Page 15 of Kingdom of Faewood

Pain slashed through my heart when I recalled how quickly Mushil had been killed by that arrow. The old guard was dead because of the Dark Raider, even though Mushil had been one of the kindest fae I’d ever known and had beenentirely innocent of any wrongdoings. All he’d been doing last night was guarding me. He hadn’t deserved to die simply for doing his job, and who was to say my fate would be any different from poor Mushil’s?

A sob threatened to rise in my chest as his death hit me anew, but I blinked rapidly and tried not to dwell on it. I needed my wits about me right now, but Mushil’s murder solidified that I couldn’t trust Jax to do the right thing.

Despite what the poor said of him, despite that Jax claimed he wouldn’t hurt me...after thinking about it, from whatI’dseen, I would be a fool to believe that Jax would ultimately release me. When he finally accepted that I could never do a calling for him, it was possible he would just kill me versus letting me go.

In other words, if I wanted to guarantee my survival, I would have to escape.

I eyed the Wood and contemplated how to do that impossible task.

Even though I’d always felt at home among the trees, having grown up in them, in my current state with an aching body, no food or water, and only a few rulibs in my gown’s pocket, I was vulnerable. Not to mention my damned gown and protesting muscles made sneaking through the Wood difficult, and I didn’t know any of the local wildlings here. We were too far from Emerson Estate to call upon any of my friends to aid me.

Escaping wouldn’t be easy, but at least I had time on myside, since Jax knew I couldn’t perform another calling for a few days. That could work to my advantage.

I nibbled my lip more. I knew my guardian would eventually be in pursuit of me, likely with guards or the kingsfae at his side. And if he could find me...

My thoughts whirled as I began to form a plan. If Guardian Alleron had enough time, he could track me and catch up to me. Finding a way to help him rescue me was likely my best option, considering it would be difficult on my own in the Wood even if I could escape, which meant that I needed to help my guardian locate me.

But I had no idea where I was or how far I’d traveled, so I had no idea what distance I was up against. Sighing, I scrubbed my cheeks with both hands as the impossibility of everything nearly crushed my spirits.

A butterfly danced by on the wind. Its turquoise wings glistened with purple spots and blended into the bright foliage of the Wood’s diverse plant life. And seeing that, along with the beauty of the Wood, helped to dispel some of the anxiety coursing through me.

I can do this. I’m not helpless. I’m in a bad situation, yes, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing I can do about it. Iwillsurvive this.

“Use your wits, Elowen,” I muttered to myself. “Find a way to stop them from taking you any farther.”

“Elowen?” Jax bellowed.

I shot to standing, pain ricocheting through me, andfrom the quietest rustle of leaves, I knew that Jax was nearly upon me, but by the Goddess, he was practically silent. If my senses weren’t already on high alert and he wasn’t almost on top of me, I never would have heard him coming.

Before I could round the tree, Jax was towering over me.

As before, all of him was covered, save for his eyes, but in the bright morning light, I was better able to see the planes and angles of his body. He was broad, built, and entirely...male. Rounded shoulders that reminded me of steel balls pressed against his shirt, and a defined chest that hinted at a male used to fighting made me remember how easily he’d murdered Mushil.

My heart hardened. Despite the poor’s reverence for this male, I wouldneverrevere him again.

He arched a dark eyebrow. “Are you done? You’ve been gone awhile.”

Nostrils flaring, I pressed my spine into the tree more. “Well, if I wasn’t, this situation would be entirely more awkward.”

A twitch came from beneath his mask. “You need to eat. There’s bread and cheese by the tent. I’d advise you to eat now as we’re leaving soon and won’t be stopping often.”

Somehow, I managed to keep my tone from being too sharp when I replied, “Yes, Guardian Jax.”

His breath sucked in. “Don’tcall me that.”

“Sorry . . . Dark Raider.”

He huffed out a breath and then gestured toward camp. “After you.”

I lifted my bulky skirt and slowly began to walk toward the camp.

The Wood quieted around us, as if the creatures eyeing us through the foliage were also mindful of the male in their vicinity. Despite most of the wildlings hiding, I still caught sight of a pair of thin yellow eyes, no more than a foot from the ground. Thebeemiwas entirely hidden, and if I hadn’t spent so much of my life in the Wood, I wouldn’t have seen him.

But the moment I stepped toward him, pleading with my eyes for help, the wildling scurried silently away, not even disturbing the leaves hiding it.

Shoulders drooping, I gathered my skirts more and took my time stepping carefully over the foliage on my way back to camp.

I debated faking a fall to delay us, but since Jax walked so closely behind me, he’d likely catch me right away. Besides, a fall would only delay us by a few minutes.

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