Page 89 of Kingdom of Faewood

“Jax?” My voice sounded parched. Hoarse. I was thirsty. So very thirsty. But at least the torture was over.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

“She’ll be fine,” Guardian Alleron replied for me. I cracked my eyes open again just in time to see him wave dismissively. “After she comes to, the magic that hur—I mean—suppressed her always wears off.”

“And the bruises?”

“Will likely be fully gone within the hour,” my former guardian replied. “She heals quickly.”

Another low growl came from Jax.

I opened my eyes wider and shifted slightly on the bed. Iwas in the same position I’d been in when the calling had begun. Jax’s bloodshot eyes met mine, and I stared at him in confusion, remembering what he’d snarled at Guardian Alleron.

“Was I really under for a day?” I rasped.

Through his mask, his jaw clenched. “Yes,” he replied hoarsely.

Goddess, I’ve never been under that long.I tried to sit up, but my muscles screamed in protest. Wincing, I settled back down but slowly raised an arm. The long-sleeved emerald-green sweater I wore had been pulled up to the elbows. Bruises littered my forearms. Tentatively, I lifted the hem to reveal my stomach.

Jax’s breath sucked in when the black and yellow splotches covering my abdomen were revealed.

“By the galaxy and stars,” I whispered. I pulled the hem back down, then tugged on my sleeves so my arms were covered too. I didn’t have to look at my legs to know they were beaten as well.

I couldn’t remember ever having been this affected by a calling before. A shudder ran through me. Jax’s calling was by far the worst one I’d ever experienced, thanks to his horrifically powerful magic.

“Water?” I croaked.

“Lars!” Jax boomed.

A minute later, the redhead was at my side, handing a cup to Jax. The Dark Raider cradled my head, his strong fingerssliding through my hair. He massaged my neck briefly, soothing my aching muscles before he helped me up, then held the cup to my lips.

“Drink.”

The smooth, cool water rolled down my throat, and I greedily consumed all of it. “Goddess, that’s good,” I said with a sigh when I finished.

“Lars, get another one,” Jax snapped.

Lars disappeared from the room and returned with an entire jug of crystal-clear water. I eagerly drank another full glass. When finished, I didn’t sound quite as hoarse. “You’re probably wanting to know what I saw and what the semelees told me.”

I could have sworn Jax scowled in response. “That can wait. Phillen?” he called over his shoulder. “Have a bath readied for Elowen and summon food.”

Phillen gave a curt nod and strode into the bathing chamber. The sound of running water came next.

I eyed his other friends. Lander, Trivan, and Bowan remained. All of them stood stoically, and they all wore the same clothes yet were still masked. But if they’d also remained the entire time I’d been under, that meant they’dallstayed up through the night, and nobody had slept.

“You must all be exhausted.”

Jax’s eyebrows slanted together. “That’swhat you’re worried about?”

“May I be excused now?” Guardian Alleron asked stiffly from behind him. “Now that my work is done here?”

Jax cut him a glare, then snatched the adaptor from his hand before signaling Bowan over. “Take him back to his chamber and secure him.”

“Gladly.” Bowan’s earring winked in the morning light as he clasped Guardian Alleron by the elbow and hauled him from the room.

“The rest of you are also dismissed,” Jax called to his other friends.

They nodded and filed out the door. A few minutes later, the bath water stopped, and Phillen also exited the room. It struck me how readily and easily Jax issued orders to his friends. Strangely, they never seemed to mind.

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