The interior guard lifted a device and said something into it. Magic shimmered around the apparatus and projected his voice to somewhere else in the palace.
The gate’s guard gestured for me to step forward. “Come, Lady Elowen, let’s get you inside.”
The gates swung open, and the guard led me across the large stone courtyard to the palace steps. But before I could place a foot on the first stair, the palace doors crashed open.
“Elowen!” Jax was down the steps, flying toward me with a panicked look on his face.
My heart soared, and our mate bond hummed.
The second Jax reached me, he crushed me to him, and my arms wrapped around him just as hard.
Pine and spice. Magic and fire. Strength and warmth. Everything I’d ever felt in my mate’s presence cascaded through me.
I clung to him, feeling him, soaking up his presence, relishing that he was here and I was touching him again. “Stars Above. I worried I’d never see you again,” I whispered.
My trembling words had him pulling back, concern evident on his features. “Where were you? I’ve been looking for you.”
I shook my head and memorized his face, tracing my fingers over each sculpted line. A heavy brow. Crashing and blazing irises. A strong nose. Firm yet full lips. A defined jaw. Everything about him looked so familiar, yet it also felt like I was looking at him for the first time.
My mate bond burned with renewed intensity, and my heart flooded with relief. He was safe. Alive.Here. I soaked up his appearance like the desert drank in its first rain, and just thanked the stars and galaxy that I was with him again.
He cupped my cheeks, seeming to understand thatsomethinghad happened to me but obviously not knowing what. “Come with me, my love. We need to meet my parents.”
He kissed me once, his lips molding to mine, then he clasped my hand and pulled me along.
We ventured up the stairs, side by side. Like me, he was wearing the same navy clothing that he’d changed into after we’d made love in his wardrobe. Even more of the panic in me eased. I’d been transported to the past. I’d trulytwisted fate.
With my mate at my side, I entered the palace, and we began making our way to the main dining hall. Familiar walls passed us. Elegant chambers filled my view. Everywhere I looked, all appeared calm and normal. No kingsfae were in sight.
But that didn’t mean everything was safe.
“Did anyone check on my guardian today?” I asked him quietly.
He inclined his head. “Lars was going to.”
“So Guardian Alleron’s still alive?”
Jax frowned. “Of course, I haven’t killed him. Not yet, at least.”
I gripped Jax’s hand. “Are you certain that Guardian Alleron’s still locked in his chambers?”
Jax canted his head, and he was so devastatingly beautiful that I could have looked at him all night. “I haven’t heard otherwise.”
My eyes widened as that implication took root. If my guardian was alive in this reality, then that meant someone who’d passed to the afterlifecouldbe brought back to life if I twisted fate. Either that, or my guardian had somehow miraculously survived after I’d thrown him miles out to sea. But I doubted that was possible. Guardian Alleron couldn’t swim, and I’d seen no ships that could have rescued him. Apparently, if I rewrote time, faecould be brought back to life. When I returned to the Isle of Song, I would have to report that to Master Fistideeous.
But that was assuming that Guardian Alleron truly lived...
My slippers dug into the soft carpet fibers beneath my soles. “Jax, are you certain that my guardian is still alive and is still locked in his chambers?”
Jax’s brow furrowed, and he turned to face me. “I haven’t spoken with Lars since we parted, if that’s what you mean, but he said he was going to check on him, so I’m sure he did.”
I gripped Jax’s arm, my nails digging into him. “This isveryimportant. If my guardian’s still alive, we need to ensure that he’s still in his chambers and hasn’t escaped.”
Worry began emitting in my mate’s aura, and his gaze flitted across my face. “I’ll be right back.” He disappeared in a blur of speed, leaving me alone in the hall.
I wrung my hands and scanned the area to see if any servants looked to be acting strange or fearful, but none were about.
Yet I’d been transportedback in time. I took some comfort in that. I’d obviously done something with my magic, and I didn’t have to wait long for Jax. He whizzed back to my side only minutes later, barely winded thanks to his shifter-enhanced run.
