Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
Bright morning sunlight streamed into my chambers. My eyes opened slowly, only to see the light coming through that dreaded frosted glass. Jax had never returned the previous evening. I’d thought he wanted me to do his calling, but since he hadn’t made an appearance, I was beginning to wonder if I’d been put in this plush, gilded cage because he intended to keep me after all.
Stomach churning anew, I stretched and sat up. “At least, I slept,” I muttered to myself. The soft mattress and plump pillows could probably be thanked for that. Still, it was a miracle I’d slept at all, considering my current circumstances.
Whatever the case, I didn’t want to be found in my underthings, so I hurriedly got up and made quick work in the bathing chamber, washing myself and brushing my teeth in the traditional manner before dressing in another new outfit from Fosterton—a cozy emerald sweater and tan breeches—but when scents of food tickled my nose, I stopped mid-brush from tending to my hair.
I peeked out of the chamber, and my jaw dropped when I spotted an entire tray of food on a table in the sitting area. I approached it warily, gaze darting about as I searched for whomever had brought it in.
The scent called to my howling stomach, but anxious nerves turned it just as fast. Despite the mouthwatering array of eggs, breakfast meats, fresh fruit, flaky pastries, and a pot of fresh tea, I didn’t reach for any of it.
Instead, I searched for signs of who crept in here while I’d been bathing.
But nobody was about.
Somebody must have snuck in here and then out.
Realizing that nearly made my heart stop, and considering this new discovery made my stomach turbulent, I wasn’t able to eat.
I was standing near the window an hour later, desperately trying to see some kind of detail through its thick fog, when a soft knock came on the door.
I jumped, just as an unlocking spell followed, and given the aura wafting under the door, I knew who it was.
Tensing, I watched as the Dark Raider opened the door and stepped into the room. He did it so fast that I couldn’t see any details of the hall behind him, but I did see enough to know it was a hallway, not another stone tunnel, but as soon as that detail revealed itself, it disappeared.
For a moment, we both stared at one another. Once again, Jax wore a mask and a bandana, but his clothes were different. Instead of leggings he wore black slacks. And in place of a tunic, he wore a thin gray sweater.
I could tell even from the distance that the material was finely woven. Jax hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he had rulibs. Apparently, he was as wealthy as Guardian Alleron.
Our gazes stayed locked, and my heart beat even faster as cold fury began to consume me. My collar rattled violently against my throat, but I didn’t even try to stop it.
“You’ve returned.” My comment came out as frosty as the window behind me.
His throat bobbed in a swallow. “Good morning,” he offered.
I curled my hands into fists.
He took a step toward me, but an air of hesitance billowed around him, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was feeling guilty for what he’d done to me, or perhaps he was feeling guilty for whatever he was about to demand.
Of course, I had no way of knowing. As always, his features were hidden behind that damned mask.
“Back to hiding then?” I asked in a sardonic tone as I arched an eyebrow. “You certainly had no problems not wearing that mask yesterday when we arrived. ”
“It’s a necessity.”
I scoffed. “Of course it is.”
The mysteriousness of him only added to his commanding presence. I was itching to know what he looked like, but I figured at this point the likelihood of that happening was as promising as me traveling to planet Jeulic.
He walked slowly toward me, each step silent on the thick carpet, until he stood only a foot away.
“How did you sleep?” The muted sunlight hit his eyes, and his irises became a dazzling display of blues and navy.
“Oh, just fine, thank you. And how about you, Dark Raider?”
My syrupy tone had him huffing, but instead of replying, his finger began to tap against his thigh. He gestured toward the food tray on the table in the attached sitting room. “Did you eat?”
“No.”
The tapping increased. “Would you like breakfast first? Before the calling?”
My lips thinned. So that was why he was here. Right down to business then. I didn’t know if I should be offended or relieved.
Shrugging, I replied, “It honestly doesn’t matter. If you’re eager to get started, we can begin.”
Hesitantly, his hand drifted forward until it brushed against mine. In my next breath, he clasped ahold of me. My chest tightened at the feel of his hard callouses. Eyes sparkling like sapphires, he squeezed me gently.
“Thank you. After this, I’ll release you, ensuring your freedom from that collar to the best of my ability, and I’ll be sure you have enough rulibs to start whatever life you’d like.”
Hope surged within me. Stupid, stupid , hope. When will you ever learn, Elowen, that you can trust no one?
“I’ll believe that when I see it.”
A flash of raw emotion streaked across his eyes. It almost looked like pain or perhaps disappointment. But he veiled it too quickly for me to fully grasp whatever it was, but one thing I’d learned since being locked in here, I was a fool to fall for anything he said or did.
But despite knowing Jax could very well be deceiving me now, I didn’t yank my hand back. Instead, I tried to quell my growing desire to do whatever he wanted just so I could potentially gain my freedom. A true family was never in the cards for me now, thanks to my guardian’s betrayal, but perhaps at least I could be the maker of my own destiny, no longer a slave if the supernatural courts deemed me safe.
You’re an idiot, Elowen.
But I couldn’t completely ignore the singular goal that was now staring me smack in the face. My entire life I’d been working toward this moment. Autonomy. Independence. Perhaps Jax would keep his promise, and the entire past four days would end up being one long nightmare that I could hopefully forget one day. Perhaps...but I supposed only time would tell.
Jax dipped his head. “Ready?”
I pulled my hand free of his. “Yes.”
In a few strides, Jax was at the door again. My nostrils flared when the door opened readily for him.
“Phillen?” he called down the hallway. “Bring him in.”
I tried to see into the hall again, but he’d barely opened the door enough to call to his friend. In less than a minute, Guardian Alleron was in the room with Phillen right behind him. The rest of Jax’s friends filed into the chamber too, slipping through the door so quickly that my head spun.
All of them were masked, bandanas in place, yet that was where the similarities ended. Trivan, Lander, and Bowan wore clothing as fine as Jax, but Phillen and Lars wore uniforms of forest green, gold, and sapphire blue—Stonewild Kingdom colors.
But uniforms for what?
Before I could ponder that, Jax was in my space again with Guardian Alleron right behind him. At least, I wasn’t the only one afraid. Given my guardian’s terrified expression, I couldn’t help but wonder if Jax had robbed him of his senses the entire night and had only just released them.
Jax handed the adaptor to Guardian Alleron, then turned his azure eyes on me. “Elowen? Shall we begin?”
I walked stiffly to the bed, and my collar vibrated as emotions roiled within me. I took deep, steadying breaths, but it did little to calm my nerves.
This could potentially be my last demanded calling ever. Tomorrow, I could be free. Or not. This could all be a ploy to trick me.
I lay on the bed, placed my arms at my sides, and waited. But nobody moved.
Guardian Alleron raised his eyebrows at the Dark Raider. “Are you going to touch her?”
Jax’s brow furrowed, and he growled, “Why would I touch her?”
I flinched, unable to help it, even though a part of me knew that Jax thought Guardian Alleron was inviting him to touch me indecently, as Lordling Neeble had, yet it still hurt. Jax had rejected me very clearly yesterday morning, so maybe he truly thought I was hideous, and his touches earlier had been out of necessity, not choice.
I fought the urge to rub my temples. Confusion filled me at Jax’s waxing and waning actions. He couldn’t very well rob me of my senses and lock me up, then feign irritation at Guardian Alleron inviting him to touch or harm me. Stealing my senses and holding me captive was harming me.
Guardian Alleron’s nostrils flared. “She needs to access your magic to perform your calling. In order to do that, she needs to be touching you.”
The Dark Raider’s eyebrows slanted sharply together. “That isn’t how I was told callings worked. ”
My ears pricked. It wasn’t the first time Jax had implied he knew about lorafins, and I couldn’t help but wonder if what he knew was true and where he’d acquired his information.
Guardian Alleron sighed again, and subtle sarcasm dripped from his tone when he replied, “By all means, if you know more about Elowen and her callings than me, do whatever you prefer.”
Jax and I regarded one another. His shoulders tensed, and his hands fisted.
Sighing, I gave up on trying to understand any of this. I just wanted his calling over and done with.
I raised my arm, holding out an outstretched palm to him. “If you want someone or something found, and I want to be free, this is the only way. Take my hand.”
The adaptor flashed in Guardian Alleron’s palm. A jolt skated down my spine from the collar, and I yelped.
My former guardian gave Jax a mock frown. “Sorry, my finger twitched.”
Jax scowled, and his aura abruptly pounded through the room. Out of nowhere, Guardian Alleron cried out in pain, his face contorting, the muscles in his neck flexing.
Just as soon as it started, though, it stopped.
“Sorry,” Jax said sarcastically, then prowled closer to Guardian Alleron. “My mind twitched.”
My guardian leaped back, and Jax stopped just short of him.
“You do that to her again, and then pretend that it wasn’t intentional, and I’ll make the next time I hurt you a hundred times more painful. Do you understand?”
Guardian Alleron cowered. “Yeee . . . yes, Dark Raider.”
The rest of the males watched on, not interfering, but tension strummed from them, and I swallowed the fear rising inside me. Jax was ruthless, truly ruthless . I’d been a fool to think I could ever trust him.
Bottom line, Jax had no qualms about hurting others. He’d likely eventually hurt me too, even if I’d thought he would never hurt a female. I just hadn’t provoked him enough yet.
I need to get out of here.
Guardian Alleron bobbed his head. “I sincerely apologize. I’ll ensure her collar isn’t triggered again.”
Jax placed his hands on his hips. “Will this calling hurt her?”
Guardian Alleron’s lips thinned. “It’s nothing she can’t handle.”
“That isn’t what I asked,” Jax growled.
“I’ll be fine,” I called. “Come, let’s get this over with.”
The Dark Raider searched my guardian’s face one last time before stepping to my side. He hovered his hand over mine. “Is here okay?” he asked gruffly.
My entire body locked up, but I nodded. “There’s fine.”
His hand gently entwined with mine, and a current ran up my arm that had nothing to do with the adaptor or my collar. Stupid, Elowen, so stupid. You’re seriously still attracted to him? I wanted to hang myself.
“When you’re ready, Elowen.” Guardian Alleron pressed the gem on his adaptor in a series of specific taps, and a rush of magic washed around my throat.
The collar loosened its vise-like hold on my power, slowly falling away until it no longer felt like a constant pressure around my magic. But it was still there, still monitoring me. If the collar sensed that I was becoming too free of its grip, it would strengthen once more and rein me in.
I closed my eyes and opened my senses just as Jax’s abilities spiraled into me.