Jaxon looked down into his glass, contemplating for a moment. “And you appeared near him again this time,” he said blandly, more to himself. He downed the contents of his glass in one gulp, his eyes going to the decanter behind me.
Before he could lean closer, I twisted and grabbed the decanter. His lips curved into a faint smile at my jittery response, and I poured him a fresh glass and set the decanter closer to us on the table.
“It appears so.” I sighed. “Why do you think that is?”
Jaxon’s brow furrowed slightly, and after a moment, he let out a low chuckle, looking up at me with a smirk. “Is this why you wanted to train with the guards?” He ran a hand through his hair, clearly finding that funny.
“Do you find that amusing?” I started to stand, but he gently grabbed my wrists and guided me back into my seat.
“No, Zara. I admire that you wanted to learn how to protect yourself.” Jaxon’s thumb brushed gently across my wrist before he released it, leaning back in his chair. A muscle in his jaw twitched as he looked away, lost in thought.
I shifted, leaning closer. “What did you take?” I asked, my voice edged with curiosity.
Jaxon froze, his gaze dropping to his lap. “His magic,” he confessed quietly, his eyes closing as he rubbed the spot between his brows, his fingers pressing against his temples.
I took a sharp breath. “You can do that? How?”
“It’s…complicated.” He sighed, meeting my gaze once more. I looked at him, waiting for an explanation. “My father sealed the rift to your realm but left a loophole. If we ever needed to open it again, it could be done with royal blood. But only theroyal blood of the current ruler. I needed my brother's magic…his…” He shook his head but continued, “I needed it to open the rift for me.” His eyes went misty as if he were reliving a painful memory.
“Your brother is King?” I gulped, feeling stupid for not registering that information sooner.
Jaxon nodded, pulling a silver pocket watch from his pocket. The watch was the same one he had earlier tonight, its emerald centerpiece glinting ominously. The metal encircling the gemwas engraved with overlapping vines and symbols that I couldn’t quite identify.
“Not only did I need his magic to open the realm,” he continued, his fingers tracing the intricate engravings, “but I needed it to protect and help disguise me. In case the other rumors were true.”
I scrunched my brows in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“My brother is a shapeshifter—that’s how I’ve been able to disguise myself,” Jaxon explained, his fingers brushing the pocket watch before he tucked it away. “He’s the last in our realm with that ability. He inherited it from our mother.” Jaxon let out a light laugh. “On top of that, he’s also the last to possess true shadow magic.”
Jaxon ran a hand through his hair, his eyes clouding. “My brother is the most powerful Fae to have ever existed, and I…” He trailed off, his voice faltering as he swallowed the unspoken words.
My gaze softened as I watched him, noting the troubled and pained expression that marked his features.
“The magic I used was old and ancient,” he breathed. “It’s forbidden and complicated.” His eyes reflected a deep sadness, and I could see the regret etched on his face.
“He will forgive you,” I said, offering what comfort I could. Jaxon’s face softened, but he shook his head slightly.
“He is your family,” I continued, pressing my hand to his knee in a gesture of comfort. He stared at my hand, and I began to pull it away, but he reached out and gently grasped it.
His eyes lifted to meet mine, a mix of gratitude and vulnerability. “I'm sorry you've been pulled into this, Zara,” Jaxon whispered.
“If I can shadow, does this mean I am like you?” I asked, bracing myself for the answer.
“Your scent is human, but there’s something unusual about it. It’s like something’s missing,” he murmured.
“My scent? Why do people keep saying that? Do I smell?” I asked incredulously, and he started to laugh, a grin spreading across his face.
His thumb brushed gently over my hand, causing shivers to race down my spine. “We have heightened senses. Everyone has a distinct smell, their essence of who they are.”
I raised my arm and smelled it. Jaxon watched me with an amused smile, his eyes softening. “You don’t smell bad, Zara. You smell like a crisp winter day.”
His comment was unexpected and oddly comforting.
“You smell like a rainstorm,” I said before I could stop myself, feeling my cheeks warm. He leaned closer, his smile widening, and I stood up abruptly, ripping my hand from his and walking over to the fire.
When I turned around, a startled gasp escaped me as Jaxon appeared directly in front of me. I instinctively stepped back, only to find myself pressed against the wall beside the hearth, his body a firm barrier around mine. My heart raced, the rhythmic pounding echoing in my ears as one of his hands settled on my waist and the other cradled my face.
“Jaxon,” I breathed out, saying his true name for the first time. He shivered slightly at the sound, his body pressing closer to mine. The cold stone wall dug uncomfortably into my back as he leaned in, his lips brushing mine.
