“Yes, I need to know.” An air of heaviness settled around Bastian, like a cloak of despair. “Please understand, Elowen, I would never have knowingly or willingly been unfaithful to Anna. Even if she and I can never have children.”
I scooted closer to him. “I can see that. You seem very committed to her.”
“I am committed. I plan to wed her, which I know some think is crazy since we’ve not known each other long, but she’s the one for me.” He clasped his hands together, and his head dipped. “But if I’ve bred a child with another half-breed, I’ve not only broken the law and can be executed for it, but I’ve also betrayed Anna.”
My heart broke when his face entirely crumpled, and I placed my hand over his. “No, youdidn’tbetray Anna or do anything illegal. King Paevin is the one who should be held accountable for all of these crimes and for everything else that’s happening in the Wood. Not even the supernatural courts could hold you responsible if an illegal half-breed child has been born. If you had knowingly bred such a child, they may hold you responsible, but you never consented to it. Both you and that child would be victims in all of this.”
His shining blue eyes lifted to mine, but despite trying to reassure him, they didn’t lighten. “I hope you’re right, Elowen, because by the stars, if you’re not...” He hung his head again. “I really hope you’re right.”
We arrived backin Jax’s private tower in the Stonewild palace by mid-evening, the portal key depositing us down the hall from the enchanted chambers Jax had initially held me in. It’d already been such a long day, but I straightened my spine, knowing the hardest part was yet to come.
Outside the palace, the bustle of the city was going strong. On the horizon, the sun was setting, casting the city in an ethereal glow. Through the windows, everything looked so beautiful and alive, but all I could think about was that every single citizen in this city had no idea of the atrocities currently being committed just south of their kingdom’s border.
In the hall, it was quiet, yet Bastian glanced around warily even though no servants were in sight. He scanned everything—the tall walls, the hanging tapestries, the rich carpet with its thick, woven fibers—he took it all in as though he’d never seen it before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever been in the palace.
“Do you thinkhehas any idea I’m here?” Bastian asked Jax. All emotion had wiped clean from Bastian’s face, yet his eyes gleamed with something dark and unforgiving.
Jax’s mouth tightened. “No, our father is none the wiser as to what occurs within my tower. My wards see to that. He can’t hurt you here.”
Lander glanced around as the others did the same, but we were truly alone. In his usual monotone voice, Lander said to Jax, “So the plan is to meet in the main hall at nine for the supper meal, after you’ve had a chance to speak privately with your parents and introduce them to Elowen, correct?”
Jax’s princely expression fell into place. “Correct. I’ve asked my parents to be there at eight so Elowen and I can speak with them before the rest of the court arrives for the evening meal. I have no idea how that discussion will go. Be ready to defend Elowen and me if needed.”
Lander, Trivan, Alec, and Bowan all nodded and then headed out together. I could only imagine they were returning to their Houses to bathe and dress for the evening meal before returning to the palace once more.
Lars and Phillen still stood at our sides, but Phillen kept glancing at the stairwell.
Jax followed his line of sight. “You’re both dismissed. Feel free to check on Saramel and Cassim, Nellip. Just be in the hall by nine. We’ll see you both then.”
The guards bowed to their prince, and Lars added, “After I bathe and dress, I’ll check on her guardian before supper, to replenish his stores if needed.”
Jax inclined his head, and my lips parted. A jolt of shock shook my system. Guardian Alleron. I’d nearly forgotten about him.
My former guardian was still confined within one of Jax’s chambers and had been so since we’d left for Leafton. He’d been alone for days, with food and water left behind to nourish him, but I doubted Jax had given him back his voice. His isolation was likely driving him mad. But for the life of me, I couldn’t find an ounce of will to care.
Both guards hurried off, leaving Jax and I alone with his brother.
Jax cleared his throat. “I’ll show you where you can stay, Bas, while we sort things out. You’ll be safe here.”
Jax clasped my hand, and that simple gesture soothed my bond.
I followed the brothers down the hall, and my thoughts whirled with what was to come. Before leaving Leafton, Jax had prepared me, telling me that supper was served precisely at nine each night, often with nobles of the ten Houses in attendance, so it would be the perfect opportunity to tell the other lordlings and ladies of what King Paevin had done.
And hopefully, our private discussion with his parents beforehand would go smoothly. With any luck, they wouldn’t hate me, and they would accept our newly formed mate bond.
My stomach was a mess of twisting and turning knots as I followed Jax and Bastian to the end of the hall, and I was in such a worried state that it took me a moment to realize that Jax had led us to the same enchanted chambers where he’d once kept me.
I paused at the door. “You want Bastian to stay here?”
Jax gave me a sly smile as he laid his hand against the door’s lock. A shimmer of magic clouded around his palm, a click sounded, and then the door opened. “You asked me once why I’d created this chamber with its strong enchantments and fogged windows to hide any prying eyes from seeing in, and it was for one reason.” He opened the door more, and the familiar furnishings inside greeted us as we stepped over the threshold.
Jax closed the door behind us, and Bastian turned in a slow circle, whistling low beneath his breath. It was obvious from his wide-eyed surprise that he was as taken by the chamber’s elegance and large size as I’d initially been.
A pulse of Jax’s magic emitted over the lock again, freezing it, then he faced us. “The reason I created this chambers was in case I ever needed to hide my brother.” He gave Bastian a sad smile. “It’s warded. Seers can’t penetrate its protective magic, and I’m hoping the king’s child psychic can’t see into it either.” He slid his hands into his pockets and eyed Bastian. “What do you think? Do you like it?” The prince’s expression was guarded, but I still caught the undercurrent of hope in his aura.
“This is where you want me to stay?” Bastian put his hands on his hips and surveyed the suite.
Jax raked a hand through his midnight hair. “Only for the time being. I know you want to get back to Anna, and I promise to get word to her that we’ve found you and you’re safe, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to return home yet. As Elowen’s pointed out, there’s nothing to stop King Paevin from capturing you again.”
