Page 27 of Kingdom of Faewood

“Actually, I—” As soon as the words left my mouth, a wash of magic shimmered over me, and my voicedisappeared.

I gaped like a fish, sucking air in and blowing it out, but no matter what I did, I couldn’tspeak.

“Seven rounds of food, of whatever’s easiest to make,” Jax told the male without missing a beat.

I clawed at my throat, and my magic rattled inside me. Baffled disbelief barreled through me like a racing wildfire.

The fusterill eyed me, concern growing on his face, but Bowan made a comment about the upcoming Matches, drawing his attention away from me.

I tried to speak again. Nothing. I was mute. And then it hitme.Sensory magic...Jax was usingsensorymagic on me. Speech could also be manipulated by those who wielded sensory magic, although such an ability was uncommon due to the amount of magic it took. But that was a trait ofIroncrestfae, not Faewood or Stonewild.Where in the realm is he from?

The wildling employee glanced my way once more, frowning anew, but when none of the males showed any signs of concern, and I couldn’t scream that I’d been abducted, he listened to the rest of Jax’s order before turning and ambling back to the kitchen.

Panic began to cleave through me, and my collar was shaking so violently by the time the fusterill ambled away that my magic was on the brink of combusting.

Jax leaned closer to me, angling his body so I was blocked from view. “Your lost voice is temporary.” He shifted closer, and his pine and spicy scent clouded the air around me.

And Goddess Above, he still smelled sogood.

It made me hate him even more. I bared my teeth and despised myself for craving my captor’s scent.

But even though my chest was rising swiftly, and I was glaring daggers at the Dark Raider, he didn’t seem concerned. I was pretty sure if looks could kill, he would be dead.

He sighed and finally said, “I couldn’t have you screaming that you’d been abducted now, could I?”

The strength of his magic caressed me in a warm cloud, and if I hadn’t wanted to spit nails, I would have marveled at his ability.

Phillen leaned back on the bench, the seat groaning in protest. “Count yourself lucky, lovely. If Jax had wanted to, he could have taken your sight and sound too.”

My eyes went wide, and I again tried to speak but couldn’t. Jax controlled two sensesandspeech. Even for a powerful Ironcrest fairy, to command more than one or two senses was unusual.

Unease filled me again, making me want to retreat inward. Ineededto get back to my guardian and away from the Dark Raider.

Glittering blue irises narrowed when my shoulders folded together. Jax inched back, putting several inches of space between us. “I’ll remove my magic, but this is your only warning. If you cry out, cause a scene, or try to attract attention to us, I’ll rob your voice again just as fast.” His tone lowered. “Understood?”

I nodded, and even though I tried to stay strong, I began to tremble. Fear cascaded through me, and my magic tried to rise. Tried to come to my rescue. After all, I was a lorafin, a magically rare creature with the ability to venture to the Veiled Between. I wasn’t caged by the magic of the four kingdoms, and Iwasn’ta pawn to be played with.

Yet, a pawn was all I’d ever been.

A violent rattle came from my collar, and a silent yelp left my lips.

Jax scowled at my collar. “Remember. Stay quiet.”Another wash of his magic caressed my skin, and when I opened my mouth a second time, a new lightness filled me.

My voice was back.

“You...have elemental power and can control multiple senses and speech? And you’re likely a shifter too?” My mouth opened and closed, and I clasped my trembling hands. “What in the realm are you?”

Jax shrugged. “I’m a fairy just like you.”

“No siltenite fairy that I’ve ever met has had that many abilities from that many kingdoms.”

Trivan snickered and sprawled a leg out of the booth onto the floor. “You haven’t even seen half of it, Lorafin.”

Before I could ask more, an enchanted serving tray floated toward us. Magic held the tray aloft. Seven pints of beer and plates of steaming pasta with diced hen in a creamy sauce sat on the tray. When it reached us, the enchantment lifted everything and glided it to our place settings.

“What are you?” I hissed at Jax again, just as the steaming plates of pasta filled the air with its rich aroma.

“I told you, afairy. I’m not a rare lorafin like you. I don’t command otherrealm power. I simply was born with more magic than others.”

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