Page 26 of Kingdom of Faewood

My heartbeat quickened when I thought of what I’d donewhen I was only five. “Only because I’m a threat to everyone without it.”

Air billowed against my cheeks as the breeze picked up, yet Jax didn’t look away. “Is that what he told you? That without his control and collar, you’d be lost without him?”

My brows pinched together just as the carpet slowed when we entered the outskirts of the sprawling town. “How would you know? Are you saying I’m not?”

“If you’ve never been without it, not truly, how could you actually know if it’s needed?”

I arched an eyebrow, but I had no intention of telling him what I’d done seasons ago. Instead, I said sarcastically, “And is that what your scholars told you? That lorafins don’t need to be caged?”

But his voice remained calm when he replied, “They told me that only a lorafin can interact with the all-knowing semelees, and only a semelee can confirm if a missing fairy has entered the afterlife, and if they haven’t, then only a semelee can reliably tell me where they are.”

I had a feeling he was desperately hoping whomever he sought was still alive, but I still didn’t know if it was love or vengeance that drove him. Regardless, that buzz of curiosity filled me again.

The carpet zoomed faster down a street and pulled my attention from Jax. We passed a few shops, but then the carpet flew behind them to a quieter lane.

We came to a stop at the back of a building. Before I couldsay anything further, Jax hopped off the carpet and nodded briskly toward me. “Keep her here. I’ll get rooms.”

Phillen inched closer to me, and the remaining four fanned out. It wasn’t lost on me that they had me surrounded. And since Jax had commanded the carpet to the narrow street behind the inn, there weren’t any siltenites and wildlings around to see my arrival.

“What did he mean by that?” I asked Phillen despite knowing I should shove my curiosity to the far edges of the solar system. “What he said about wanting to know if someone’s entered the afterlife? Is he worried whomever he’s looking for has died?”

Phillen shrugged. “Suppose you’d have to ask him that.”

My nostrils flared, but I figured it was probably for the best. The less I knew or cared about who Jax sought, the better.

The sound of fae walking not far away drifted toward us, even though I couldn’t see them, and the five moved in even closer to me.

I snorted. “Afraid I’ll run? Or cause a scene?”

One of the males grinned, and when he spoke, I knew from the teasing tone that it was Bowan, the male with brown hair and an earring. “Please do. Then I’ll be tasked with catching you.” He waggled his eyebrows. “I’ll happily tackle you to the ground.”

Huffing, I ignored him as I contemplated what to do next. I’d successfully delayed us from leaving Faewood Kingdom,and now, if only I could cause a big enough scene to bring attention to myself, perhaps someone would alert the kingsfae, and I would be able to escape in the commotion.

But before I was able to come up with a plan, Jax was back, and he was dangling three keys on his finger. “Two to a room, but one will have to have three.”

“Let me guess, you’ll be sharing with the lorafin.” Bowan grinned.

Jax gave him a side-eye. “There’s food and drink in the salopas below the rooms. It’s mostly empty right now. We’ll eat, then retreat to our chambers. It’s bound to get busier once evening approaches.”

“So youareafraid of being spotted,” I taunted.

He arched an eyebrow at me, but instead of replying, he scooped me into his arms and hefted me off the carpet.

The abrupt feel of his arms enclosing me had my breath stopping. He carried me as though I weighed nothing, then kicked the door open to the inn and carried me across the threshold.

Lingering scents of smoke and fire from the night before permeated the air, and the low ceiling didn’t allow much natural light in. The salopas was dimly lit with wood flooring and wood paneling on the walls.

As Jax had said, it was mostly empty. He proceeded down a short hall to the eating area. A lone employee stood behind the bar, and a young wildling female sat at a desk at the front door. Curved horns rose from her head. It was all I could seesince her nose was buried in a book. She didn’t even glance up when Jax carried me to a table in the corner.

The other five males were right behind us, and when they all crowded into the table, they cornered me—quite literally—and I knew they had no intentions of letting me out.

Jax signaled the bar employee over.

A large wildling male lumbered to our side, the floor vibrating with each step he took. He was afusterill,a giant among the wildlings. His feet were so large that half of my leg could have fit in one of his shoes, and he had to stay stooped to keep from constantly hitting his head against the ceiling.How uncomfortable to work in an accommodation like this.

“Bit early for supper. What brings you lot in today?” he said by way of greeting.

“Just passing through,” Jax answered easily.

---