Page 95 of Kingdom of Faewood

The time had come for him to demand answers and for me to reveal what I’d seen in the Veiled Between. The entire reason he’d taken me had been leading up to this one moment.

Dipping my chin, I looked away, but it didn’t stop a flush from working up my neck. He might be here to demand answers, yet all of my attention still focused on memories of what it felt like to have his hands on me. Images assaulted my mind of his strong fingers trailing up my legs and along my back. They wouldn’t stop.

But they had to.

Thiswas why I was here, and this one act would finally set me free.

I took a deep breath. “You’re probably wanting to know about the male you seek?”

He gave a curt nod. Every part of Jax exuded nervous energy, but despite that, he fell into a relaxed posture on the couch, much like he had this morning when I’d been bedridden. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and then clasped his hands.

“Very much.” His voice was hoarse, and the aura around him pounded through the room even though he tried to appear nonchalant.

My throat bobbed in a swallow when his anxiety hit me. He’d been waiting forhoursto learn the fate of whomever themale was he’d lost, and it was someone he obviously cared for deeply. Yet he’d allowed me time to eat, sleep, bathe, and dress. Nobody had ever awarded me that courtesy before following a calling.

My stomach twisted at the news I had to deliver. “He’s alive.”

A collective intake of breaths went around the room, then a few cheers and pats on one another’s backs came from Jax’s friends.

“I knew it.” Trivan placed his hands on his hips. “I just knew he was still alive.”

“Where is he?” Jax demanded.

I clenched my hands and looked down. “Faewood Kingdom. The Centennial Matches.”

“What?”

I shrugged at his soft growl. “I can’t tell you why. I wasn’t able to get those answers, but he’s there, and he’s alive.” I curled my fingers into my palm. “But, the semelees said something isn’t right with him. He doesn’tfeelas what you showed me.”

“What does that mean?” Phillen pushed away from the wall, his brow furrowing.

“Your guess is as good as mine. I’ve never had a response from them like that before, and I’m sorry, but I didn’t push them for an answer.” Memories of them pulling me deeper into their realm surfaced, and I shuddered. I hadn’t been strong enough to demand more.

“But he’s alive?” Jax pushed to standing and began to pace.

“Yes.”

“Is he imprisoned?”

I frowned, shaking my head. “No. He’s free.”

Jax shared a look with his friends. It was obvious, even with the masks hiding their features, that this news perplexed them.

“Why hasn’t he contacted you then?” Lars said under his breath, but I still heard it.

Eyebrows slashing together, Jax shook his head, then returned his attention to me. “What else can you tell me about what the semelees revealed?”

“Not much, unfortunately. They showed me where he is.” I went on to describe the arena and construction and the identifying details I’d seen. “I saw those images myself, in real life, just last week. It’s the construction around Faewood’s palace for the Centennial Matches.”

“And he was there, with other half-breeds?”

“He was, and they all looked as despondent as him.”

Jax’s breath hitched, and he shared another conspiratorial look with his friends before asking me, “Can you tell me anything else?”

I described the other structures I’d seen, giving him as much detail as I was able, but even I knew the information I’d garnered wasn’t much to go on. But I’d done as he’d asked. I’d traveled to the Veiled Between and located who he sought.

When finished, I fingered my collar. It’d been calm most ofthe morning, on account of my sleeping and relaxed state. But now, a shiver ran through it when my nerves pulsed with worry. “As for our deal now being complete...” I said tentatively.

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