Page 10 of Veil of Shadows (Fae of Woodlands & Wild #2)

CHAPTER 10

I followed the prince below, and it quickly became apparent that the midafternoon meal was a grand production. It was held in the ship’s impressive dining hall. Sconces lit the walls, Stonewild banners hung from the ceiling, vases of freshly cut flowers perfumed the air, and large windows allowed one a clear view of the sea.

When Jax escorted me into the hall, the ship rocked gently beneath our feet. A large table sat in the center of the room, thirty chairs around it. Elegant candles lit the table’s center, magic suspending them to hover midair so they were never knocked over when the ship rolled.

Most on board were already present, and Alec and Trivan were in a lively discussion with those who had beaten us down here. One thing I noticed immediately—everyone was dressed regally. All except me.

Around the table, each House family wore their House crest somewhere on their clothing. On the males it was either on their sleeves, across a silk sash, or on the tassel of their shoulders. Wherever it might be, the crest was there if one only looked. The females were no different. All of them wore jewelry, mostly pendants with their crests proudly displayed in a gem’s center, but their crests were also visible on their rings.

These were the elite fae of Stonewild. House nobles nonetheless, and I was a slave dressed in black breeches and a simple crimson top.

My footsteps slowed, and a wash of embarrassment flowed through me when several turned to assess me, but Jax clasped my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. “You belong here just as much as any of them do,” he said so quietly that I knew only I heard him.

He squeezed me, and given his comment, it was as if he’d known exactly what I was thinking. His knack to always be so in-tune to those around him once again astonished me.

Taking a deep breath, I continued walking at his side and did my best to hold my chin high, but the feel of him holding my hand, for everyone to see, had Alec’s words pounding through my head again.

I fear our prince is smitten with you.

Aerobelle Dallinger’s attention snapped to Jax and me the second we reached the table. A wolf’s head was ringed in gold metal on her pendant, the small token proudly displayed between her breasts.

She beamed, all eyes for Jax, as though I wasn’t even there. “Prince Adarian, we’ve all been eagerly awaiting you.”

The other females perked up too, but smiles began to falter when they realized, one by one, that Jax was still holding my hand. Aerobelle at last seemed to realize the same. Her previous snub of me turned to a haughty glare.

Despite that, everyone made a show of welcoming their prince, calling out boisterously, letting me know the leminai and wine were already flowing.

“Prince Adarian!” one of the fathers called. He gave me a curious side-eye, but nobody asked my name or paid further attention to me. “I’ve been eager to hear your thoughts on the Osterland Exchange, recently solidified between Faewood and Mistvale.”

“Ah, yes, that was an interesting agreement.” Jax inclined his head. “It seems the mines between the two kingdoms are now sharing diagonal tunnels beneath the borders, something never done before, but first I would like everyone introduced to my guest, Lady Elowen.” Jax gestured toward me, his eyes sparkling in cerulean shades in the fairy lights. “Elowen will be joining me to watch the Finals in her kingdom.”

“Is that so?” Lady Aerobelle’s nostrils flared delicately. “How kind of you to show a commoner such grace. Was she awarded a grant by the palace? To attend at your side? I’ve heard our dear Queen Rashelle has been organizing more charity events and grants for those beneath us.”

My jaw tightened, and it took everything in me not to scowl at her.

A few strained smiles followed Aerobelle’s stinging comments, but more than one murmured their agreement of the queen’s generosity.

But Jax’s gaze turned icy. “No, Lady Aerobelle, Elowen is not here on a grant. I personally requested that she join me.”

The female’s eyes flashed wide, her cheeks turning rosy, but everyone else dipped their chins at last in my direction and finally muttered a greeting.

But it was obvious they only did so because of the prince. If he hadn’t been at my side, none of them would have even looked at me.

Another female called out, one from the cave bear family, “Is Queen Rashelle aware that your guest has joined us?” Her tone was one decibel short of biting.

Jax gave her a devastating smile, but when he replied, his voice dripped with venom. “She doesn’t, Lady Penepee. Believe it or not, I’m a grown male who doesn’t run to his mother to ask permission of everything.”

A few of the House fae laughed, but Aerobelle’s and Penepee’s gazes turned glacial when they assessed me again.

I stiffened, but focused my attention away.

“Please everyone, have a seat,” a servant called from the corner. “Lunch is about to be served.”

House crests flashed in the lights as everyone began to sit around the massive table. One House had a snarling jungle cat—a colantha—on their crest, the other a massive bear. And House Dallinger all wore their wolves.

I paused, not moving since I had no idea where I should sit—if anywhere—since I wasn’t of noble blood, but Jax propelled me to the front of the table and pulled out a chair at the head of it. Two chairs sat side by side, facing everyone.

“Lady Elowen,” he said softly. “I would be honored to seat you at my side.”

My chest warmed even though Aerobelle leaned closer to Penepee and whispered something in her ear. Both snapped their napkins over their laps, their auras rising.

I quickly took my seat, but a flash of my temper simmered within me when even more of the House females began to glance at me with either angry or speculative looks. It was as though they were truly beginning to realize that the prince either had taken me as a mistress or planned to.

Even though Jax and I were far from anything like that, magic crackled inside me. I might have been born of commoners, but one thing was becoming entirely apparent to me. I had better manners than most of the fae here. And I wasn’t about to let them humiliate me.

Taking a deep breath, I called upon my seasons of lessons under my tutors and the playacting I’d done over the summers. This certainly wasn’t the first time I’d been in the presence of arrogant nobility, and I wasn’t going to let them run me off.

“Thank you, my prince,” I said softly to Jax.

He sat beside me, giving me a side-eye and an encouraging smile when my back straightened and my chin lifted.

But when he shifted, and his thigh brushed against mine in the process, a genuine flush of heat washed over me.

Two servants rushed forward from where they stood by the wall and held out decanters for the prince to choose from.

“The Ironcrest wine,” Jax told them.

They bowed and quickly fled to grab more bottles.

“They announced before you arrived what the main course will be, my prince,” an older female called from the cave bear House. “Sea lobster, which is one of your favorites, is it not?”

Jax dipped his head. “Indeed, it is.”

“And did you know that my daughter, Lucille, is a master in the kitchen?” The older female beamed at a willowy blond female, who gave the prince a sultry smile. “Why, I bet Lucille would love to cook for you one night. You wouldn’t regret it after you’ve tasted her creations, and she’s a master at preparing sea lobster.”

Lucille’s lips flashed scarlet in the lights when she nibbled on her lower lip. “Any time you would like it, my prince, I would be happy to serve you.”

My fingers tightened in my lap at her blatant come-on, but beneath the table, Jax’s hand settled on my thigh. I nearly jumped when the heavy weight and warmth of him touched me. But just as quickly, he removed his hand.

“I’m sure our chefs could be tasked with something such as that. No need to exert yourself,” he answered easily.

Lucille’s eyes widened, but it was her only reaction to his slight.

Across the table, Alec caught my eye and winked. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he next mouthed, I told you so .

Flustered, I hastily spread my napkin over my lap.

Wine began being poured by the servants, everyone’s goblets getting filled, and I used the distraction to study the nobles present even more.

Since the families on board this ship weren’t of stag origins, I couldn’t help but wonder if the queen was favoring those Houses for her son’s wedding. It wouldn’t surprise me, since it was rumored that mixing powerful shifter blood could result in stronger offspring. Or perhaps they felt that mixing shifter Houses would form better alliances among the nobility.

Whatever the case, similar to most of the females, the males had also donned their House rings on the third finger of their right hand. The aqua gems were the same cut and color for each house since they were all Stonewild fae, but the animal prints upon them reflected their unique shifter magic.

“Elowen, was it?” Lady Aerobelle called from farther down the table.

I glanced her way, just as Jax corrected, “Lady Elowen.” He reached for his wine glass and gave her a pointed look.

Her lips pursed, and she regarded me with a barely concealed sneer. “Is she truly a lady if she’s not of noble birth?”

“She’s a lorafin,” Jax replied easily, his tone deceptively calm given the flickering in his aura. “She’s more powerful than any female here, and if that doesn’t demand respect, I don’t know what does.”

“You’re a lorafin?” Aerobelle looked down her nose at me. “I didn’t know any existed.”

“Well, now you do,” I replied and reached for my wine. My gaze didn’t drop as she stared at me.

“So that’s why the prince has you here.” Her look turned smug. “You must be very useful to him.”

Her subtle hint that the prince was merely using me smacked me in the face, but before I could bite back with a sharp retort, the same older male who’d spoken with Jax when we first entered the room cleared his throat.

“Now, tell me, my prince, what else do you know of the Osterland Exchange?” He leaned forward, obviously eager to speak of it more with the prince.

Plates began getting filled as Jax was pulled into a discussion with the older male.

Several of the others began talking about the Ironcrest Ball, set to take place after the Matches. Like the Centennial Matches, the ball only occurred every hundred summers, and most on the continent were looking forward to it.

While I was curious to hear about previous Ironcrest Balls held throughout the centuries, I paid more attention to Jax’s conversation. I was tempted to tell both of them that the Osterland Exchange had resulted because of me . Lordlings Himil and Messepire had only signed the document because of the king’s promise to use his lorafin, but I didn’t bother declaring that.

Boasting of such a thing would only make me look desperate for approval or would be proof that Jax was only keeping me at his side because I was useful .

Instead, I began to eat and sip my wine between bites.

Everyone else dug in too, and my gaze darted to Alec. He’d changed for the meal into a navy coat with an emerald sash. A ring graced his finger as well, showing a rack of antlers stretching across the gemstone. So he was a stag shifter.

“What a delightful trip it’s been so far,” Alec called jovially when a lull happened in the conversation. “And, Lady Elowen, it’s truly lovely that you could join us. I’m sure your knowledge of Faewood will be needed while we attend the Matches.”

Jax’s nostrils flared in his direction, but I inclined my head at Alec. “I would be more than happy to show you around my home kingdom and share what I know.”

I took another sip of wine, but my pulse thrummed more in my neck. Jax’s aura had kicked up again, even more so when Alec gave me a sultry smirk, and I truly realized that Alec was right—the prince was not happy about his friend’s flirtations.

“And do you think a similar exchange could take place between the other kingdoms?” the older male asked Jax again, apparently determined to keep his conversation going with the prince about the Osterland Exchange. “Perhaps between Stonewild and Faewood? Or Ironcrest and Mistvale? The waterfalls in Ironcrest harbor so much magic. Imagine if a river was diverted to allow such magic to be used in the other kingdoms. The possibilities would be endless.”

The conversation carried on, and Jax sat stiffly. He ate bites as he was able to, but most of the time he was answering questions of those around him or thwarting off more flirtatious comments. And he kept getting roped into conversation with the older male who was so fascinated with the kingdoms sharing goods that he practically dominated Jax’s attention.

It wasn’t lost on me that Jax’s sea lobster remained barely eaten.

But even though this was the midday meal, everyone seemed more interested in littering the prince with questions and vying for his attention than enjoying the succulent food.

Everyone also peppered Jax with questions about his expected nuptials next summer, as well as his plans for the upcoming Matches. And one of the females boldly asked if he’d chosen his date yet for the upcoming Ironcrest Ball.

“No, I haven’t,” was all the prince replied to that intrusive question.

Yet several of the females seemed to take that as affirmation that I wasn’t a true threat.

I could be his mistress, but not his date for the Ironcrest Ball. And certainly not his wife.

Yet from the occasional verbal daggers that were thrown my way, I knew that many of the females in this room wouldn’t allow me to be a mistress to the prince in any capacity, not when she became his wife at least.

It was humiliating, in a way, but I kept my posture up and made myself hold my chin high.

I ate slowly and quietly as Jax took each House in stride, dividing his attention between them and somehow managing to pacify each.

Throughout it all, it struck me again what was expected of him. Jax was the crown prince of Stonewild. He not only had a name to uphold, but he also had to ensure power stayed balanced in his kingdom. Each House wanted to be the biggest, strongest, and wealthiest, but all of them were needed to keep our society running smoothly.

Since the noble Houses owned most of the land, businesses, and farms throughout the kingdoms, squabbles among the Houses were common, and it typically fell on the throne to listen to disputes and ultimately act as the judge. And watching Jax now, I realized how much rested on his shoulders. He listened patiently to each House as they shared their woes and successes, his demeanor formal. But with how stiff his body position was, I wondered if these conversations took a toll on him.

Because the only time I’d seen Jax alive and looking free had been when he was acting as the Dark Raider.

I cocked my head as a horrid thought struck me. Perhaps I wasn’t the only one who’d been living in a cage. Because from what I was seeing, Jax was also leashed even if his chain was dipped in gold and studded with jewels.

He caught my eye just as dessert was being served, and for the briefest moment, his mask dropped. He smiled slightly, his eyes softening, and it struck me that none of these nobles knew that the eyes of the Dark Raider were peering back at them. Especially not when they revealed where their latest shipments were coming from or what the other Houses were reporting about goods arriving via the sea.

Each detail they shared gave Jax more information on where to conduct his next raid from those who’d taken more than they should or deceived the less fortunate in the process. Stonewild fae weren’t immune from his raids. Jax exacted his revenge in all of the kingdoms.

It took everything in me to keep my expression neutral when all of the Houses, tripping over themselves to win favor with their prince, spewed that information to him so easily. They had no idea that it was he who was stealing everything out from under them if he deemed their House unworthy.

And it also made me realize what a dangerous game Jax was playing. If it was ever discovered that he was the Dark Raider, I knew to the deepest part of my soul that not even his royal name would save him.