Footsteps came from my left and Jax’s right. Before I could so much as glance to see who was approaching us, the king of Stonewild Kingdom leveled me and his son with a penetrating stare.
“Adarian, you have some explaining to do. This male is insisting that you’re the Dark Raider and that you abducted him and have been holding him captive in your tower.”
My jaw dropped as an explosion of fear rose and whirled inside me. My magic responded just as fast, chasing and clawing through my limbs. Shadows unfurled within me, but somehow, I managed to lock them down until I realized the footsteps closing in on us weren’t servants or guards of Stonewild palace.
They were kingsfae.
Two dozen kingsfae circled around us.
“Oh Gods.” My gaze darted around the room, soaking up every detail rapid-fire.
Standing by the far wall, all of Jax’s friends—Lars, Phillen, Lander, Bowan, Trivan, and Alec—stood with their heads dipped and their hands lassoed in magical bands.
“Stars Above,” I whispered.
Jax’s grip around my hand tightened. “Father, what is the meaning of this? Why are my guards and friends detained?”
“That’s what we’re hoping you can explain,” the king replied, his eyes as cold as ice. “You told us you met Elowen in Fosterton, but you never said that you rescued her from the Dark Raider, yet that’s exactly what a letter from King Paevin claims you told him. Yet this male, who was found in your tower, is claiming that’s becauseyou’rethe Dark Raider and that you never rescued Elowen at all.”
Jax seethed, and his grip on me tightened even more. “I didn’t feel it was necessary to reveal every detail about how Elowen and I met, and I have no idea who that male is or why he’s accusing me of such things,” Jax replied, pointing at my guardian. The lies rolled off his tongue so easily. So quickly. Once again, I was reminded of the many masks my mate wore.
Guardian Alleron glared at Jax but didn’t speak. Heightened energy and crackling magic swirled around the kingsfae as they encircled us, and one thought and one thought only penetrated the fog that threatened to fill my mind.
Nobody would believe us.
Guardian Alleron had escaped and had somehow communicated what’d been done to him, which meant the kingsfae were here to arrest my mate.
Theyknewhe was the Dark Raider. TheyknewJax was lying now.
And it was all because Guardian Alleron had broken free and told them everything he’d seen.
CHAPTER 14
“Stop!” Jax snarled at the advancing kingsfae.
They halted as one, and a male with an authoritative air about him paused just short of us. “You’ve been summoned by the courts, Prince Adarian.” Six kingsfae moved in closer, flanking the commander’s sides, yet all of them stared at Jax with uneasiness. “You’re accused of being the Dark Raider.”
“That’s preposterous.” Jax seethed. “I’m the crown prince of Stonewild Kingdom. I’m exactly the type of male the Dark Raider would steal from.”
Another look of wariness passed between the kingsfae, but their commander, while looking more contrite, didn’t dip his head. “We understand, but given what was discovered in your tower this morning, we have to take such accusations seriously until we can prove otherwise.” The commander pointed at my guardian. “He was found in your private area after all, and he’s accusing you of being the Dark Raider, of abducting him, and of holding him captive. We cannot ignore that.”
Guardian Alleron stood tall beside the king and queen, his eyes shining with vengeful malice. Even though he had an unkempt beard and dark circles underneath his eyes, he looked anything but beaten.
A tremble of rage shook me, and it took everything in me not to curl my fingers into fists. Baring my teeth, I glared at him. “That male is aliar. The prince may not know who he is, but I do. He’s my former guardian, and he probably smuggled himself in here as a way to get me back. Everything he says is a lie.”
“But he waslockedin a room in the prince’s wing!” a female cried. “He didn’t fake that. I found him there.”
Jaw dropping, I swung toward who’d spoken.
Lady Aerobelle of House Dallinger stepped into view from around her parents. Puffy skirts swished with her movements. The garish, fluffy yellow gown she wore reminded me of sticky candy. “I found him this morning, knocking frantically on the inside of a locked chamber. It’s truly a miracle I did. That area of the prince’s wing was entirely empty of anyone else, and the lock on it was so complex that we had to call the Master of Spells to disarm it.”
“You were in my tower?” Ice dripped in Jax’s question. “How did you get in there?”
She raised her chin. “I...a servant helped me.” Her pompous tone dropped, and she entwined her fingers, twisting them together. “I was simply looking for you, my prince. I’d heard rumors that you hadn’t been seen lately in Leafton, and since we returned from the Match Finals this morning, I figured you might have as well.”
“A servant allowed you access to my wing?” A flash of disbelief pulsed in Jax’s aura. “I highly doubt that.”
Lady Aerobelle’s chin wobbled. Cheeks also flushing, she stammered, “It’s...it’s true. One of the servants was nice enough to let me enter at her side.”
