Khristian’s breath sucked in. “Wheredid you get that stone? I must insist that you tell me.”
Jax took a deep breath. “We don’t know. That’s why we’re here. We need to find who forged them so they can hopefully be removed.”
Khristian’s fingers, still wrapped around his hips, began tapping against his waistband in quick succession. “Upon looking at them, it does, in fact, appear that they came from our mines, but I will need to test them to affirm that.” He glanced toward the mine’s entrance and beckoned someone with two fingers. “Penneveer, bring the wand.”
My spine snapped upright.Wand?My guardian’s adaptor was also like a wand.
A female wearing a uniform similar to Khristian disappeared into the mine shaft. She emerged a minute later. In her hand, a slim wand flashed in the sunlight.
My heartbeat increased erratically. Another wand. Another device. I could only pray to the gods that their wand couldn’t control me.
Jax stepped in front of me and growled low in his throat. “What is that device?”
“It’s used to test the potency and identity of the stones that are harvested from our mines.” Khristian glanced at Jax, as if only registering the energy that soared around him. His tone turned haughtier. “It won’t hurt anyone. It’s merely a testing device.”
I stepped from around Jax and suppressed my irritation. I couldn’t help but think that this archon was used to issuing orders versus having to answer questions. Whatever the case, the archon’s arrogance was starting to get on my nerves. Shoulders tensing, I waited for whatever was to come.
Penneveer neared, and despite her thin form, the female carried herself as confidently as the archon. “Archon Severell, as you instructed.” She held out the wand to him.
He snatched it from her and faced me. “I’m going to set this against the gem at your throat. It will confirm whether that stone came from our mine. Hold still.”
Jax seethed and stepped closer to the archon. “Remember, that’s my mate you’re speaking to.” A puff of anger filled his aura, and his magic wafted closer to the archon.
The second Jax’s power hit him, the archon gasped. “I meant no disrespect, my prince.” He bowed, the movement awkward, as though—like having to answer questions—he was out of practice in bowing too.
I took a deep breath. Sweat lined my palms, the moisture cooling my hands in the icy breeze. But even though my entire body wanted to retreat, I held still as the wand loomed.
With slower, less rapid movements, the archon placed the wand at my neck. A tingle of magic puffed against my skin when it touched the stone. My collar heated and warmed, and the wand began to glow until several colors emitted from its base in a series of undefinable order.
The archon’s eyes widened, and he pulled the wand away. He turned stunned eyes on Penneveer.
“Impossible,” she breathed.
The archon swung back to Jax and me. “Itisa gem from our mine.” He focused on me. “Who placed this on you?”
My heart began to pound with hope. My collar’s gemwasfrom here. But I focused on his question. “My former guardian put this on me, but I have no idea who he purchased it from. This was locked upon me when I was a child. At the moment, it’s irremovable.”
“Does it suppress your magic?” the archon asked.
My heart jolted. “Yes.”
He inclined his head. “I’m not surprised. This stone is arhifilytegem. It’s a rare jewel that our mines only produce on rare occasion, but the potency of its magic is known for its ability to cage and control any type of magic. For many winters, we haven’t seen any of these gems produced until a few months ago, when we had a rather prolific production from one of our shafts. Over two buckets were crafted by this meadow in two days, but that explosive production was short-lived.”
“A few months ago, did you say?” Alec asked, coming up behind us. The wind ruffled his mahogany hair.
“That’s what I said,” the archon replied.
All of us gave one another a side-eye, because a few months ago was when Bastian was taken.
The archon glanced down at Bastian. “Is he unwell?” He arched an eyebrow.
I nodded. “He is. That’s also why we’re here. We believe that his current state of mind and lack of awareness are due to that anklet.”
The archon frowned heavily, his expression turning grave. “That could very well be true.” He crouched and placed the wand against Bastian’s anklet. Sure enough, the same heating and glowing appeared at the wand’s end, and the colors it emitted matched the colors it had shone when it’d been against my throat.
The archon seethed quietly. “This one is also from our mines.”
“What about this?” Jax withdrew Guardian Alleron’s adaptor from his pocket. The slim piece of metal also held a small rhifilyte gemstone.
