, and the Veil appeared.

A wispy fog parted the darkness, and I reached for it until my phantom fingertips met cool mist. I parted the Veiled Between and shifted through it.

The semelees on the Veil’s other side stirred and writhed, sensing my growing presence.

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