Page 66 of Kingdom of Faewood

Secretly, I thought Trivan opted to stay outside because he and Bowan could then strut and posture for the local females passing by.

Lander casually held onto the ropelike magic that bound Guardian Alleron, not seeming to think anything of the fact that he’d been dragging my former guardian around like a whipped dog all evening.

“What’d you do with your blue gown, Elowen?” Trivan asked distractedly when he watched a female with long brown hair and swaying hips saunter by.

She cast him a smile and winked.

“I asked the shopkeeper to throw it away.” I dartedGuardian Alleron a quick look. I’d been careful to avoid his accusing stares, but his current demeanor was practically burning holes into my back. Probably because that blue gown had cost him over three hundred rulibs.

Nobody else seemed to care about that dress, though. Lars and Lander laughed, and Bowan appeared to be grinning, given the deep wrinkles around his eyes.

“Good call.” Trivan nodded. “And what do you think of that, Alleron? Do you also agree that garish gown was best tossed in the rubbish bin?”

“I suppose,” Guardian Alleron replied through gritted teeth.

I cast a wary look toward my former guardian. Since the shopkeeper had draped the sacks containing my new clothes over him, at Jax’s insistence of course, he was not only being dragged around like a pet but also like an indentured domal.

I hadn’t taken much from the shopkeeper, only three more pants and six additional tops, along with new undergarments, so it wasn’t like the bags were heavy. But one would have never guessed it from the miserable frown Guardian Alleron wore. He’d walked the entire way here as though the bags had been packed with solid stone. And I had a feeling that if it wasn’t for his fear of Jax, he would have been verbally lashing out at me and looking anything but humble.

I gave him my back again and played nervously with the hem of my new shirt. The feeling of betrayal still seared my insides, but unwanted nagging guilt had begun to creep in.The sharpness of the previous night, when my guardian’s full betrayal had been revealed, had begun to die. But that only left room for an aching sense of disbelief and searing hurt to move in.

Sighing, I tried to shove my pitiful emotions down. I wished I could be like Jax and feel nothing but contempt for my guardian, but...I couldn’t. As hard as I tried to stop it, guilt kept biting me, and I still fiercely hoped that underneath my guardian’s pile of lies and deception, a part of him truly did love me. Even if it was a small part.

Scents from inside the inn drifted into the street, and I inhaled sharply, using that to distract me. Hunger pains clenched my stomach anew. It wasn’t helping that every time someone opened the front door, mouthwatering fragrances of grilled meats and herbs assaulted me.

My stomach let out another loud howl.

As though he’d heard it, Jax appeared in the doorway. His shoulders nearly brushed against the frame they were so broad.

My mouth went dry. He stood over me with his sapphire eyes glittering like gemstones, and I was once again struck by the sheer force of this male. His aura was pulsing, dominant in a way, and I knew all it would take was a whisper of his magic to rob me of sight and sound.

Yet, as before, even knowing that, I wasn’t afraid. Instead, what I felt was something I’d never experienced before. My stomach did a little leap, my pulse turning thready. And my breathing... Goddess, it was hard to take a deep breath.

“They have enough rooms. We’ll stay here for the night.” His voice lowered, and a hint of amusement rolled into his tone. “And they have plenty of food, Little Lorafin. Best come in before that howling beast in your stomach wakes the dead.”

Similar to theinn in Lemos, a salopas filled the entire first floor of the inn. Although unlike during the time we’d stopped for a meal there, this salopas was crowded, loud, and the entertainment was in full swing.

A group of wildlings was on the small stage,yewensfrom the looks of it. They played music through their trunks, whacked drums with their three-fingered hands, and thumped their feet. It made for a lively, jovial sound. Already, my foot was tapping to it.

The other patrons seemed to be enjoying the music too. More than a few were dipping their heads in time with the beat or slapping their thighs. Half a dozen fae were also dancing.

“My kind of place,” Trivan said with a grin.

Lars sighed. “A bit too loud for me.”

Phillen elbowed the redhead good naturedly. “They’re talented. Don’t tell me you can’t appreciate that?”

Lars shrugged. “Just noise, all of it.”

My eyebrows shot up. “You can’t be serious?” All yewens were naturally gifted with a musical aptitude, but this groupseemed even more so, given the musical range their trunks produced. It reminded me of the instruments played at Faewood’s court, when the trumpets and drums announced the king. Only here, it was actually entertaining.

Lander snorted. “Don’t mind Lars. ’Tis just his opinion. He’s always preferred the quiet of the Wood to any kind of city.”

Trivan dipped down and said softly into my ear, “He’s never liked crowds or cared for music either. He can be quite boring in that sense.”

“I heard that,” Lars replied in a dry tone.

Trivan chuckled, and Phillen replied, “I think that was the point.”

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