Page 88 of Kingdom of Faewood

“I can’t. This is part of a calling. She suffers the effects of a fairy’s magic when she awakens.” Whoever had just spoken sounded almost smug.Guardian Alleron.“For someone who claims to know so much about lorafins, I’m surprised you’re ignorant of this.”

“But she’s covered in bruises!”

“She is. You can thank your magic for that.”

Jax snarled. “Stop this!”

“I can’t.”

I screamed again when another stabbing sensation ripped through me, but I could have sworn no sound came from my lips.

Somehow, I managed to register what was happening. I hadn’t been lost. I’d been frozen in Jax’s magic. His power had robbed me of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. That was the terrifying void I’d experienced. It wasn’t because I’d been lost in the Veiled Between. It was because of the side effects, and it was only now starting to wear off.

But the strength of Jax’s internal pain-inducing psychic power was pure agony. His magic barreled through me unchecked, tearing, beating, and burning everything inside me. My organs, my veins, my very essence. Not one part of me was left unscathed.

And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

“I’m sorry. Stars, Elowen, I’msosorry.”

I tried to rouse more from the agonizing void. My heart beat at a furious pace. Another burst of sizzling flames sped through my innards.Galaxy Above, make it stop!

“I should cut off your fucking head for this!”

“I apologize, Dark Raider, but this is what you...you wanted,” Guardian Alleron stammered. “This is the price of a calling.”

“How much longer until she’s conscious?” Jax demanded.

“That would depend upon the strength of your magic, butsince she’s twitching now and making those mewling sounds, I would imagine fairly soon.”

“But it’s already been an entire day.”

A day? Stars Above, I’ve never been under that long.

“True, which would imply you’re quite powerful.” Guardian Alleron’s reply sounded uneasy, as if he was reminded once again of the magic harbored within the Dark Raider. “But her own magic will soon rise and suppress yours. Usually, at this stage, she begins to regain control.”

And some part of my mind knew I was close to coming out of this, so I fought against Jax’s magic and struggled to regain all of my senses. I did my best to quell the burning and beating pain barreling unchecked through my body. The darkness within me flared, my magic rising even though the collar hummed. I ignored the painful zaps that followed and consciously began to douse Jax’s crackling power.

A moan came, a loud one.Mymoan. My voice was back.

“Elowen!” Jax called. “Can you hear me?”

My eyes opened to slits. Dim sunshine greeted me. Slowly, so slowly, Jax’s magic receded more as my darkness cooled his monumental power.

One last flash of shadows crept through me, the collar tingling along my throat again, but in a whisper, my magic calmed everything completely. My eyelids fell limp again as the remains of his magic at last, blessedly receded.

The calling was done.Finally. But Goddess, I hurteverywhere. It felt as though a herd of domals had stampeded over me after my skin had been flayed.

I whimpered despite trying not to, but the aftermath of Jax’s calling wasbrutal.

“Damn all of this!” Jax snarled. “Elowen?”

It took me a minute to realize that my hand was clasped in his. Hard callouses rubbed my skin, and with each touch of his palm, my senses grew more alive. A soft bed was beneath me, and the aroma of spice and pine hovered in the air.

“Her bruises are starting to fade,” Phillen said gruffly, and I vaguely registered that all of Jax’s friends were present as well.

“Ah, she’s beginning to fully wake,” Guardian Alleron said matter-of-factly. “The Dark Raider’s magic should no longer be affecting her.”

“Elowen?” Jax called again.

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