Bastian shook his head. “No.”
“Do you think he was attacked from behind?” A heavy groove appeared between Lander’s eyes when he swung his attention to the group.
“I’m assuming so.” Jax scratched his chin, then took another drink from his tall mug. “Do you recall sensing someone else’s presence? Even if you didn’t hear anything?”
Bastian shook his head again. “I don’t. I don’t remember anything other than thinking of Anna while walking. She and I were planning to share a meal that night. I was supposed to cook it, and I was trying to figure out what to make that would impress her.” He grimaced. “Oh, shite.Anna! I just realized I haven’t seen her in months, even though that morning feels like yesterday to me. Do you know how she is? Has she been asking about me?”
“She has.” Jax explained what he knew, sharing that she was one of the first fae he had his staff contact after realizing his brother was gone. “I couldn’t contact her directly, obviously, since she doesn’t know we’re brothers, but one of my staff did. Anna’s been searching for you too, asking questions all over town since the day you disappeared. She’s been very anxious to find you, and like me, she hasn’t given up.”
“Really?” A hopeful expression grew on Bastian’s face. “Does that mean she didn’t find anybody else in the past few months?”
Jax shook his head. “She hasn’t, not last I heard. She’s still loyal to you. About as worried sick as I’ve been if my staff are to be believed.”
Bastian perked up and quickly ate the rest of his stew, then slugged the remainder of his drink. “I need to get home. I have to explain to her that I never would have left her on purpose.”
But when he tried to rise, Jax clamped a hand on his shoulder. “You will, and soon, but not until we figure out who took you.”
Bastian slumped back in his seat.
“Your brother’s right,” I chimed in, my voice gentle. “Until we know who’s behind this, there’s no telling if they’ll simply abduct you again, and according to Saroly, the fae who commissioned those anklets boughtthousandsof them. Who’s to say they won’t simply put a new one on you?”
Bastian glowered and scrubbed his cheeks. “Stars and galaxy. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“So now what?” Phillen asked. The burly guard sat at the end of the table, looking as tense as a board. “I wouldn’t mind getting back to our continent too. All this makes me nervous, and I’d like to check in with Saramel and ensure she and Cassim are okay.”
I nodded sympathetically. If I had a three-summer-old child, I would want to ensure his safety as well.
Jax made a move to stand. “We can portal key back to Leafton now if everyone’s ready. We’ll need to make a few more appearances as we allow word to spread that we’re done at the Matches.”
“Then let’s get out of here.” Bowan elbowed Trivan, who sat at his side, and everyone began to slide out of the booth.
The local Solis fae cast us more curious stares, but we all moved to the door and out into the snowy night before anyone could approach us.
The night sky loomed above, even more colorful and dazzling this far north. Freezing wind blew through the streets, and I pulled my cloak tighter to my chest.
Jax fished a portal key from his pocket, and everyone moved into a circle, while Phillen explained to Bastian that Quinn had amassed a jar of portal keys, which made traveling extremely easy.
“How peculiar.” Bastian scratched his head when Jax showed him the key.
I clasped my mate’s hand and gave him a heavy look. “You do know what this means, don’t you? Since Bastian can’t remember anything, and he doesn’t know who’s behind his abduction, and Saroly didn’t either, I’ll have to venture to the Veiled Between again to get answers. It’s the only way.”
Jax’s nostrils flared as my comment sank in. Because even though all communication between Saroly and whoever had hired her had been done via dillemsill—which indicated that it might be a Silten fairy behind it since dillemsills were native to our continent—that didn’t necessarily mean it was. It could be anybody. Perhaps a Lochen, Nolus, or another Solis fairy was to blame. We had no idea since Saroly hadn’t bothered pursuing more information. All she’d cared about was amassing rulibs. She was so much like my former guardian it was sickening.
Jax finally inclined his head. “I know.”
But even though his answer was accepting, his concern for me still strummed along our bond. The effects his calling had on me seemed to be long-lasting, but I’d proven the last time I’ve ventured to the Veiled Between that I was stronger now, that using my magic didn’t hurt me anymore like it once had, and with my collar now completely removed, I was likely even better off.
I squeezed his hand. “Trust me. I’ll be fine. I’m no longer restricted by my collar. My magic is fully untethered. The semelees should now see me as their queen, which means they’ll bow to me completely.”
Alec rocked back on his heels. “She’s right, Jax. She survived her last trip to the Veiled Between just fine, and if she goes again, everything could be answered.”
The crown prince of Stonewild Kingdom nodded. “You’re right. My mate is now likely a queen of the semelees. I daresay she’s probably the most powerful female fairy on the Silten continent.”
A feeling of pride swept through me, and a tingle of excitement followed. “It’s about time I embraced my birthright. Iwillfind us answers.”
A heated glow filled Jax’s eyes. “My mate, the lorafin queen. Who would have thought I’d end up so lucky?”
Intense joy abruptly flooded me, and I could only hope that, eventually, his parents would feel the same. The king and queen of Stonewild Kingdom still had no idea that their son had mated himself to a non-royal commoner.
