Page 70 of Kingdom of Faewood

“Are you sure?”

A buzzing energy filled me. It was possible when my collar was loosened, that my magic would burst out of control, and the thought of hurting fae in this town or subjecting them to possible death...

My pulse fluttered. Schooling my expression, I replied, “I’m sure. Not tonight. But thank you.”

A groove appeared between his eyes. “Is it me you don’t trust or your guardian?”

My attention snapped to him, but his gaze was entirely veiled. “I suppose I don’t know. So much has happened that I don’t know what to believe or trust, but I’m not ready yet for my collar to be subdued. I need to prepare.”

He inclined his head, his brow furrowing. He took another drink of his ale. “In that case, I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

A flush of gratitude rushed through me that he wasn’t pushing me, but I also knew that me being ready had a time limit. It wasn’t like the Dark Raider was going to cart me around indefinitely. After his calling, I would be forced to allow him to command my guardian to remove the collar’s suppressing magic, or I could kiss my chances at being free ofits caging hold goodbye. Because once Jax’s calling was over, we were parting ways.

But that also meant I had at least another day, possibly two, before that time came. It wasn’t happening yet, but knowing it was coming and knowing consequences might arise because of it made unease slither through me.

After all, I’d always pictured that day coming on my thirtieth birthday. I’d imagined myself preparing beforehand for weeks, possibly months, for that event. I’d secretly hoped my guardian would employ a tutor to coach me or teach me about what to expect. I certainly hadn’t thought it would be thrust upon me with no tutoring in sight and only one day of preparation.

Oh Goddess.

I chugged the remainder of my drink, the cool liquid flowing down my throat in anxious gulps.

Around us, the music grew louder, and my attention drifted to the fae who were dancing. I focused on them, welcoming that sliver of distraction. Even more were on the dance floor, and the wildling band was in full swing.

I listened to the music and began tapping my foot to the beat again. The other males were still talking about the Centennial Matches, their voices getting louder and rowdier as the drinks flowed, but Jax sat quietly.

He sipped his beverage, and it wasn’t lost on me that he was still nursing his first one. The Dark Raider’s energyremained subdued yet alert, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. He appeared lost in thought.

The band finished their song and shifted to a new one. Their trunks played louder, the tempo increasing. I swayed my upper body to the tune, and as each song passed, and the energy in the room grew, I began to wish I could join the dancers. Expelling my nervous energy on the dance floor seemed like the perfect way to deal with what was to come.

“Do you want to...” Jax gestured to the open floor.

“Dance?” I asked with a hopeful grin.

“If you’d like.”

My eyebrows shot up, and my stomach flipped. “Are you inviting me to dance...with you?”

A ripple of energy shot through his aura, and I could have sworn his eyelids grew slightly hooded. “As tempting as that is, not with me. I’m not much of a dancer, but feel free if you’d like.”

Another flip tumbled my stomach.It was tempting to dance with me?I didn’t know how to interpret that, and a rush of relief flowed through me that he declined joining me. Dancing was always something I loved, but I’d never danced with another. And to think of Jax beside me, his hands on my waist, our bodies shifting as one... To feel a male like that, especiallyhim, made a zing of electricity barrel through me, getting a vibration from my collar. Doing such a thing would completely contradict the point of why I wanted to dance. I was trying to expel nervous energy. Not acquire it.

Sweet Goddess.

“I won’t be long.” I barely waited for his affirmation to leave the group before elbowing Phillen to get out of the way. “Move, if you would, kind sir.”

He snorted in amusement before he and Lars slid out of the booth.

Once free of the confining table, I stepped away from the corner, dancing along the way to the center of the room. I could feel Guardian Alleron’s glare, but since I didn’t care, I knew that I was indeed slightly drunk, if not completely intoxicated.

Candlelight flashed from the salopas’s corners, and a fairy light glittered above the dance floor. That, along with the music, made for a hypnotic ambiance.

I closed my eyes and quickly got lost in the music.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been given the luxury of something as simple as this. Occasionally, Guardian Alleron would allow me to leave whatever home we’d been staying in to attend a nearby ball or to join a village celebration. Sometimes I was allowed to dance, yet not often. It usually depended upon which guards he’d sent me with and how accommodating they were feeling.

But when the opportunity presented itself, I never turned it down.

I lifted my arms, letting my hair fall down my back. My new clothes made moving easy, and my limbs felt flexible and eager to be set free after so manydays atop a stag.

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