I nodded swiftly. He was right.
“Will you please check your storage vaults now to ensure all rhifilyte gems are accounted for?” Norivun asked Archon Oniville.
She bobbed her head. “Of course, I’ll report straight away with the amount we have stored after we’ve done a thorough accounting.”
The archon bustled from the room, leaving Angim Holz with us.
Frowning, the old fairy assessed us warily. Watery blue eyes regarded us, and despite having long hair that one commonly saw in youth, deep wrinkles grooved the skin alongside Angim’s eyes. She pushed her glasses up her nose, and when her attention fell upon Norivun, she brought a fist to her chest and bowed. “It’s an honor, truly.”
Norivun inclined his head and waved Angim to the chair across from him. “Please, have a seat.”
Angim’s wings hitched up when she sat, her wings also fitting into the divots on the chair’s back.
Norivun drummed his fingers on the table again. “My friends have a few questions for you.”
Angim swallowed audibly and tugged at her shirt. “Oh? May I ask what about?”
Jax leaned forward, his dark hair shining as black as ink in the fairy lights. “It’s in regard to my mate, Elowen, and a friend of mine named Bastian.” Jax’s attention slid to me. “Elowen? Would you please show Angim your collar?”
Stomach tumbling, I pulled out the chair beside the female and lowered myself down, then faced the old fairy. Angim’s gaze immediately fixated on my collar. Eyes widening behind her spectacles, she assessed my chestnut hair, green eyes, and wingless back.
“But you’re not a Solis fairy. Where did you get a collar infused with a rhifilyte gem?” Genuine confusion filled her expression.
“We’re hoping you can answer that,” Norivun replied, his tone as cold as the frosty landscape outside. “There’s also an anklet on a male in the reception area, the one named Bastian, who also wears a gem harvested from our mines. That’s two pieces of jewelry we need to account for, and apparently, there are many more anklets on other fae on the Silten continent as well.Andthere’s a device with the gem too that’s been used to control this female.”
Angim straightened, her wings flexing slightly behind her. “But how is that possible? We don’t sell our gems to them.”
“Exactly,” Norivun growled.
“But I’ve never seen this female before.” A blast of indignation shot into Angim’s tone. “And I know nothing about any anklets.”
“Have you ever seen that collar before?” Jax asked, his words laced with a Mistvale command.
Magic flowed in the air at my side, and Jax’s magic hit Angim square in the chest. Words tumbled out of Angim before she could stop herself. “No, never.”
“What about an anklet with a rhifilyte gem? Have you ever seen one?”
“No.”
“Did you craft Elowen’s collar?” Jax persisted.
Angim’s eyes widened anew. “No.”
“Have you ever forged an anklet?”
“Once, many full seasons ago, but not with a rhifilyte gem but rather asarupeemstone. Anklets aren’t commonly requested by our jewelry stores.”
Despite her innocent answers, Jax continued. “Do you know who crafted Elowen’s collar?”
The old fairy’s throat rolled in a swallow. “No, but only a few fae would be strong enough to do so.”
Jax and I shared a look. Her answer aligned with what Archon Oniville had told us.
“Do you know how to take Elowen’s collar off?”
“I’m...I’m unsure.” As if of their own accord, Angim’s hands rose to my neck. Her fingers danced over the cool metal, and a hum of her potent magic encircled my throat.
Forehead furrowing, she took her time, her magic assessing and probing.
