There was too much going against him.
I couldn’t possibly come up with a counterargument to prove how all of that wasn’t possible while also proving that Jax wasn’t the Dark Raider. And while I could hope that his parents would hire a genius magistrate to somehow wheedle Jax and our friends out of their crimes, I wasn’t willing to take that chance. Which meant I was left with only one choice. I would have to travel to the Veiled Between. I would have to twist fate to stop this. It was the only way to guarantee Jax’s freedom.
But how?
I chewed on my lip as my guardian whispered a command, and the carpet took off.
Hair blew in front of my face, but I didn’t push it back. I closed my eyes and tried to figure everything out because I’d never changed the course of fate before, and I had no idea how to do such a thing. Never mind that it was illegal. Never mind that such an act was forbidden. If it was the only way, I would do it so my mate wouldn’t hang.
I took a deep breath as a rush of hysteria threatened to rise in me. A part of me wanted to laugh maniacally at how upended my life had become. Just yesterday morning, Jax and I had been set on rallying the kingdoms to fight King Paevin. Yet now, I was fighting for my mate’s life as the king continued with his horrifying plans to build his army.
And Bastian. Poor, innocent Bastian. What was to become of him?
A moment of panic hit me that I hadn’t asked Saramel about him last night. I’d been too wrapped up in my mate’s predicament and my coinless state, but I needed to find a way to help him too. Or who knew if he’d ever be freed of that enchanted chambers.
My mind raced.
Okay, you need to find a way to get away from Guardian Alleron. Then you need to meet Saramel, get some rulibs so you actually have funds to support yourself, then you’ll need to ask her to help with Bastian.I nodded emphatically to myself. With Saramel having access to Jax’s enchanted chambers, she would be the perfect help. And with any luck, she’d already realized that and was helping Bastian.
Wind blew across my skin as the carpet picked up speed. My guardian and I flew through the streets, but I refused to look at him.
And after you have coins and know Bastian’s safe, then you’ll need to venture to the Veiled Between to save Jax and our friends. And then, you can figure out how to deal with King Paevin.
I finally opened my eyes only to find Guardian Alleron glaring at me.
“What happened to your collar and my adaptor?” His cold tone flowed over my skin like ice.
I met his stare readily. “They’ve both been destroyed.”
His breath sucked in. “That’s impossible.”
A spark of life flared inside me. Vengeful life. “Itispossible. You may legally still be my guardian, but you control me no more. I will no longer be your puppet, and Iwon’tdo callings for you.”
For the first time that I’d ever known him, his authoritative air slipped, and a moment of uncertainty stole over his face. “Elowen,” he said, his voice gentling, “many things have happened in the past weeks. I know that it’s been difficult to?—”
“Don’t even think you can manipulate your way out of this.” The carpet shot around a street corner, heading toward the southern section of Jaggedston. “Even though you’re still legally in control of me, you won’t be for much longer, and I willneverbe your lorafin slave again.”
His nostrils flared, and a flash of fury coasted over his face. But he sat back, shoulders stiff, and took a deep breath. “I had thought we could perhaps come to some sort of agreement.”
I scoffed. “No.”
His teeth grated together. “I can still provide you with food, clothing, and shelter. You have nothing on your own. Without me?—”
“Withoutyou, I would still have a mother.”
Red bloomed on his cheeks. He opened his mouth and then closed it. Silence passed as he studied me, and I could practically see the wheels churning in his mind. I knew he was going to try to manipulate me again. That he was contemplating how to spin this to his advantage. As always, he was going to twist everything around to make me feel like the guilty party while he was an innocent victim, but I saw through it now. Jax had helped me see him for who he truly was.
I met my guardian’s gaze, unflinching. And when I held it, not backing down, not cowing, not showing the reverence I once had, his expression faltered.
He glanced away, anger still strumming from him in waves, but I caught the way his fingers picked at the carpet, aggressively tugging at loose strings. His nervous fidget spoke volumes, and a brief sense of victory barreled through me.
I would never be his slave again.
We reachedthe city’s edge, and my guardian commanded the carpet south, away from the palace, away from my rulibs, away from my freedom, and away from mymate.
With each mile that passed, the bond inside me burned less and less. Jax and I were being separated. Truly separated.
Hills and trees grew around us. Signs of civilization fell behind us until it was only Guardian Alleron and me on the barren road.
