Page 17 of Veil of Shadows (Fae of Woodlands & Wild #2)

CHAPTER 17

One moment, the seven males were in the royal’s private residence, and the next, they were gone.

I didn’t know how long it would be before they returned, but I knew it would be late since it was already evening.

My stomach flipped, thinking of what could happen. They could get caught, or worse, killed. But then I reminded myself that they did raids like this all of the time, and it was silly to fret.

To distract myself, I perched on the window’s ledge to look outside. Fae filled the streets since the Matches had brought in so many crowds, but my thoughts still turned to where Jax and his friends had just landed. Possyrose Forest. That was miles from here.

Sighing, I spun away from the window and flopped onto the couch. Above, the ceiling stared back at me, and I realized it was the first time since the prince had taken me that I was by myself and not locked inside a chamber. It was almost as if I was...free.

That thought hit me so hard, that my breath caught. I stood and toiled around the room, a laugh bubbling out of my lips. I could do whatever I wanted at the moment. If I wanted to draw a bath and soak in it for hours until they returned, I could. If I wanted to summon the inn staff and ask them to bring me up a meal of whatever I chose, I could. If I wanted to hang my head out the window and stare at all of the crowds the Matches had summoned, I could.

A tiny smile grew on my lips. Jax trusted me to stay with them because I wasn’t a true prisoner anymore. Stars Above, I can do whatever I want. Well, not quite...

I’d promised to remain hidden after all, which meant I couldn’t let any fae in Leafton see me, but my magic was mostly free now, meaning I could wield nearly any spell.

My eyes widened. My tutors had given me a very thorough education when I’d been young, and that education had included complex illusion spells that most fae could never master without Mistvale power. But I was a lorafin. My magic wasn’t born of the kingdoms, and I wasn’t caged by where I’d been birthed in the realm. My magic was other . More powerful, and I was capable of spells others weren’t.

My pulse thrummed when that heady realization hit me.

As an adult, I’d never tried wielding an illusion spell before, since my magic had always been caged by my collar, but now...

I rubbed my finger along my collar, and the cool familiar metal doused my spirits slightly. I might be free of my guardian and this collar’s suffocating hold, but I was still irrevocably chained to it. It would never come off.

Still, at the moment, I didn’t feel like I had any walls holding me prisoner. And if I was able to cast an illusion spell over myself, I could leave these walls and still remain hidden. Nobody would be able to see me in Leafton, which meant I could still keep my promise to Jax to stay out of harm’s way and prevent the incredibly unlikely chance of being captured by a Mistvale fairy.

That thought hit me like a million volts of lightning, and my collar vibrated subtly. Just as fast, it occurred to me that while I could be traipsing through the capital, Jax would be enacting a dangerous raid.

A stirring of anxiety skated along my limbs at the risks Jax and the others would be facing tonight.

Right. Decision made. There’s no way I can stay here and stew about that. I’m going out. Alone.

I changed into simple black breeches and opted for the purple sweater I’d grown to love. Even though nobody would be able to see my clothing, I wanted to feel comfortable.

Once fully dressed, I slipped into black boots and draped a scarf over my hair to help alleviate any chill the evening brought. Then I went to the mirror, faced it, and closed my eyes.

I pulled on a strong stream of my magic and whispered an illusion spell. The amount of magic it took to wield the spell cascaded over me, but my magic rose steadily within me given my loosened collar until the amount of magic needed was filled.

Holding my breath, I opened my eyes.

Nothing stared back at me in the mirror.

I gave an excited yelp, then turned left and right just to be sure. But my illusion had worked. I was entirely invisible.

The spell would hold for at least a few hours, which meant I had most of the evening to enjoy myself and my newfound freedom.

Nearly skipping in excitement, I left the suite. In the hall, the doors clicked shut, locking as they did so. I ran my fingers along the curved door handle. I didn’t have a key to reopen it, nor Jax’s fingerprint to trigger the magical lock, but I did know several trusted unlocking spells.

Sure enough, when I whispered one to test it, the lock unclicked immediately. A smug feeling swept through me that my childhood lessons were coming in handier than I’d ever thought possible.

Giddiness seeped through my veins, and this time I did skip down the hall toward the circular stairs. I hurried down them until I reached street level.

I had to wait until the inn staff opened the door for a siltenite entering from outside, but at the first opportunity, I slipped past them. Once free of the inn’s elegant entryway, I was truly on my own in the capital.

I inhaled deeply when the fragrant evening air hit me.

The smell of roasted meats filtered out from several food stands down on the street corner. Scents of casting magic from the inn’s mechanics that kept the building cool even in the heat of summer tickled my nose. And laughter from a small child who passed by as she held her mother’s hand rang through my ears.

The sounds of the city hummed around me, and I didn’t think I’d ever heard anything so blissfully poignant.

My grin grew as worries about Jax and the others slipped away.

I wandered down the street, completely uninhibited. Since nobody could see me, I was entirely free. Nobody asked me who I was. Nobody asked where I was going. Nobody even so much as glanced in my direction, and for the first time ever when in public, Guardian Alleron’s guards didn’t accompany me.

I was truly alone among the masses.

I spent the next hour dipping in and out of shops and weaving my way through the crowds. I wasn’t able to buy anything, but just looking and browsing was enough. Everything was so new to me, but I wasn’t worried about getting lost, since I kept a close eye on each turn and street that I followed. I’d always had a good sense of direction, so I knew I would find my way back.

I finally stopped at the Venapearl Fountains near the city’s center. I’d visited them once before with Guardian Alleron when he’d taken me into the capital to perform a calling for one of the rich businessfae who preferred living among the city bustle versus the sprawling countryside.

But the fountains were even more beautiful in the evening light. Glittering streams of water shot into the air, and music came from magically projected devices sitting at its base. The fountains were huge, encompassing an entire city block, and the water changed color with each spurt from its jets.

Pink, yellow, green, and glittering blue water streamed and wove together. The show was not only pleasing to watch but hypnotic. The music made me want to dance and sway, reminding me of the last time I had the opportunity to be so uninhibited. Memories of dancing back in Fosterton when Jax had been the Dark Raider flitted across my thoughts.

My insides immediately clenched, and I wondered again what Jax was doing at this very moment. Even worse, I wondered if he was still safe.

Knowing those thoughts would lead nowhere good, I forced myself to sit on a nearby bench and enjoy the dazzling fountain as stars begin to twinkle in the growing twilight.

I’d just settled back, deciding to stay until the sun truly descended, when the sound of clanking metal sounded behind me.

Shifting metallic armor, spelled with protection enchantments, clinked quietly as two kingsfae strolled around the corner on their nightly patrol. Fae parted in the streets to give them way. Many dipped their heads respectfully, but just as many scurried out of sight.

I stiffened when they drew near, which was silly. I was not only invisible, but I still wore my collar. I was still indentured to a guardian, but it didn’t stop the shiver of unease that slithered through me. The supernatural courts had deemed me unsafe to the general public, and here I was, in public unattended, with a loosened collar that gave me immensely stronger magic than I’d ever been awarded previously.

Folding my hands in my lap, I sat quietly and reminded myself they couldn’t see me.

The kingsfae drifted closer, then stopped only a stone’s throw to my side. My heartbeat ticked steadily upward, and it took actual concentration not to alert them to my presence.

Instead, I focused on my breathing as the sun continued its downward journey, the moons glowing brighter. I fixated on that calming sight. Anything to keep my nerves steady and my aura from spiking.

The two kingsfae dipped their heads together, talking quietly. A few words drifted my way.

“He’ll end up in the supernatural prison.” One of them chuckled. “Deserves nothing less.”

The second laughed too. “He’ll probably get sentenced to the maximum-security section on the Nolus continent. He’ll be lucky if he’s ever released. I hope he enjoys those shifting walls.” He shuffled his feet, making his armor clink again. “Did you hear about the female caught in Ironcrest last week? She was smuggling baby dracoons to the Lochen. Got fined a thousand rulibs and sentenced to a full season in Ironcrest’s refinement ward.” He snorted. “Sounds like too light of a sentence to me. She should have gotten at least five full seasons in prison for that crime.”

“I heard she heralds from one of Ironcrest’s ten Houses, and that’s why she got off easy.”

The other kingsfae spat on the ground. “Getting off easy like that just because of family ties is a load of domal dung in my opinion.”

“Aye, you and me both agree on that.”

I finally started to relax. It sounded as though they were discussing criminals who had recently been apprehended. Nothing more. The two didn’t even know I was there as they carried on with their mundane discussion about recent arrests. It was as though they were merely passing the time until their shifts ended.

Considering this area of the capital usually saw little criminal activity, I couldn’t blame them for spending the remainder of their worktime enjoying the fountains while they chatted.

Settling back, I allowed my attention to drift again. The stars had truly begun to shine, and Jeulic’s pulsing aura lit up around it. It was still visible in the night sky, and near the horizon, the faint glow of another planet that hadn’t been in the sky in the previous weeks began to pulse. My smile grew as the tiny speck of Daphnis’s aura shone faintly.

But just as true relaxation began to seep into my pores, two words caught my attention, snapping my attention entirely away from the distant planet.

“What?” one hissed. “Did you just hear that? The Dark Raider’s seasons on the run is likely coming to an end tonight.”

The other brought a hand to his ear. “I thought I was hearing things.”

I stiffened, and magic instantly buzzed through my system, creating the slightest sting along my neck. But I hastily checked my illusion to ensure it was still intact and then subtly used my loosened magic to amplify the sounds around me.

Both kingsfae hunched forward, fingers pressing to their ears. It was only then I realized they wore tiny devices inserted into their ear canals, and whatever they were listening to was likely being communicated to them by other kingsfae at this very second.

Eyes widening, they turned to one another, and their voices dropped to a whisper. They spoke so quietly that if not for my loosened collar, I never would have heard them.

“It can’t be,” the first said. “They know where the Dark Raider will be tonight? How in the realm do you suppose they know that? He’s been eluding us for full seasons.”

“I don’t know, but sounds like it was a direct order from King Paevin. And he’s calling for all kingsfae in the area closest to Possyrose Forest to take action.”

“But how would the king know?”

The second shrugged. “No idea, but I’m sure the Raider’s arrest would beat this.” The kingsfae scoffed and gestured to the quiet fountains. “Of course, the one night I’m not on patrol in the Wood is when the biggest arrest of the century is about to happen.”

My heart felt as though it’d stopped. Oh, stars and galaxy.

As discreetly as possible, I stood from the bench and began weaving my way through the small crowd mingling around the fountain. I moved carefully, so as not to bump anyone and alert the kingsfae to their lapse in security.

But the second I was out of the kingsfae’s sight, I sprinted.

Wind blew over my cheeks as I made my way as fast as I could back to the inn.

No, no, no. Jax couldn’t be caught. None of them could be. My heart twisted when I remembered Saramel, and Phillen’s young son, Cassim. Jax’s entire band would be executed if the kingsfae apprehended them. Not even Jax’s noble status would save them, even if it went down as the scandal of the century.

I had to get to him. Somehow, I had to warn him. But how?

The solution hit me the moment I careened around the corner. I would have to use one of those keys that Quinn had snagged from the Lochen king.

It was the only way I would get there in time.