Page 41 of Kingdom of Faewood

I fussed more, trying to please him and do whatever Icould to help him, but it seemed no matter what I did, he only grew more irritated.

“Don’t worry about him, lovely,” Phillen called from where he was erecting his tent. “He’ll live.”

I swung around to face him. “You’re really just going to leave him tied up like this? That’s cruel.”

Bowan laughed, the sound unnervingly joyful. “We sure are, Little Lorafin, and cruel or not, it’s what he deserves.”

“Says who?” Huffing, I bent down to help my guardian again, but Trivan was suddenly there, forcing me upright.

The blond shook his head at me as he pulled me away from the tree. “You’re not to help him, Elowen. Jax’s orders.”

Jaw dropping, I glowered at him, and the truce Jax and I agreed on threatened to fizzle away. “And what about me? Am I to be bound and gagged too at the Dark Raider’sorders?”

“Do you want to be?” Jax’s question had my spine snapping to attention. The Dark Raider entered the clearing, carrying an armload of dried wood he’d collected from the forest floor. “But to answer your question, no, you won’t be bound. You’ve done nothing wrong. Not like your guardian. Have a seat.” He nodded toward the makeshift firepit that Lars had constructed, then tossed the firewood to the redhead.

Eyeing Jax, I tapped my fingers on my hips. Collar vibrating, I fought to calm my rising tide of anger, but I was done with following his commands. I wasn’t going to sit, and if he was hurting my guardian and refused to hurt me since he needed me, then I wasn’t going to stay quiet.

“How does my guardian deserve this?” I demanded.

Jax’s eyebrows rose. “Do I really need to explain? He’s aslaveguardian. And you’re his slave.”

My breath sucked in. “Just because I’m his lorafin slave doesn’t mean that’s all I am. He’s also myfather.”

Jax’s irises turned into deadly chips of ice. “If you say so.”

My jaw dropped, and it felt as though he’d punched the wind from me.

“Please,” Jax added in a softer tone. “Have a seat. I don’t wish to fight with you.”

I crossed my arms. “I’d rather not sit.”

He sighed. “All right. In that case, don’t sit. Stand or walk in circles or do whatever else your heart desires.”

My hand flew out and slapped him across the face. “That’swhat my heart desires.”

Jax’s head whipped to the side, and he brought a palm to his cheek.

I gasped, and my hand flew to my mouth.Goddess Above, I’m losing it.

For a moment, stunned silence descended on the camp, but then Phillen let out a bark of laughter, and Bowan and Trivan howled. Lander snickered, and I could have sworn that beneath his mask, even Lars was fighting a smile.

Trivan slapped his knee, still laughing. “She has a point. You did tell her to do whatever her heart desires. You kind of asked for that.”

Phillen guffawed. “The lorafin’s got a temper. I knew I liked her.”

“Goddess, help me,” the Dark Raider muttered under his breath. Jax lifted his mask just enough to wipe a trace of blood from his mouth. In that brief moment, I caught a glimpse of his lips. Full yet firm. But in a blink, that telling detail was hidden.

Jax wiped his hand on his pants, the smear of blood visible despite their dark color.

I staggered back. “I’m...I’m sorry. I was angry at how you’re treating my guardian. I didn’t mean to do that.”

Tensing, I waited for him to strike me back or shove me to the ground or dosomethingin retaliation.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’d been hit. Guardian Alleron typically avoided physical punishment, but sometimes, when my temper got the best of me—as it just had with Jax—and I refused to do a calling, he would hit me. Whenever that happened, his blows had been hard enough to make me see stars. But it was usually only one punch or a back-handed slap. Never more, and afterward, he profusely apologized and begged me to listen to him so he wouldn’t have to hit me.

So, I waited. Waited for Jax to strike me in return.

But the blow never came.

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