Saroly sneered. “Of course. I’ve been living like a queen for hundreds of winters. I have many properties scattered throughout the realm and dozens of servants at my beck and call.” She laughed lightly, and for the first time seemed to enjoy the line of questioning. “None of you ever even knew. That was the best part of it all. You all thought I was just another fairy toiling away in this despicable facility when in reality, I was outsmarting you all.”
My hands balled into fists when her purely selfish motives came to light. While Saroly was living like a noble from a House, thousands of fae had been suffering because of her choices.
Trivan was right. She did deserve a visit from the Dark Raider.
Norivun’s aura surged as he stood and began reviewing the notes Haxil had taken. It would likely take many,manysummers to track down all of the fae who had been affected by Saroly’s treacherous deeds and to recover all of the stones that had been stolen. And given Norivun’s barely controlled rage, I knew that ultimately, that task could very well fall on his shoulders.
A twinge of pity rose in me for the gigantic headache that had just been thrust upon the Solis royal.
Finally, when Norivun and Archon Oniville confirmed that they had all of the information they needed, Jax looked toward his brother. “Are you doing okay?”
“Fine, I’m just fine.” Bastian cocked his head, making his antlers sway. He’d probably downed a dozen cups of hydration tea since the questioning had started. “On second thought”—he patted his stomach—“I’m seriously starving, bro. Can we at last get something to eat?”
Jax laughed, and the rest of us stood up to join him as Nish and Sandus clamped Saroly’s arms behind her back, then told Archon Oniville to call for the Fae Guard. The corrupt metalwork affinity fairy wouldn’t be enjoying her freedom again anytime soon. And her days of living like a queen had finally come to an end.
Jax,his friends, Bastian, and I sat around a table in the local salopas that’d been recommended down the road. Norivun and his guards had stayed back at the facility to issue orders to the mine archons and other authorities in the area as they began the needed process of cleaning up Saroly’s mess. Even though Saroly had been working alone, there were many wrongs that had to be made right, the security of the mines and the vault’s storage being paramount. Because if she’d been able to break into them, others might be able to devise a way to as well.
“It was very kind of Norivun to assist us as he did,” I murmured to Jax. Music filled the salopas from a band playing on stage while locals drank and ate, more than a few giving us curious looks. I had a feeling a group of Silten fae hanging out in their local eating establishment wasn’t the norm around here.
Jax inclined his head and took another drink of ale. “I owe him a debt.”
Bastian looked up from the bowl of stew he’d just finished. He raised a hand to the barkeep, signaling that he wanted another. He’d already eaten an entire hen, two salads, and a bowl of rice, but he didn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
“Have you at least had enough now to answer some questions?” Jax asked his brother, his tone amused.
Bastian took a huge gulp of his ale, then set his drink down and wiped his mouth. “Okay, now I’m ready, but I’m still hungry.”
An enchanted tray floated toward us and deposited another bowl of stew in front of Bastian. He picked up his spoon, but instead of taking a bite, he eyed his brother. “So, what the guys were telling me”—he nodded toward Bowan and Lars—“while you were questioning that fairy, is actually true? For the past three months I’ve been under the control of someone because of that anklet I was wearing?”
Jax nodded, his mouth a firm line.
“You really don’t remember anything about that time?” Bowan cocked his head, and his earring caught the light. “Not even this morning when you attacked us?”
Bastian’s eyebrows, similar in shape to Jax’s, shot straight up. “Iattackedyou?”
Alec nodded. “I spilled several mugs of coffee in the process. You owe me the cleaning bill on my pants. Those were my favorite ones, and I had to change.”
Bastian snickered, and his antler rack swayed slightly. “I wish I could have seen that. I love when your pretty clothes get messed up.”
Alec slugged Bastian in the shoulder, but a smile spread across his lips.
“You truly did attack us,” Lars said quietly. “You threw me through a door.”
Some of the amusement slid from Bastian’s face. “I did? Stars, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I never would have done that if I’d been in control of myself. Well, unless we were wrestling. I do love beating you lot when we spar.”
Trivan clapped him on the back. “It’s good to have you back, Bas, even if you are a poor sparring companion.”
Bastian laughed and flicked Trivan’s hand with an antler. “Care to take those words outside?”
Trivan grinned. “Any day, stag.”
The laughing and joking continued, and Jax grinned. I leaned into him, soaking up the newly elated emotion puffing along my mate’s bond. In all the time I’d known him, I’d never felt such intense relief from him. His brother truly did mean everything to him.
When the teasing finally slowed enough for him to ask a question, Jax said, “What do you remember, Bas? Do you recall anything about the summer or the past three months?”
Bastian took another bite of his stew, his jaw working slowly as he chewed the meat and vegetables. “The last memory I have is walking to work at the end of spring. It was dark. My shift started early at the shipyard that day. I wasn’t really paying attention to my surroundings, just ambling along, and then...” A heavy frown descended over his features. “Nothing. I don’t recall anything past that.”
I cocked my head. “Do you remember hearing anything unusual that day? Before your memories disappeared?”
