“What about your necklace?” Her gaze pierced the collar encircling my throat. “Did a male or female forge yours?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know. The semelees didn’t reveal that.”
“I see.” The archon stood straighter. “Well, regarding your friend, that will help narrow it down if you’re certain it’s a female.”
“We also have this.” I thrust the piece of parchment toward her that contained the list of names Khristian had supplied to us. “Although, if you already think you know who it may be, perhaps you don’t need it.”
She took the parchment and perused the names. “I see that someone’s done their homework.”
Jax and I shared a side-eye, while the rest of our friends shuffled their feet behind us. Anxious energy puffed in all of their auras.
My mate leveled the archon with a penetrating stare. “Of these two females you spoke of, are either here today?”
The archon nodded. “Indeed, Angim Holz and Saroly Yimmperfae are both working today.”
An explosive array of hope burst in my chest, and a cataclysmic response, just as strong as mine, came from Jax along our bond. Archon Oniville had just narrowed down our list from twenty fae totwo.
Jax slipped his hand through mine. I squeezed him tightly, and my heart threatened to beat out of my chest.
A sting came from my collar, just the barest brush of magic cascading through me, but it triggered enough to whip Archon Oniville’s attention back to me. “Your necklace justactivated.”
I gave her a weak smile. “It’s common for it to do that. Emotions bring it out.”
Norivun’s eyes narrowed and grew glacially cold when he said, “And where might Angim Holz and Saroly Yimmperfae be at the moment?”
“Why, they’re both working at their stations.” Archon Oniville waved to the room she’d emerged from.
Norivun inclined his head. “Excellent. In that case, please take us to a private chamber and then bring each of them to us alone. Prince Adarian has some questions he would like to ask them.”
The archon bowed. “As you wish.”
CHAPTER 7
It felt as though I was going to jump out of my skin as we waited for the first fairy to arrive. Archon Oniville had taken us to a room just off the facility’s main floor that I guessed was normally used as a meeting area.
A fire crackled in the chamber’s small hearth, and a large metallic table sat at its center. Around the table were chairs also constructed of pure metal. Everything in this facility was made of similar material, which I supposed wasn’t surprising since some fae who worked here had a metalwork affinity and had probably crafted everything we touched.
Norivun sat at the table, drumming his fingers against the cool surface. His wings draped behind him, relaxed and loose in the chair’s divots.
Everyone else had taken a seat with the Solis royal, including Jax, but I couldn’t. I paced back and forth, nearly twisting my fingers off as I wrung my hands over and over. Alec, Trivan, Phillen, and Lander all watched me with worried expressions while Jax wore a perpetual scowl.
“My love,” my mate said for the third time. “Please, come sit with me.”
From the edge in Jax’s voice, I knew his mating instincts were not pleased with how I was feeling, but I shook my head. “I can’t. I need to keep moving.” I paced again when I reached the far wall.
“Has that collar truly suppressed you since you were five?” Norivun asked quietly when I swung back around to stride the other way. “You said it commonly activates.”
All I could manage was a nod as a low growl rumbled in Jax’s chest. “She’s been abused mercilessly with that collar.”
Norivun’s jaw locked just as the door opened, and Archon Oniville appeared with a female in tow.
“I do apologize for the wait, but may I present Angim Holz.” The archon waved toward the newcomer.
I spun toward her, hope bursting through me, but the second I saw her face, my shoulders fell.
She wasn’t who the semelees had shown me. She didn’t match the image at all with her long silvery hair, stooped shoulders, and wide eyes. She wasveryold, much older than the fairy I was shown.
Jax cast me a look. “She may still know something,” he said quietly. “If not about Bastian’s anklet, then perhaps about your collar.”
