“Wait here.” The fairy guard folded his black wings behind his back, lifting them so they didn’t drag on the ground, then strode toward the mine’s entrance.
A fairy who was standing resolutely by the mine and issuing orders inclined his head to the fairy guard when he reached him. Behind them, banging and groaning sounds came from deep within the mine shaft, and I couldn’t be certain, but I could’ve sworn that small puffs of magic emitted from the entrance as well.
The two males spoke to one another quietly, and I couldn’t hear what they said, but they both glanced our way a few times.
The fairy at the mine’s entrance, who I could only assume was the male in charge, lifted his hand and beckoned us closer.
Trivan huffed and grumbled under his breath. “Is that any way to treat a crown prince?”
But Jax just shrugged. “We’ll do as they request. Come.”
All of us stepped off the carpet, save Bastian. Jax’s brother was none the wiser that we were currently standing miles above the realm’s surface on a gigantic floating meadow.
As a group, we ambled toward the male in charge, and when we reached him, Lars and Phillen moved to guard Jax’s flank, their attention continually swiveling around.
The fairy guard bowed. “Prince Adarian, may I present the Hartivul Mine’s lead archon, Khristian Severell. He may assist you further.”
The rest of the Solis guards who’d accompanied us all took flight, leaving us alone in the archon’s company.
The archon drew himself up taller, and the tips of his black wings shone like obsidian in the sun. He glanced behind us, his gaze alighting on Bastian’s still form. Eyes narrowing, he shifted his attention back to the prince.
“Prince Adarian.” The archon bowed. “I’ve received word that you’re to be allowed information regarding our mines.”
“Thank you.” Jax inclined his head. “We’re here today because we have reason to believe at least one stone, and possibly many more, were taken from these mines either illegally or were sold legitimately to someone on the Silten continent?—”
“The Silten continent?” Khristian’s chest puffed up indignantly. “We don’t sell our gems to Silten fae.”
Jax paused. “In that case, we’ll assume they were taken illegally. Whatever the case, the gems that we believe came from here were crafted into jewelry that have been used for nefarious purposes and are currently being worn by Silten fae. We believe the gems are controlling their minds, and we would appreciate any help you can give us in locating the fairy who forged the jewelry.”
Khristian’s forehead furrowed over his snowy eyebrows. “Gems from our mines? Forged forSiltenfae? Truly?”
“That is what the prince said,” Bowan all but growled.
The archon huffed. “But we don’t allow gems from our floating meadows to leave the continent.”
Annoyance flared in Jax’s aura. “Nevertheless, we believe that’s what’s occurred, so I would appreciate your help in locating the forger.” Jax glanced back at his brother. “One gem is on the male there. We believe many more are on other fae on our continent, and there’s also a possibility that one’s on my mate, and in a device that we own.” Jax turned toward me, his eyes softening. “Elowen? If you would please show him.”
I stepped forward and angled my head. “The purple stone at my throat is magical.”
The second the archon caught sight of my collar, his eyes widened. He stepped forward, his movement swift until he stood right in front of me. He lifted a finger to touch my collar.
Jax growled and shifted closer to my side. “No touching.” A flash of light appeared in Jax’s eyes, the same territorial gleam that he’d portrayed in the Wood, the morning we’d been searching for Bastian and Alec had held my hand.
Khristian’s wings ruffled, and he dropped his curious fingers, but his gaze sharpened. “Where did she get that stone?”
I bristled. “Shedidn’t get it anywhere. This was placed on me.”
Khristian’s gaze swept across all of us, and his wings rippled again. He jerked his chin toward Bastian’s sleeping form. “Is the same stone on that male?”
“We believe so. Both jewels look similar, but of course, we have no way to confirm that.” Jax waved toward the floating carpet. “And his was forged into an anklet, not a collar.”
The archon’s nostrils flared. “And you say there aremore stoneslike this on the Silten continent and in a device?” His voice was so sharp that it cracked like a whip.
“Yes, we believe there are many more,” Jax replied evenly.
Huffing, Khristian strode to the carpet, his strides fast and agitated. He stopped when he reached the carpet’s edge and planted his hands on his hips as he assessed Bastian.
We followed him, and Jax crouched and lifted the hem of Bastian’s pants, revealing the anklet secured above his brother’s foot. The metal flashed in the sunlight, the jewel at its center gleaming.
