Page 9 of Kingdom of Faewood

It was often what Guardian Alleron called me. Sometimes hearing that warmed my heart and made me feel special and loved, but tonight...

My brow furrowed as confusing, conflicting responses rose up in me as they sometimes did following a calling. Tonight, I felt tired, unbearably cold, and hearing him calling mehislorafin... It didn’t make me feel loved. It made me feel owned.

Although technically, Iwasmy guardian’s lorafin, but if not for my unique and powerful magic, I wouldn’t be his prized trinket. Slavery was outlawed in the four kingdoms, yet due to the inherent nature of those like me, which could be destructive beyond imagination if I commanded the semelees fully, a treaty had been signed centuries ago.

Any lorafin could now be kept caged and owned if her guardian proved she was a danger to others. And the Goddess knew when I’d been five summers old, I’d proven just that.

Yet Guardian Alleron had also worked with me on controlling my magic with the help of the collar. I was older now, more mature, and if the gods and goddesses deemed me worthy, perhaps they would bless me and help me stay innocent of any wrongdoings. Then once I turned thirty and my guardian removed my collar, I could go to the supernatural courts, plead my case, and with any luck, be granted my freedom.Then I wouldn’t be owned by my guardian anymore. I would simply be his daughter and nothing more.

“Isn’t Emerson Estate the most magnificent home we’ve ever lived in, Elowen?” my guardian asked, drawing my attention back to him.

Another shiver hit me, but I nodded. “It certainly is. It’s quite grand.”

“And you have your own suite now. Not to mention, you have Lillivel at your side to help with anything you may need. You’re a very lucky female, I must say.”

A moment of guilt hit me. I had so much, and I shouldn’t complain. “You’re right, Guardian. I’m very grateful for that.”

“It’s lovely, isn’t it, that after seasons of traveling throughout the kingdoms, we’ve finally settled down.”

Ihmmedin response, too tired to comment further. But, again, he was right. Itwasnice to finally have a place to call home. My entire life, my guardian had used my magic to amass his rulibs from the wealthiest lordlings in each city we traveled through, and he’d finally collected a large enough fortune to build the estate in his home kingdom he’d coveted since childhood.

Guardian Alleron now lived like a king—the irony that the king was our neighbor wasn’t lost on me—and he was hoping to eventually be made a noble and be appointed as one of the ten Houses of Faewood. Of course, for that to happen, one of the noble families would need to be removed, but that didn’t faze Guardian Alleron. Ambition had never been lacking in him.

Ahead, lights from Guardian Alleron’s estate filtered faintly through the Wood. Anticipation of a hot bath and a soft bed infused energy into me, and I was about to force myself into a sitting position when something pricked my attention.

Absolute silence had descended. The wildlings of the Wood had grown entirely quiet, and the ever-present chirps and hums from the insects and beetles had stopped.

Yet the Wood never grew quiet. Ever.

Frowning, I peered around. “Mushil? Do you?—”

An arrow whizzed through the air, and its sickening, slick punch penetrated my guardian right in his shoulder.

My guardian groaned, his hand going to the arrow.

I shrieked. “Guardian!” I tried to cross the distance between us, but a smattering of hooves pounded along the ground, and one of the guards shoved me down.

“Hold!” Zale shouted, and all four guards raised their crossbows. “Formations now!”

The four guards formed a protective wall around us.

Before I could take another breath, the enchanted carpet careened around a tree, its magic propelling it onward to our destination despite the fact that my guardian was now doubled over, clutching his shoulder as his four guards all shot their weapons from their protective stances.

My heart lurched, yet more attacking arrows flew. They came at us from all angles, sailing silently through the night like deadly shadows.

A whizzing sound rushed by my ear, and four arrowssimultaneously struck true, each hitting a guard dead center in his chest.

I screamed just as all four guards tumbled off the carpet. When Zale’s body landed with a fleshy thump, his lifeless eyes gazed skyward, and a brief moment of clarity hit me.

He’ll never hit me or order me around again.But just as quickly, my heart lurched when I beheld Mushil’s unmoving form.

“No!” I wailed. “Mushil!”

But my guard didn’t respond. He’d likely already passed to the afterlife.

Agony ripped through me, and I whipped around, searching for our attackers, but I saw no one.

Yet galloping hooves on the Wood’s floor grew closer, even though everything else in the Wood remained silent. Even the wind seemed diminished in the presence of whatever was approaching.

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