Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
Guardian Alleron had wet himself. The stink of urine filled the air as the midday sun beat down on us. That stench, along with the smear of blood that trailed from the rocks into the Wood, made this clearing hardly desirable for another night of sleep.
Jax wiped the remains of blood from his knife and slipped it back into its sheath. A dark gleam filled his eyes, practically glowing in intensity, and all of the whisperings I’d heard throughout the seasons about his brutality, his thirst for blood, his willingness to carve into fae’s flesh... Now I knew. It was all true.
I should have been frightened by that, perhaps even disgusted, but neither filled me. I believed Jax when he said he only did this to those deserving it. That this kind of horrific punishment was only dealt to the fae who’d used their powerful statuses to intentionally and maliciously hurt others .
It wasn’t unheard of for nobles to slip through the judgment of the supernatural courts, but when that occurred, the Dark Raider came in. He was the judge and jury for the vile fae who’d never been held accountable for their crimes.
And I had a feeling he would continue to be as long as he was never caught.
Even though a few specks of Lordling Neeble’s blood had splattered on my blue gown, which was now entirely tattered and sullied from his attempted abduction during the night, it wasn’t terror I felt as I watched Jax cleanse the blood from his clothes and then mine. No, it was power . Vindication. Nobody had ever sought vengeance on my behalf before. Nobody had ever cared enough to do that.
But Jax had.
“I’m glad you did that to him,” I said quietly. The fire lay in smoky ash at our feet as Jax’s five friends packed their dwindling supplies into sacks.
Jax finished cleaning my gown, his gaze unrelenting. “You are?” His irises bore into me. I was coming to realize it was something he did often—study me—as though I was some kind of creature he was either trying to assess or was entirely transfixed by. “I didn’t know if you’d have the stomach for it.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t either.”
He stared at me for another moment, and I could have sworn that the energy around him rose when he asked, “Did Alleron know what Neeble did to you?”
For the first time, hearing the lordling’s name didn’t cause a shiver to run through my soul. The male was dead, butchered beyond recognition. He would never hurt me again.
“Initially, no. When it started, my guardian wasn’t in the room, but when he came back, he saw Lordling Neeble holding me down. His fingers were—” I wrapped my arms around myself.
A swell of energy rose from Jax. “And did he stop him?”
I closed my eyes, tears threatening to rise. “No. He said if the lordling wanted to touch me in that way, then he would have to pay more.”
Jax stilled. “He allowed it?”
“Only that one time.” A shiver wracked my entire body. “He apologized afterward, saying he was caught unaware and didn’t know how to respond. I forgave him because I believed him, but now...” I cast a look toward my guardian, who was still tied to a tree. “Now that I know he murdered my mother and took me only to fill his pockets—” I couldn’t continue. Betrayal still lashed through me so sharply when I thought of the male I’d considered my father.
Jax inhaled sharply, and he rhythmically tapped his fingers against his thigh. “Since that pile of dung obviously didn’t help you, did anyone else? Did you ever report to the kingsfae what Lordling Neeble had done?”
I shook my head. “No. I never told anyone.”
Jax took a step closer to me. I dipped my chin as something stirred inside me, something I couldn’t name or identify as Jax’s potent aura and alluring scent clouded around me .
With a gentle clasp of my chin, he tilted my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Why did you never tell?”
Tears threatened to fill my eyes again, but I blinked them back. A grinding noise came from beneath his mask, and I could have sworn his jaw locked. “Because of this .” I ran my finger along my collar. “I have no rights as a caged lorafin, Jax. Not really. And it never happened again. At least my guardian kept his word in that aspect.”
Jax’s breath hitched, and a tidal wave of power rose around him. Stepping even closer, he lowered his head, then whispered in my ear, “If any male ever does that to you again, I want to know. Do you hear me? I want to know.”
When he pulled back, I was trembling but not from fear. Instead, disbelief at the quiet rage that strummed from him coiled around something inside me. He’d meant every word that he just uttered. I would have bet my life on it. And even more startling, I had a feeling if any male did hurt me again as Lordling Neeble had, Jax would dish out punishment that was just as cruel and savage as what he’d done to the dead noble today.
“Understood?” He let go of my chin, and for the merest moment, his finger trailed along my jaw. A slight glow filled his eyes again, but it was gone so quickly, I wondered if I’d imagined it.
A shiver pulsed through me all the way to my toes. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good.” He looked me over, his brow furrowing. His gaze lingered when it reached my dress’s ragged hem and torn sides. “We’ll be in Fosterton by the end of the day. I’ll find new clothes for you then. Do you think you can ride?”
My arse ached, and the welts on my legs still throbbed even though my lorafin magic had healed most of them, but I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
By the time the sun began setting in the vast Shadow Valley, lights from Fosterton blurred the sky ahead like pearls of sparkling sand. Jax had created another bubble around us, allowing us to travel in relative comfort. We’d ridden most of the day, moving in blurred speed as Phillen rocked beneath us and Jax sat right behind me.
Due to the heat and dry terrain, we’d had to stop more often for water, but other than that, it’d been a day similar to the previous. The Dark Raider had held me close the entire time, his arm locked around my waist and his chest moving in rhythmic, deep breaths against my back.
He hadn’t asked or spoken of the calling I was to perform for him tomorrow, and given the crazy events of the night, I was no longer certain I could. I hadn’t slept more than a few hours due to the lordling’s attack, and consequently, I still felt aches and pains from the callings I’d done for the king.
But I’d promised Jax I would, so I slept for most of the ride, trying to help my magic fully recharge. But it was hard to rest when sitting up, and each time I jostled awake, it was to Jax’s strong hold and warm breath on my neck.
At first, knowing that Jax held me so intimately had caused a moment of embarrassment to hit me, but when I realized he didn’t seem to mind me sleeping in his arms, I’d eventually fallen back into a light slumber, letting the soft lulling motion of Phillen’s gallop soothe me to rest.
It also helped that every time I grew conscious once more, I became aware of the fact that Jax’s hand had never strayed from its position on my hip. No matter what state I was in, Jax’s touches had always been respectful.
I was slowly coming to realize that the Dark Raider might be many things, and the brutal reputation he’d earned throughout the kingdoms was definitely warranted, but the one thing Jax wasn’t was an abuser of females or innocents who didn’t deserve his wrath. Somehow, I knew that to the depths of my soul.
“Where are we?” I finally asked when I roused completely. The remains of sleep still filled my eyes, but in a small burst of magic, I cleansed my breath, teeth, and body, but my stomach let out a loud rumble, letting me know that another long day of riding had left me famished. Yawning, I arched against Jax. “Are we almost there?”
He sucked in a breath so quietly I almost didn’t hear it. My eyes flew open when I realized I’d just pushed my backside right into his groin. He shifted slightly, just enough that our contact broke .
Cheeks blazing, I worked to subtly put another inch of distance between us.
Jax waved ahead with his free hand. “We’re...uh, still in the Shadow Valley. We’ll stop for the night in Fosterton.” He rubbed his cheek, then added in a gruff voice, “Should be there within ten minutes or so, but we’ll stop at a shop first, to get you new clothes, before we find an inn and supper.”
Ahead of us, Guardian Alleron was atop Trivan since the blond had drawn the short straw today. As before, my former guardian was strapped to the stag, and given his hunched-over position, he probably slept too.
Jax had released his sensory magic on my former guardian before we’d left and had allowed Guardian Alleron some water and a small amount of food. My former guardian could once again hear, speak, and see, but the time without his senses and the tortuous pain that’d been inflicted upon him seemed to have left a lasting impression. Not once had Guardian Alleron talked back to Jax since being released. Instead, fear now filled his eyes every time he beheld the Dark Raider.
“How are your legs?” Jax asked quietly.
“They’re okay,” I replied automatically.
“Are they?”
I nodded. “They are. The sleep helped. My magic still isn’t charged enough for a calling, but I’m fully healed physically. Although, I don’t heal as fast as you.” I frowned, thinking again of the wound Jax had suffered from. I’d never asked him about it .
“I’m glad to hear it. In that case, we won’t also stop at the healer in Fosterton.”
I angled my head slightly to see him better, but I was met with the underside of his jaw and black mask. “What about you? Do you need a healer?”
I could have sworn that he smirked beneath his mask. “No, Little Lorafin, I do not.”
“But... how is that possible? How did you recover from a stab wound to your abdomen? I saw the blow. The blade sank into your body to the hilt, right by your heart.” I shuddered, remembering the blood and what had come next. If Jax hadn’t recovered, I would now belong to Lordling Neeble, at his mercy—forever.
“It’s because I’m a stag shifter.”
I bumped him mischievously with my elbow. “Now you admit it.”
Chuckling, he caught my arm before I could bump him again, and wrapped my forearm around my middle, holding it with his. I was entirely held within his embrace, and... Goddess , my heart began to pound.
I was barely able to breathe through the sensations spiraling through me, and my head spun when he whispered in my ear, “Yes, I’m a shifter, and brommel stag shifters in particular have extraordinary healing abilities. It’s part of our magic. We can move like the wind, heal almost any ailment, and...”
“And what? ”
He cleared his throat. “Nothing. I think I’ve revealed enough. We don’t usually talk about our kind.”
“Then why tell me at all?”
His gaze shifted. “I suppose because you asked.”
Phillen abruptly slowed beneath us, and the blurry realm came into focus.
My attention drifted away from my captor to the small town waiting down the sandy road. The quaint village was the only city for miles, and I had a feeling it wasn’t the brightly lit one I’d seen last night. We likely already passed that one, given how far we’d traveled.
Dry, sandy soil still stretched for miles around us, though, and I wondered how big the Shadow Valley was, especially considering the Ustilly Mountains were now tiny peaks so far away I could barely see them.
“Is most of Stonewild a desert?” I asked just as Jax swung off Phillen.
His booted feet hit the ground. “No, this is the only desert in our kingdom, but it’s a big one.”
Our kingdom. He just said our kingdom, confirming he was from Stonewild. I wondered if he was even aware of his slip or if he no longer felt concerned that I knew details of his life.
My stomach fluttered at that thought, so I quickly shifted my attention to the desert that I could at last see clearly. Flat ground stretched forever. The Wood was long gone, but desert plants bloomed and grew throughout the barren land. Dry air filled my lungs, and a pleasant scent carried on the breeze.
“What’s that smell? It almost smells like an herb.”
Jax cocked his head, then hunched down. He snapped off a small branch from a low-lying shrub. Prickly leaves coated it, but they didn’t seem to bite his skin. “Is this what you’re smelling?”
I took the outstretched plant and brought it to my nose. The tiny spikes on the plant’s leaves were more fuzzy than sharp, and when its rich aroma filled my senses, I inhaled deeply.
Grinning, I nodded. “What is it? I’ve never smelled it before.”
“ Saggerwire . It’s a common shrub throughout the drier areas of Stonewild. Many animals eat it. At the leaf’s center is thick water that can sustain one for days.” He snapped off another branch from the ground and cracked a leaf. Blue drops formed on its broken surface, and he brought it to his lips before sucking it out. “Try it.”
I did as he said, and when I snapped my leaf, even more of that herby scent rose in the air. Tentatively, I brought the leaf to my mouth, and the second a drop of the blue moisture hit my tongue, my entire mouth flooded with water. Startled, I nearly dropped it, but I recovered and swallowed the mouthful of cool liquid in one gulp. “How?”
His eyes crinkled. “Magic. This shrub is particularly magical. ”
“It must be to survive out here.” I waved to the area beyond the town. So many miles of empty land surrounded us that I wondered how anyone could walk them, but then I remembered that I was in the land of shifters. Who knew what kind of animals or creatures fae here could turn into. It was possible fae could fly that distance or easily run it as Jax and his friends had.
But the distance to the north did promise more mountains, another range appearing on the horizon. To the west, though, there were only distant hills. Pale green with a smattering of pink and blue wispy clouds spanned the entire domed sky above us.
“It’s so dry here,” I added.
“The sea’s that way.” Jax jerked his chin to the east.
I cocked my head since he was sharing information so freely. “And what about Fosterton?” I nodded toward the small town ahead. “Is this our final destination? Will I be performing your calling here?”
“No, you won’t, and it isn’t.” I waited for him to continue, but he didn’t.
“Why stop here if it’s not where you want to go?”
“You need clothes, and we need to rest. Besides, Fosterton is one of the smallest and poorest villages of Stonewild. I usually check in with the fae here. And I also have this to give to them.” He pulled several heavy bags from the sacks draped over Phillen.
“What are in those? ”
“Rulibs. Courtesy of Lordling Neeble.” His eyes crinkled in the corners, and I had a feeling he was grinning.
I huffed a soft laugh, and he held his hands up to help me down. I took them without a moment’s hesitation, and when his strong fingers and large palms closed around me, my attention fixated on the roughness of his callouses and the strength of his grip.
A flush worked up my neck, and my magic spiked inside me. Collar vibrating, I took a few deep breaths and swung my leg over Phillen.
Jax held onto me until I regained my footing, then he went to my guardian and hauled him off Trivan.
Guardian Alleron grunted when he landed on the sandy soil. He was still bound at his wrists, and his knees buckled slightly, but with stiff movements he straightened, his pride no doubt ensuring that. He had to be sore from the long day’s ride, but I knew he would never admit it.
Magic stirred in the air around the stags, heating and pulsing. In a swell of power, the remaining five shifters all transformed back to their fae forms. As before, the five of them stood clad in black attire and concealing masks. Packs were slung over their shoulders that had been draped over their haunches.
“Finally, we’re here.” Trivan huffed. The blond wiped at his shoulders, as though dispelling whatever feeling remained from hauling my guardian around all day .
“Go okay?” Phillen clapped him on the shoulder. “You didn’t buck him off. I’m surprised.”
“I thought about it.” Grumbling, Trivan shoved Phillen’s hand off. “I’d rather carry the two of them than that arsehole again.” He sneered at Guardian Alleron, but my guardian’s gaze only found mine.
He cast me a veiled look, as though he was trying to communicate something with his eyes, but a simmer of betrayal bubbled up inside me, and I quickly looked away.
“This way.” Jax indicated for me to walk at his side, so I joined him.
At my back, Guardian Alleron followed. With every step he took, I felt his silent demands digging into me. Pleading with me to address him.
I stiffened and kept my attention forward. If my guardian thought I was in a position to assist him or that I would help him escape, he was sorely wrong. I was still so angry at him for his total and complete betrayal. He was the reason I never knew my mother, and it wasn’t like I could help him escape even if I wanted to. Bowan’s magical bands still bound him.
Bustle from the small village carried to us on the wind. Fae milled about, walking along the dusty streets, standing in small yards, or selling goods from their canopied shops. Poverty was evident in the simple, tattered clothing most wore, but they weren’t entirely without.
The sounds of children laughing rang through the streets, and fragrant scents from eating establishments wafted through the air, making my stomach growl again. With every step that took me closer to the tiny city, my stomach howled louder.
Jax chuckled. “We’ll get food soon. I promise.”
I slapped a hand to my stomach, casting him a sheepish smile, but soon the wonders of the foreign city overtook me.
“The south side is where the markets are.” Jax gestured for me to follow him into a labyrinth of twisting streets and narrow alleys filled with canvas tents and wobbly tables. Every which way I looked were ramshackle shops, simple eating establishments, and small entertainment venues.
Jax handed the sacks of rulibs to his friends, and they all doled out coins to every fairy who approached. Murmurs of thanks and blessings from the stars poured out of everyone’s mouths, and for the first time, I was seeing the good deeds that Jax did for the fae of our kingdom.
“Care for a flower, my lady?” A male stepped into my path and held up a blood-red rose. Thorns poked up from its stem, but the bud was large and velvet soft. A part of me wondered how in the realm he grew that here.
“I don’t have any rulibs,” I replied with a regretful shrug. “But it’s a beautiful rose.”
“Nonsense.” He placed the rose carefully in my hand. “Any friend of the Dark Raider is a friend of mine.” He bowed and stepped back as he cast Jax and his friends reverent looks and whispers of thanks.
Other fae stepped forward as we wove deeper into the market, holding out their hands eagerly as Jax and his band of friends filled them with coins. They kept it up until all the rulibs were gone, and it wasn’t lost on me that they didn’t keep any for themselves.
In return, every fairy we encountered offered their goods and wares at no charge even though it was obvious these fae didn’t have much. Deferent glances at Jax and the other five all filled their expressions, but Jax and his friends declined their offers.
Puzzled, I frowned. “I don’t understand. I mean, I know that you provide for them, but why don’t they fear you? I thought everyone was afraid of you to some extent.”
Jax shrugged. “Not here. Stonewild Kingdom is our home, and these are fae who we strive to protect. They know we would never hurt them.”
“Is that why none of you are wearing glamours?”
He nodded. “They know us. They would never turn us into the kingsfae. Here, we don’t need to hide.”
I nibbled on my lip and thought back to all of the tales I’d heard of the Dark Raider. Stories stretched throughout the kingdoms, speaking of his violence, malicious attacks, and unforgiving nature, but those acts had all been done against nobles or rich fae who wielded their wealth and status like a weapon. But he never hurt the poor, and he provided for the less fortunate in all four kingdoms.
“A silk shawl for your beautiful mistress?” A middle-aged fae female held out an array of colorful scarves and bits of silk when we passed her shop. She bowed low to Jax, her expression similar to what one would see when a fairy worshiped the gods.
A blush heated my cheeks that she thought I was his mistress, but Jax fingered the material and nodded. “Better yet, do you have any clothing that would suit her? We still have another day of travel ahead.”
Only another day? That implied we were almost to our final destination. My throat worked when the female bobbed her head and gestured to the inside of her shop. “You know I do, Dark Raider. This way, if you would. I have several gowns and dresses that would suit her perfectly.”
The next hour passed in a blur of trying on dress after dress. Each one was bolder, more extravagant, and more constricting than the one before. I couldn’t help but wonder where the shop owner had obtained her supplies or who she sold them to. Nobody I’d seen here wore anything this grand, yet after sneaking peeks at the other racks and shelves in her humble shop, I saw that the majority of her clothing was simple. Cottonum pants, long-sleeved tops, home-spun dresses.
But that wasn’t what she chose for me.
I was reminded of my many seasons under Guardian Alleron’s care. Once again, I became a doll to dress up and admire versus a female fairy with a beating heart and a mind of her own .
Dutifully, I fell into the role I’d been conditioned to play since I was a child. Turning. Holding my arms out. Stepping into gown after gown when asked.
The entire time, the shopkeeper clucked and fussed, having me turn every which way so she could smooth the skirt, fluff the tulle, or clasp bobbles to my throat and ears.
And with each dress I wore, I stepped out of the fitting room to parade before Jax as the shopkeeper gushed and gazed at him with adoring eyes while asking if he liked it.
By the time an hour had gone by, my smiles had turned wooden, and my gaze fixated on nothing in particular.
“Well, Dark Raider, what do you think of this beautiful material?” The shopkeeper beamed at him as I gave a slow twirl. “It’s made of silk from the Nolus continent, over ten thousand stitches that are so fine you can barely see them, and the jewels at the neckline were mined in Ironcrest. It’s a true work of art.”
Jax leaned back on the sofa and cocked his head. “Is this dress from my raid the other month?”
She bobbed her head. “It is, Dark Raider.”
I perked up for the first time in the past hour, understanding hitting me that Jax was the reason the shopkeeper had such grand goods.
And she indeed had many fine items. The dark-green gown I currently wore clung to my curves, hugged my breasts, and draped down my body like liquid silk.
“I agree that it’s beautiful.” Jax nodded .
I wouldn’t have been surprised if a sun lived within the shopkeeper since she glowed so much from his praise.
Jax cocked his head at me. “Elowen? Do you agree?”
“Yes, Dark Raider,” I replied automatically.
Jax’s brow tightened, pinching together as the shopkeeper continued to gush about the gown’s pattern and cut. Her hands fluttered around me, picking up and smoothing the dress until it lay at just the right angle. “I have several more similar to this if it suits you. You can have whatever you like, obviously at no cost?—”
“Can you give us a minute?” Jax interrupted her.
The shopkeeper immediately bowed. “Yes, of course.” She stepped away, heading outside to the lane to join Jax’s friends and Guardian Alleron, who stood watch at the front door, leaving me alone with the Dark Raider.
Jax rose to his feet, his head nearly brushing the top of the shop’s low stall. I stayed rooted to the spot, even though my collar hummed.
The energy strumming from Jax turned visceral, pulsing through the room in soft waves. He prowled toward me and only stopped when he towered above me, his chest less than a foot away. Clearly defined pecs were visible through his black shirt, and I wondered if they were as hard as they looked.
“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.
I quickly averted my gaze. “Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s fine.”
“That’s a lie.” He growled low in his throat. “You’ve become more silent and despondent with every dress you’ve tried on.” He reached for my hip, as though he was going to touch me, but he stopped himself at the last moment and shoved his arm behind his back. “I thought you wanted new clothes?”
“I do.” I licked my lips. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to seem ungrateful. I honestly would like something else to wear besides that blue gown.”
“Then what’s the problem? Why aren’t you happy?”
“I’m happy.” I gave him a dazzling smile, one so rehearsed that I could have done it in my sleep.
He took another step closer until his chest was only inches from mine. “Elowen,” he said gruffly. “The truth, please.”
My gaze flew to his, and I was once again awarded a clear view of his piercing blue eyes. They stared at me so intently that it was hard to look away, and once again, I had the feeling that he was studying me, trying to see into me.
“It’s nothing.” I ran a flustered hand over my chestnut-colored hair, but when another low growl came from him, I blurted out, “It’s just that, my entire life I’ve been dressed up. Asked to perform. Expected to play the part of the dutiful lorafin. I’ve been on so many shopping trips like this it’s hard not to fall back into the role I’ve always played.”
“And what role is that?”
“A lorafin slave who does her guardian’s bidding.”
Jax stilled. “Is that what it feels like I’m doing? Dressing you up so you can prance around before me while I admire you?”
“I don’t understand.” I twisted my hands, for the first time not knowing how I was supposed to react or what was expected of me. “I’ve been putting on each dress, turning every time I’ve been asked to, yet you’re angry.”
“Goddess.” He raked a hand over his scarfed head. “Take it off.”
My stomach sank. “Oh...okay.” My hands automatically went to the dress’s clasp at my neck, and the gown began to slide down my body, the swell of my breasts appearing as the dress slid lower.
Jax’s breath sucked in, and his hands shot up to catch the dress before more of me was exposed. “Fuck, Elowen. Not here,” he said in a low, rough voice. “In the privacy of your dressing room.”
“Oh... Oh ...I’m sorry. I misunderstood.” Flustered, I stopped the gown from falling lower. “But I thought you said to?—”
“I didn’t mean that you had to undress for me.” Energy soared around him, washing over me in hot waves. He quickly clasped the gown together at the back of my neck, his fingers brushing against my skin.
Feeling like the biggest fool, I hurried to change, and once I was fully covered again, I joined Jax, only to find him pacing and agitated.
“Is that what he would make you do?” Jax nodded to the outside, toward the front of the shop where his five friends and Guardian Alleron were waiting, before prowling to the other side of the shop and back.
“No.” I quickly shook my head. “Guardian Alleron never touched me or watched me undress, but some males asked to see more of me when I’d perform callings, and sometimes, he’d allow that.”
Jax froze, not one muscle moving. I could have sworn the air chilled around him too. “He did?”
I shrugged, and my stomach churned. “Not often, and he always gave me extra rulibs in my allowance when I wore more revealing dresses or bared parts of my flesh that I normally wouldn’t. If I agreed to it, it would always require a higher fee at the calling, but he never allowed me to be naked. Only small parts of me were exposed at a time. It was just to tease the nobles. That he would accommodate, depending upon the price, but he didn’t let them touch me. Lordling Neeble was the only one who did that.” I bit my lip, and those conflicting feelings rose within me again for Guardian Alleron. He’d protected me in many ways, but in some ways...he’d exploited my vulnerability. I’d always known that on some level. Yet, other than Lordling Neeble, he’d never allowed anyone to touch me. It was looking only.
I shook my head. Anger for him again simmered within me, and the sense of betrayal was sharp and stabbing. But that sense of love and devotion I’d always felt for him was still present too. I couldn’t deny that. He was still my father, the only parent I’d ever had. And hope still lived within me that maybe in his own messed up way, he loved me too, because Guardian Alleron was, and had been, the one and only constant in my life. Despite everything he’d done.
Jax’s chest rose faster with each breath that he took. “So he treated you like a whore.”
My head snapped back. “No, he never asked that I bed a male.”
“But he had no problems with them looking.” His jaw locked again, that telltale sound of his snapping teeth drifting through the mask.
I gave a quick nod.
“Elowen, may I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Do you favor these types of gowns?” He waved toward the fluffy lavender one I’d changed into.
I glanced down at it, again not wanting to appear ungrateful. “I mean, it’s beautiful. I would never offend the shopkeeper by saying it wasn’t.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
My heart hammered when I glanced up to find him watching me again in that intense, all-seeing way of his.
“I asked if you preferred these types of dresses.”
With a start, I realized nobody had ever asked me that before. Not a shopkeeper, not Lillivel, and certainly not Guardian Alleron. I pulled my lower lip into my mouth again, nibbling on it slightly before shaking my head .
“No.” I shook my head more forcefully. “No, I don’t think I do. These kinds of gowns are constricting and always draw attention to me. Sometimes when I wear them, I feel like I’m suffocating.”
“And the blue gown you were wearing when we took you, did you choose that one?”
My lip curled. “No, I hate that gown.”
His voice dropped so low it was nearly a whisper. “Have you ever had any choice in what you wear, Elowen? Ever?”
Out of nowhere, tears threatened to fill my eyes. It was entirely preposterous. We were talking about clothing , nothing more, yet the way Jax was looking at me and the questions he was asking...We both knew this had nothing to do with gowns. “Never.”
He gestured to the dressing room. “Take that off in there.”
Before I could utter another word, he disappeared out of the front door.
I didn’t waste any time heeding his command, but my hands shook, and I felt entirely flustered when the shopkeeper’s voice abruptly trilled through the room, “My lady! I have a few more selections for you!”
Cringing, I peeked out from behind the curtain, but Jax was gone, and it was only the female shopkeeper. Her smile was wide and bright, yet her expression was strained. “I do apologize if the dresses weren’t to your liking. I’ve brought a few more pieces of clothing for you to try on. The Dark Raider insisted that you choose what you prefer, and that I’m not to sway you in the least.”
Shocked, for a moment, all I could do was stare at her. “ I’m to choose?”
Her smile grew even broader. “Yes, my lady. Whatever you like is what you will get.”
A small smile worked across my face when I stared at the selections in her hands, and for the first time that I could ever remember when visiting a clothing shop, a bolt of excitement ran through me.