Page 8 of Veil of Shadows (Fae of Woodlands & Wild #2)

CHAPTER 8

Outside, on the palace steps, I waited with Alec, Trivan, Lars, Phillen, and the prince for our ride to the wharf. Lander and Bowan were staying behind. The two of them would tend to Guardian Alleron as needed because while I’d been given freedom in my new life, my guardian had not. He was to remain a prisoner of Jax’s indefinitely, from the sounds of it.

A salty breeze drifted through the air as we waited for the enchanted carpet to pick us up. At least none of the nobles had to hide. As Alec had explained to me on our walk down here, Jax had told the king and council that he and several of his lordling friends wanted to attend the Final Match selections in Faewood before the Centennial Matches officially began.

Considering most of the nobility throughout the Silten continent were traveling to the Matches for at least a few days in the coming weeks, nobody thought anything of it, making it the perfect excuse to return to Faewood. And it also meant that neither Jax nor his friends and guards had to wear disguises since all of them were attending the Matches as themselves.

Consequently, Jax stood tall and proud, his jaw tight and his shoulders stiff. He was the portrait of royal disdain, and he’d been like that since he found Alec and me in the north tower.

I tried not to be bothered by the fact that we’d barely spoken. But ever since he found us, Jax had been distant. Cold, even. It was so different from the raw emotions we shared in the early hours of the morning, and I was reminded again that the prince wore many faces.

Taking a deep breath, I tried not to let that bother me. Instead, I shifted my attention to the city. The view was magnificent, and for the first time, I was able to see it entirely.

Jaggedston had been built on stone cliffs, overlooking the coast. The permanent presence of salt in the air permeated the breeze, and since the palace was perched high on the rocky terrain, the city spread out before us. The buildings and winding streets drifted all the way to the distant cliff’s edge, where the capital stopped abruptly above the plunging ocean shore.

Crashing waves from the Adriastic Sea pummeled the black sand at the cliff’s base, sending foamy spray splashing onto the beach’s ebony pebbles.

Farther down the shore, the huge wharf waited. In the distance, at least a dozen ships were docked at the port, some with sails raised, others waiting idly.

“Why are we traveling by sea?” I asked Alec just as our enchanted carpet flew around the corner toward us.

“Nobility often travels by ship, carriage, or enchanted carpet.” Alec nudged me. “Is it any different in Faewood?”

I shrugged. “I’m honestly unsure. I’m not well versed in Faewood royalty or nobility even though I’ve met the king a few times.”

Alec cocked his head. “Regardless, what about you, lovely Elowen? Do you enjoy traveling by sea?”

I lifted my shoulders once more. “I’ve never been on a ship, so I have no idea, but I’d just assumed, considering you’re all stag shifters, that we’d travel by land, and you’d all run, or—” I stopped myself. “Wait, are you a stag shifter? Or something else?”

Jax, standing a few feet away, gave us a side-eye. He rocked back slightly on his heels, and a muscle began to tick in his jaw.

Alec chuckled and leaned closer to me, waggling his eyebrows. “That would be telling.”

I groaned. “Not you too. The prince also loves to keep me guessing.”

“Does he?” Alec raised an eyebrow in the prince’s direction, then slipped an arm around my waist, getting a squeak out of me. The muscle in Jax’s jaw ticked even more. “You’ll have to tell me more about what else the prince doesn’t tell you.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t keep the smile from my voice just as the gliding enchanted carpet reached us. “Well, that would be a bit hard, considering I don’t know what he’s not telling me.”

Alec’s sharp laughter rang through the air, and Jax said in a clipped tone, “The carpet’s here. Get on.”

I jumped at the anger in the prince’s voice, but Alec’s lazy grin only grew.

Trivan leaped onto the carpet first, flashing a smirk to a group of females who walked by on the street outside of the palace gates. But their attention wasn’t on the nobles. It was on Jax, and they seemed to be walking much slower than necessary, and more than a few smoothed their hair down their backs and glanced demurely over their shoulders.

But the prince didn’t so much as look in their direction, and considering the females in Fosterton had acted just as besotted, I could only guess this was the norm for him.

Still . . . my stomach tightened.

“Elowen?” Jax’s soft question had my attention snapping to him.

He stood atop the carpet, the wind ruffling his dark hair. Sapphire eyes blazed into me, and my pulse tripled its beat.

“May I give you a hand up?” Jax began to extend his arm, but Alec leaped onto the carpet.

“No need to exert yourself, my prince. I can help.” Outstretching his own hand, Alec asked, “Elowen? Can I assist?”

Jax’s fingers curled into his palms, and another flicker of his aura washed over me, similar to what I’d felt in the north tower. Stiffly, the prince gave both of us his back and said something to a palace guard.

I eyed the prince, then Alec. I knew something was at play here, but for the life of me, I didn’t know what.

I lifted my chin. “Thank you, Lordling Graniteer, but I’m just fine on my own.” I placed my foot on the wavering rug and ignored Alec, which didn’t seem to bother the noble in the least since he just grinned and clasped his hands behind his back.

The enchanted carpet only dipped an inch when I put my full weight on it, but I was still thankful for my breeches. They made moving so much easier than when I’d been made to wear gowns. If not for the stretchy pants, I probably would have been forced to accept Alec’s help.

I surveyed the large traveling carpet. “Where should I sit? Is here okay?” Before I could claim a spot near the side, Alec tsked, and his hands encircled my waist. He lifted me to the center, and it was only when I was positioned right beside him that he let go.

I sucked in a breath at the abrupt shift in my movement. “Was that necessary?”

Alec grinned. “This is a much better spot for you, don’t you think? And until the day comes when you tell me not to touch you, yes, it was necessary.”

I was about to reply, but the prince growled, “Alec? Sit.”

“Ah, of course.” The noble elegantly lowered himself to the carpet, not even glancing toward the prince’s glare.

Brow furrowing, I awkwardly settled myself beside Alec as Trivan, Lars, and Phillen watched on with a mixture of amused expressions. Trivan even snickered.

I snapped my spine straighter, and Alec slipped his arm around my waist again. “The ride can be cold with the wind, and being so close to the ocean. The sea’s breeze can be quite chilled,” he offered by way of explanation. “I’ll help keep you warm.”

I sighed but didn’t bother replying. At least, I managed one last glance at the palace before the carpet careened around the curved drive.

Tall black stone palace walls soared several stories above street level of the king’s residence. Flags in Stonewild colors flapped on the top of every tower, and glimmering onyx shingles soaked up the sunlight. But even as we flew toward the city center, the palace remained visible given its impressive height. It looked exactly as I’d been told it would—dark, oppressive, and entirely intimidating with its powerful aura.

It was so different from Faewood’s palace. Black instead of white. Imposing instead of serene. Cold instead of warm. I couldn’t help but wonder which Stonewild king had commissioned its design.

“Have you not seen the palace before?” Alec’s quiet question snapped my attention back to him. “You look as though you’re seeing it for the first time.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Well, it is actually. When I first arrived, I wasn’t allowed to...” I stopped myself, realizing we were in public, and I had to watch what I said. “I mean, I never really got a good look at it before.”

The prince glanced over his shoulder at me, and for the briefest moment, our gazes collided.

But whatever I thought I would see in his expression—camaraderie, a subtle knowing, even a conspiratorial smirk— something to indicate that he too remembered all that we’d shared...it wasn’t there. His face remained blank, any emotion he felt impossible to read.

My chest locked, as though my breaths refused to release. I didn’t understand how the prince could be so aloof after the way he’d held me in the wee hours of the morning. He’d embraced me. Consoled me. Cared for me. His hands had traveled up and down my back, so soothing and gentle.

But his behavior now . . .

A stinging sensation filled my chest, but I tried to brush it off. He has a lot on his mind. His brother’s missing after all. Maybe that’s the reason for his sudden distance.

I angled myself away from the prince and firmly focused on the passing streets. Wind blew over my cheeks as we flew onward, which whipped strands of hair around my face despite the braid I’d woven. I continually pushed my hair back, but I didn’t mind, even though Alec was right that the breeze was chilled.

But being cold with my hair flying everywhere was so much better than being locked in the palace or paraded around Faewood at Guardian Alleron’s side. Everything about this was better.

Alec leaned closer to me. “That shop is known for its custom jewelry.” He pointed toward a large two-story building. The store’s glass display was filled with gems and sparkling stones. “And that one”—his finger shifted toward a bakery on the corner—“makes the best honeybuns this side of the continent.”

Doughy scents carried on the breeze, and I couldn’t help but recall the honeybuns Lars had warmed for us in the Ustilly Mountains. I wondered if that bakery was where he’d gotten them.

Alec pointed out a few more landmarks, divulging details of each’s history and purpose. Every time he did, he leaned close to me, brushing against my side and effectively wrapping me in his ocean-breeze scent. I could have been imagining it, but each time we touched, the crown prince appeared to grow tenser and more rigid.

I cleared my throat and asked Alec, “Have you lived in Jaggedston your entire life?”

Alec nodded. “Indeed. As a member of House Graniteer, it’s required, although we do have a few country homes in other parts of the kingdom, the northern section being one of them.”

“Was that where the Lochen raid recently occurred?”

“It was. Our House watches over that city. Because of that, my family spends most of the summer up north. Despite the cold northern climate, it’s truly beautiful, and summers are quite pleasant.” Grinning, he added, “Perhaps I’ll get to show it to you one day.”

I couldn’t help my smirk. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a shameless flirt?”

Behind us, Trivan laughed, and Phillen brought a hand to his mouth to cough. Even Lars appeared to be holding back a smile.

But the prince didn’t move a muscle.

Alec’s grin strengthened. “I might have been told that a time or two.”

The noble once again brushed his chest against my side, then he returned to explaining what all of the buildings and shops were that we passed. Oftentimes, he leaned directly into my space to do so, filling my head with his scent and completely distracting me since I couldn’t remember any male ever touching me so freely.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Alec was a shameless flirt, obviously. But I didn’t think he meant any disrespect. Half the time, he didn’t even seem aware of his close proximity.

But he was still a male who’d taken many liberties with me today, and I had a feeling if I wasn’t so starved for a close connection with other fae, I might have been annoyed by it. But since he was the first siltenite I’d ever met who seemed to genuinely enjoy my company and enjoy being affectionate with me, I decided that I rather liked it. Something about his easy, coquettish nature warmed me.

The carpet moved quickly, so Alec couldn’t tell me more than a sentence or two about each location that we passed. I didn’t learn much history, but I still soaked up every detail.

Just as we reached a busy intersection, in which dozens of new shops lined the streets, the prince glanced over his shoulder. “Brace yourself. We’re going to climb.”

The carpet abruptly lifted upward, climbing at a sharp angle until we soared over the buildings and shops. We didn’t level out until we reached an altitude high above everything.

I gasped, my lips parting as I took in the vast view. Pastel clouds drifted above us, the wharf now in a straight line only miles away. Wind continued to blow across my cheeks, sharper and fiercer, but I was glad the prince didn’t enact his elemental magic. This high up, I felt alive and free, and it was marveling that we were allowed to travel above the roads.

My gaze collided again with Jax’s. He was watching me, his stone-like expression cracking. For the briefest moment, the intensity of his focus was so consuming that my breath was trapped in my throat.

He looked positively . . . hungry.

Eyes hooded, the prince’s attention dipped as he took in my flushed cheeks. A small smile curved his lips, but then Alec leaned closer to me, and the prince’s smile disappeared.

Alec pointed north. “And that section of the city is where the ten Houses reside. You can see it much more clearly from up here. Each estate has nearly as much land as the prince’s residence.”

I tried to focus on what Alec was telling me, but my attention wanted to drift to Jax. “Where did you say it was?”

“Just there.” Alec pointed again. “It’s hard to miss.”

I finally spotted the large section of the city that revealed ten monstrous estates, and my eyebrows shot up. Alec hadn’t been jesting. It was hard to miss.

Each estate had manicured gardens, fountains, and pristine landscaping. All of the ten noble Houses sat on sprawling parcels of land, spreading northward toward the Wood, and some only stopped when they reached the coast.

Each residence held a stone castle, although all of the castles were slightly different colors and had unique architecture, but each residence had opulent spires and elegant towers. One even had a moat.

None of them were as grand as the palace, or had quite as much land, nor were as forbidding with black exteriors, but the ten Houses were nothing to scoff at.

“They’re all so beautiful,” I whispered. While Emerson Estate was also magnificent in its own way, it was nothing compared to these.

Alec inclined his head. “Most of the House castles are centuries old, some even dating back to just after the Elvish wars. My House has been in existence for nearly eight hundred summers, and we’ve managed to hold onto it that entire time.”

“Truly? But House heads change so frequently.”

“Exactly. It’s a matter of pride in my family that we’ve maintained our status for so long. In fact, my grandfather built that residence after demolishing the previous, stating it was too small for our great name.”

“So much history,” I murmured.

Nodding, Alec settled back, propping his arms behind him. “As you know, the Houses were established in most of the kingdoms as soon as we regained control of our lands following the wars. It was a time of great celebration and strategic power struggles. I wasn’t alive back then, obviously, so I just consider myself lucky to have been born into a line that has such fortuitous roots.”

Alec kept up his commentary for the rest of the carpet ride to the wharf, pointing out the ship we were to travel on as we grew nearer. It was the grandest of those docked. Navy sails billowed from its great mast, and pristine planks scoured its deck. Each sail displayed the king’s crest: a shield with stag antlers, wintercrisp ferns surrounding it, and blazing gold borders.

“That’s quite a ship.” I glanced at Jax again, but he remained facing forward. He hadn’t once looked at me since Alec had begun telling me of the Houses.

Alec nodded in agreement. “The royal family often travels by sea when venturing to Faewood, so of course, they like to travel in style. They also travel around the northern coast, through the Brashier Sea, when going to Mistvale, so it needs to be a strong ship to survive the northern ocean.” Alec shrugged. “Since it’s easier to pass distance over water versus land, ships often make for a faster journey to the various kingdoms even though brommel stag shifters can travel faster than a boat.” He waggled his eyebrows. “But alas, it’s considered of poor taste for the royal family to present to another kingdom in their animal form. The king’s demanded we all travel by ship, enchanted carpet, or carriage when doing so in a royal capacity.”

My stomach clenched when I pictured Jax and his friends running as stags throughout the kingdoms when they did their raids. I couldn’t help but wonder what the king would do if he knew his son spent a considerable amount of time in his animal form while in the other kingdoms.

I glanced at Jax again. I’d never seen him in his shifted form even though I’d seen everyone else in their animal shapes. I couldn’t help but wonder how large he would be and what color his stag fur was. Black, was my best guess, but I didn’t know for certain.

We reached the ship only minutes later, gliding down at a steep angle, the enchantment holding us in place like phantom steel bands. The carpet stopped just above the ship’s deck, hovering a finger’s length above it.

A sharp, cold wind from the north billowed the sails, and I finally stepped off the carpet and stood on the ship. The others did the same, and then the carpet lifted and cruised away, flying high in the sky on its way back to the palace.

“Your Highness.” One of the crew members rushed forward, dressed in attire similar to what the staff wore at the palace. He held out a tray of flutes filled with champagne.

Jax offered the servant a polite nod, then took one of the flutes. Once Jax was served, the crew member brought the tray to everyone else.

I took one as well, and the second I took a sip, cool liquid flooded my mouth. My nose scrunched up as the fizzy bubbles made me want to sneeze.

Alec grinned as he watched me, then drank from his glass too.

I eyed the prince again, wondering anew if he would remain this distant throughout the entire trip to Faewood, but before I could ask Alec if this was Jax’s normal behavior when he was in his princely role, a male’s shout cut through the wind from across the deck.

“Your Highness!” On the other side of the ship, a male sauntered toward us. Given his opulent uniform, I assumed he was the captain.

The captain sashayed toward Jax and then clasped the prince’s forearm, shaking it in a formal greeting before bowing. “It’s a true pleasure to have you on board, my prince.”

“Thank you, Captain Mezzerack,” Jax replied, his tone crisp.

Other fae, not crew, moved in around us from across the deck, and with a start, I realized there were many other noble siltenites also on board.

I did a quick count as I took another sip of champagne. There were around twenty other siltenites present. And given that all of them were dressed in gowns and fine apparel, I knew they were either members of the ten Houses or nobility of high standing.

A quick survey of their clothing soon revealed they were House members. On the sleeves of the oldest fae males were crests signifying which Houses they belonged too. The same crests hung from pendants around the females’ necks.

My heartbeat picked up. Every single fairy on this ship was of noble standing. Every single one except me.

I counted three Houses from Stonewild, yet I didn’t know their House names or what magic they possessed. But of the group, there was an older male and an older female. Four younger females also accompanied them, who I could only presume were their daughters or nieces. The second group held an old male and six young females—another father and his daughters or nieces, I was guessing—and the last was an older female with five younger females.

Frowning, I assessed them more. The ship was literally crawling with young females. None of them appeared old, and all of them were gazing at Jax with stars in their eyes. And it hit me very suddenly who they likely were.

“Are all of these females potential betroths for the prince?” I whispered to Alec.

He inclined his head as the captain continued speaking boisterously to Jax. “Indeed they are. How did you know that?”

I made a noncommittal noise. “Just a guess. Saramel told me he’s to be wed next summer.”

“Unfortunately.” Alec shrugged. “The prince isn’t keen on the idea, but royal protocol and all can’t be ignored. And seeing a third of the potential betroths are all right here, I have a feeling the queen arranged this. She’s been trying for months to get his courtships going, and she likely knew the prince wouldn’t be able to avoid the females she and the king have chosen on a ship.”

I smiled, but it was strained. “How . . . resourceful of her.”

“Indeed. The queen can be quite single-minded when she decides she wants something.”

I took another sip of champagne, not wanting to delve much thought into what the queen had in store for her son.

The captain took a step back from Jax and waved toward the sails. “Now that everyone’s on board, we shall make haste to Faewood Kingdom.” He turned his attention to the other siltenites. “I do hope you enjoy the journey.”

The nobles raised their glasses, some murmuring pleasantries while the females continued giving Jax moon eyes.

Jax merely smiled tightly and took another sip of champagne.

The captain barked several orders at the crew, and within minutes, the anchor was lifted, the sails were billowing, magic shimmered in the air, and the ship headed toward the sea.

A fairy with an air element stood at the stern of the ship. He whipped his hands through the air, and a huge gust of wind abruptly propelled the ship faster forward.

I cast the prince another glance, but several of the females from the Houses had encircled him. They peppered him with questions about what he hoped to see at the Matches.

Jax’s jaw remained tight, but he spoke with all of them, answering politely, and even laughed a few times.

A pang cut through my stomach so sharply that for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

Turning away, I discarded my champagne glass to a nearby servant, then placed my hands on the ship’s railing. I watched as Stonewild grew smaller the farther we sped out to sea, and I wondered if I would ever consider that land my home.

Since Jax planned to keep me forever, thanks to my uncovering their identities, that meant I would inevitably be returning to Stonewild’s capital.

Perhaps I would inhabit the enchanted chambers for the rest of my days. Or maybe Jax would move me somewhere else in the palace, in which I could move more freely from my chambers. All in all, I had no idea what the coming summers would bring, but I knew my fate lay along this northern coast.

Because whatever was ultimately decided, Jaggedston was where I lived now, which meant that come next summer, I would have to watch when Jax wed another.

My fingers curled around the railing so tightly my knuckles turned white. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I needed to remember why I was here. I’d wanted to help Jax. I’d requested this.

Which meant that I needed to stop these strange reactions that Jax elicited in me and force myself not to care when he laughed or touched other females.

I needed to accept my fate for what it was—I was to be owned by him, and he was to marry another.