Page 79 of Kingdom of Faewood

Beyond the capital, the jagged peaks of the Wildland Mountains gave a hint to what had inspired the capital’s name. Their frosty tips, still covered in snow despite it being end of summer, promised to chill one’s skin. North of those peaks lay Silventine Wood, one of the deadliest forests on the continent, yet I wasn’t able to see a single tree given the height of the mountain peaks.

And that was when it fully hit me—that my former life was forever behind me. Fosterton was so many miles south, Faewood Kingdom even farther. And seeing Jaggedston now reminded me of how far we’d come. I was well and truly a captive of Stonewild Kingdom until Jax said otherwise.

“As you can see...we’re here,” Jax said softly, his chest pressed to my back.

“Are we going to your home now?” I asked warily. No fae were about, but there were small houses ahead. They dotted the valley and rolling hills that led up to the capital.

“We are.”

“Will I be staying in your home for the calling you want me to do tonight?”

“You will be.”

“And tomorrow, when I’m free, will you show me the city?” I knew it was a long shot. While a part of me had begun to hope for friendship with the Dark Raider, the other part of me knew that Jax had a life outside of me. He likelyhad little time for someone like myself after he took what he needed.

Tensing, I waited, hoping he would prove me wrong, but all he said was, “No more questions, Little Lorafin.”

A stinging pain clenched my heart. Perhaps hoping for friendship from anyone who wasn’t paid to be in my company was asking too much. Dipping my chin, I did my best to ignore how much his reply had hurt and instead continued to gaze at our surroundings as Phillen broke into a canter.

Picking up his pace, Phillen galloped down the steep hill, the other stags keeping pace behind him. The closer we got to the capital, the more Jax’s aura grew. With every step, his aura pulsed and swirled around me, like a magical cloak settling over my skin, and I was reminded of the epic power he wielded.

But when the homes I’d seen from afar grew closer, the stags abruptly slowed and stepped off the road before dipping into a patch of trees. Bird song trilled in the air, and the breeze was even thicker with salt, but despite being closer to the capital, I still hadn’t seen a single fairy anywhere.

“What are we doing?” I asked Jax when Phillen ground to a halt.

Jax’s arm tightened around my waist. Blazing sapphire eyes met mine when I glanced up questionably at him.

“I’m sorry, but I have to do this. Forgive me, Elowen.”

Just as his words registered, the realm around me plunged into darkness. I swallowed a scream.Nothing. I could seeabsolutelynothing. Blackness, as dark as the semelees themselves, coated my vision. Behind me, Guardian Alleron let out a sound of fury, and I could only guess his sight had been taken too.

“Jax?” I gripped for him, but his touch disappeared along with his presence behind me, and then the sound of boots hitting the ground came.

A cold breeze billowed against my back, and it hit me how cold I would have been during this journey without Jax’s warmth pressed into me.

“Jax?” I said again, my voice rising. I hated the fear that shook it, but I couldn’t stop it.

“Just sit quietly, Elowen. All will be well.”

The sound of fabric being shifted and rustling sounds came. Before I could cry out again, Jax swung back onto Phillen again, and his solid chest pressed against my back once more.

I trembled, my breaths speeding up. “What’s happening? Why did you take my sight? And why did you get off Phillen?”

“I’m sorry,” he said so quietly it was a whisper against my ear. “But blinding you is necessary.”

“Why?” I demanded. Terror had darkness stirring within me, and my collar released a sting in warning.

“I must keep my identity a secret. This is safer for you.” His voice ached, and some foolish part of me thought blinding me had actually pained him.

But if it did, he wouldn’t have done it.

My hands flew upward. I would stab his eyeballs, take away his sight too, just so he could know how absolutely terrifying this was, but the second my hands reached his face, I stopped.

His mask was gone.

He truly was exposed, and perhaps hewashiding his true identity from me. My fingers encountered stubbly cheeks, firm lips, and?—

He growled and forced my hands down. “Don’t, Elowen.”

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