Queen of Fate (Fae of Woodlands & Wild #3)

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

Norivun’s huge black wings folded behind him as he stood next to us in the underground caverns. His four guards stood behind him, all of them wearing grim expressions. Fury emanated from the Solis’s auras.

Norivun’s silver eyebrows slanted together. “We can’t keep them in these conditions. It could take weeks for Saroly to successfully remove each anklet from them. We’ll have to transport them back to Solisarium and keep them there unless you want the entirety of Faewood knowing what’s gone on down here?”

I swallowed the ball in my throat, but before I could respond, Jax shook his head. “No, that’ll bring up too many questions that we’d rather avoid.” He subtly reached for my hand and squeezed it.

As we’d promised each other, nobody, save us, knew that I’d twisted fate. And Jax had already decided that he wouldn’t allow any questions to ever be brought my way. Protecting me from any potential fallout was his number one priority, so if it meant concealing what King Paevin had done, then he would.

Norivun nodded. “In that case, we’ll mistphase them out, and I’ll hire staff to care for them until each anklet can be removed.”

“And the children?” I asked, my voice catching. “What’s to become of them?”

The Solis royal’s voice gentled. “We’ll see to them first.”

“And when you’re done?” Jax asked.

Sandus, one of his guards, stepped forward. “We’ll return them to wherever their homes are.”

Jax’s brow furrowed. “Questions will undoubtably be asked when they return home. Some of them now have children. Illegal children. Will you keep me posted on their recoveries? I’ll likely have to get involved once they return here, wielding whatever illusions are necessary to conceal their children until they’ve grown and have learned to hide their immense magic.”

“Of course,” Norivun replied.

I sighed. Despite Norivun’s help relieving a mountain of pressure from my shoulders, Jax was right. This wouldn’t be something we could walk away from. We would have to continue working over the seasons to ensure the half-breeds’ safety. But one look at everyone around me, and I knew we would take on whatever task was needed to protect all of them.

“Thank you.” Jax dipped his head at Norivun and added, “Truly, thank you for helping them. I’m in your debt.”

“I’m afraid it’s the other way around. We’re in your debt.” Norivun scowled. “It’s my duty to clear up this atrocity since my continent’s mines grew the gems that are responsible for this, and one of my fae forged the anklets. I shall ensure this is made right.”

Jax brought his fist to his chest and bowed. Norivun did the same.

Formalities concluded, Norivun placed his hands on his hips. “You can all be on your way. We’ll take it from here.”

By the time we returned to Stonewild’s palace, King Paevin’s funeral processions were over, the new queen had taken her throne, and the entire continent was looking forward to the Centennial Matches finally beginning.

But I couldn’t have cared less about all of it. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, but even though Jax’s and my future was still uncertain, we at least had several hurdles behind us even if I hadn’t gone to the courts yet to officially plead for my freedom. Thankfully, in this reality, there was no rush to do so. Everyone believed that the crown prince of Stonewild Kingdom was my new guardian since Guardian Alleron had officially been declared missing.

Evening had arrived by the time the portal key transferred us back to Jaggedston. We’d arrived just in time for the evening meal, the first one we would be attending since we’d left the capital over a week ago.

And even though I wasn’t looking forward to another tense meal with his parents, I knew that it was necessary. I wasn’t going anywhere, and unless the king and queen of Stonewild wanted their son to abdicate, eventually, they would have to accept me.

After a quick bath to scrub away all of the grime that’d accumulated on us in the caverns, hand in hand, Jax and I left his private chambers and took his secret lift to the first floor. Once out of his tower, we strode together toward the dining hall.

“Prince Adarian!”

We turned simultaneously to see several palace guards racing toward us from the front of the palace. “My prince, apologies for interrupting you and your”—the guard’s gaze slid my way—“guest, but urgent matters have arisen in your absence.”

Jax cocked his head. “They have? I wasn’t aware.”

The guard twisted his hands. “Yes, I’m sorry, my prince. Every dillemsill we’ve sent hasn’t been able to reach you.”

Jax and I shared a side-eye. That wasn’t entirely surprising, given the potent magic surrounding the caverns in Faewood. I doubted any dillemsill was able to see through its dark magic.

“And what’s this about?” Jax asked coolly.

The guards shared an uneasy look before the first addressed Jax again. “Authorities from the supernatural courts have been looking for you and...” His focus slipped my way again, and a pulse of fear grew on his face.

I frowned, and a swell of uneasiness erupted inside me. “Is something the matter?”

But the guard returned his attention to Jax. “I’m sorry, my prince, but we were instructed to inform you immediately when you returned that you and your guest have been summoned to the supernatural courts.”

My stomach dropped.

Jax scowled, and his grip tightened around my hand. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“I’m sorry, my prince.” The guard bowed. “I am unsure as well. I’m simply passing along the message that we were instructed to tell you.”

Jax’s jaw ground together. “Message received. You may return to your duties.”

The guards both bowed and marched back to the front of the palace.

Jax wheeled on his heel and pulled me with him toward the dining hall.

“Jax, aren’t we supposed to?—”

“We’re not going down to the supernatural courts. You’ve been through enough.”

“But Jax?—”

“Elowen”—he stopped and spun toward me—“you’ve been running yourself into the ground for weeks. Weeks , my love. I won’t allow it to continue.” His voice gentled, and a pulse of his protectiveness surged toward me on our bond. “Come, let’s dine, and then we’ll return to my tower. I don’t want any further stress put on you. You deserve a break. The courts can wait.”

A swell of uneasiness still rose in me as I followed my mate toward the double doors ahead. The guards at the dining hall’s entrance immediately opened them when Jax strode forward. However, their side-eye when they beheld me wasn’t subtle.

My uneasiness surged when we strode into the hall. Scents of mouthwatering food drifted through the air, but the room was surprisingly empty save for another servant who rushed forward.

“My prince! Everyone has been looking for you.”

Jax stopped in his tracks, keeping me locked in close to his side. “What now?”

The servant bowed respectfully. “We’ve all been instructed to alert you immediately that your presence has been requested at the supernatural courts as well as your guest’s.” His attention drifted my way momentarily before snapping back to Jax’s.

Jax growled. “Elowen is my mate . You may call her as such, or you may call her by her name. I no longer want her referred to as my guest.”

The servant bowed. “I had no idea, of course, my prince. I apologize.”

“As for whatever it is the courts want, it can wait until tomorrow.”

“Actually, it can’t.” The king’s authoritative tone drifted to my ears.

I spun around to see the king of Stonewild striding into the dining hall behind us. His air was regal, yet his focus had zeroed in on me.

The king stopped before his son, his aura like prickling thorns poking out around him. “Where have you been? You’ve been gone for over a week. Nobody could find you.”

Jax met his father’s gaze, unflinching. “I was out.”

“Where?”

“Not here.”

The king seethed. “I’ve had enough of your insolence.” His gaze slid my way, then returned to Jax. “Your guest has been summoned by the supernatural courts. She’s to be taken down there immediately.”

Jax stepped in front of me, blocking his father from my view. “Why?”

I peered around Jax’s side.

The king narrowed his gaze on his son. “I’m sure they’ll tell you when you arrive. And you must go down there. She’s been summoned. You can’t ignore that, especially since, for over a week, the kingsfae have been prowling around this palace and Jaggedston looking for her. It’s becoming an embarrassment to the royal family that we’re even associated with this female.”

My entire stomach dropped. Kingsfae are looking for me?

Jax’s nostrils flared, and his jaw muscle ticked. “Elowen is my mate . I expect her to be treated with respect.”

The king’s head whipped back. “Mate?”

“Yes, we’re mated.”

Color burst across the king’s cheeks, and it took me a second to recall in this reality that Jax had never told him that before. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m deadly serious, Father.”

“That’s another matter entirely that will be dealt with.” The king’s nostrils flared. “But mate or not, she’s been summoned. She needs to leave here. Now.”

My heart picked up a wild beat. “And you don’t know why the courts have summoned me, Your Majesty?”

For the first time, the king looked me directly in the eye, but instead of replying, he sneered. He whirled away, his footsteps tapping on the stone floor. “On your way, Adarian.”

The aura around Jax soared. He took a menacing step closer to his father, starting to follow him. “Answer her! Why do they want her?”

The king paused and glanced over his shoulder. Disgust was evident in his tone when he replied, “I don’t know, but you best take her down there. Your mother and I are growing weary of your disobedience, and this female’s presence has caused nothing but problems. Now, go . That’s a direct order from your king.”

I was trembling like a leaf when Jax and I climbed the steps to the supernatural courts. It was late, the air cool, and the streets were mostly empty, yet I’d never felt the feel of the city closing in on me as much as it was. It felt as if heavy sand pressed into me from all sides. I was drowning. Suffocating. I could barely breathe. It felt so thick.

We went to the same court building I’d been to previously. According to Jax, it was the main court in the city. There were several other smaller courts located within Jaggedston, but this one was the largest of them all.

At the top of the steps, the same assessing wards that had prickled my skin in my initial reality washed over my senses. But their assessment didn’t take as long as it had the first time. A stirring in my conscience alerted me to the fact that the wards should have taken longer. In this reality, I’d never been here. They should have held me for as long as they had following my arrest, but they hadn’t, and that only happened if...

They recognized someone.

My breaths grew shallower. Despite the fact that I’d altered time with my lorafin magic, the wards here still knew me. Just like the university’s magic on the Isle of Song had recognized me. And it hit me that the courts’ building was constructed of the same, ancient rock—stone that the gods had formed.

It felt like my heart was going to explode from that devastating revelation, but before we could even reach the main doors to enter the courts, the doors sprang open, and a rush of kingsfae erupted from within. Their armor clinked, and their stares were deadly.

Magic rising, Jax immediately positioned himself in front of me. “What’s the meaning of this?”

The kingsfae ground to a halt as potent power billowed around them. “Step aside, my prince. This doesn’t concern you.”

A growl rumbled in his chest. “Like fuck, it doesn’t. She’s my mate. Why has Elowen been summoned?”

My eyes widened when the kingsfae commander, the same one who’d appeared in the dining hall the night Jax and all of his friends had been arrested, pushed forward to the front of the group.

His gaze settled on me, but there wasn’t even a flicker of recognition. He’d obviously never seen me before.

Some of my panic eased, but then I remembered the wards. The courts’ wards had known who I was.

“Elowen Emerson?” The commander drew himself up to his full height and looked me square in the eye.

“Yes?” I hated that my voice shook.

His nostrils flared. “You’ve been summoned to appear before the supernatural courts for breach of unified kingdom law. You will present before a King Justice to hear your charges. You are to follow me immediately.”

It felt as though the realm had dropped out from beneath me. I swayed, but Jax caught me before I could fall. His large hands closed around me, his snarl following.

“What in the realm is going on?” A rush of magic barreled out from him. “She’s done nothing wrong. I demand to know why she’s been summoned.”

The commander turned his frosty gaze on the prince. “Your mate is being charged with using her lorafin magic illegally. She twisted fate. The ancient wards have spoken, alerting us to this atrocity, and as you may know”—his unwavering glare slid my way—“that is a crime punishable by death.”