JAX POV
After a few more insults thrown my way, I finally shook my head at Kael.
"I'm going to wash off this nasty mood from my body," I muttered.
Kael laughed. "You're such a dramatic arse, soon-to-be-married man."
I flipped him off as I walked away. "Goodbye, Your Highness."
He was still laughing when I turned the corner.
The halls grew quieter the farther I went. The stone floors echoed under my boots. Guards bowed as I passed, their eyes lowered. Respect. Fear. Sometimes I couldn't tell the difference.
My chambers sat in the east wing of the castle. Large carved doors stood at the entrance, dark wood polished to a shine. When I pushed them open, the familiar scent of cedar and steel greeted me.
My room was big. Too big for one man.
High ceilings with painted arches. Tall windows draped in heavy black curtains. A massive bed carved from oak, sheets dark and soft. A fireplace built from white stone. Weapons lined one wall, each polished and placed with care. Bookshelves filled another wall… histories, battle strategies, trade records.
Gold trimmed the edges of the furniture. Rugs from distant lands covered the marble floor. A balcony overlooked the city of Aureclaire, its spires glowing under the fading sun.
I had everything.
Silk. Steel. Power.
Wealth that could buy anything.
And every coin of it was built on blood.
Battles fought. Enemies buried. Deals made in shadows. Lands secured in the king's name. My name whispered in fear across borders.
People saw luxury.
I saw the cost.
I pulled my shirt over my head, tossing it onto a chair. My body still hummed from training, heat clinging to my skin. I stepped into the bathing chamber, steam already rising from the stone pool.
The hot water hit my skin, washing away sweat, dust, and the smell of the throne room. I leaned my head back, closing my eyes.
For a moment, it was quiet.
No king.
No expectations.
No betrothed waiting like a chain around my neck.
Just me and the sound of water.
But even in silence, I felt it… the weight of it all. The crown's weapon. The Enforcer.
And now… a husband-to-be.
I let out a slow breath, staring at the ceiling.
"Trials first," I muttered to myself. "Marriage later."
Still, something about it unsettled me.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
Just the feeling that my life was about to change in a way I couldn't fight with a blade.
And that bothered me more than any battlefield ever could.
Steam filled the bathing chamber, thick and warm. I stayed in the water longer than I needed to, letting the heat sink into my muscles. It helped—a little.
But it didn't quiet my mind.
The king's voice echoed in my head. Jax, my boy.
Like I was something he shaped. Something he owned.
I dragged a hand down my face and pushed myself out of the pool. Water dripped down my skin, hitting the stone floor in soft taps. I grabbed a towel and dried off slowly, staring at my reflection in the tall mirror across the room.
Scars crossed my chest and arms. Some are thin and pale. Some are thick and raised. Each one is a story. Each one earned.
Each one paid for in blood.
I wasn't born into wealth. I built it. Fight by fight. Mission by mission. I did what others couldn't. What others wouldn't.
And the crown rewarded me well.
Gold. Land. Power.
But none of it felt like it belonged to me.
I dressed in clean black trousers and a fitted shirt, the fabric soft against my skin. I fastened the silver cuffs at my wrists, each engraved with the mark of the Enforcer. A reminder. That my life isn't mine.
A knock sounded at my door.
Sharp. Quick.
I turned, already annoyed. "Enter."
One of the guards under my command stepped in, head bowed. "My lord… there's been a disturbance in town. Veilers have been spotted… low-level one Gifted."
I frowned, recalling them instantly. Fog, smoke, tricks… thieves in the mist. I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. "Those fog-stealing bastards."
"How many are there?" I asked, eyes narrowing.
"From the last report… ten, sir."
I ran a hand through my hair, irritation prickling under my skin. Ten of them are thinking they could cause trouble in my city.
"Give me a minute," I said, voice calm but hard. "Then we'll head down to the Xavian together."
"Understood, sir," he replied, bowing before leaving.
I exhaled sharply, letting the last moment of peace I had settle in. I had a lot on my plate.. Training, the Trials, the betrothed… and now mother-fucking.. thieves.
Just another day for life, Enforcer of Verlis.
I grabbed my coat, sliding it on like armor, and stepped toward the door. The city below wouldn't wait for me to enjoy my morning.
And neither would trouble.
I stepped out of my chambers, the marble hallways empty and echoing under my boots. The morning light streamed through the tall windows, glinting off the polished floors, but I didn't bother admiring it. The city had bigger problems than my view.
Xavian was waiting at the base of the stairwell, armor fitted, expression sharp as ever. No words were needed. I nodded once, and he fell in step beside me. Silent, efficient, loyal… he was the kind of man who reminded me why I need to show up. Leading a thousand soldiers to battle… their lives are kinda your responsibility. It becomes a big burden.
"Those Veilers," I muttered, keeping my voice low, "they've been quite frequent and quite bold these days."
Xavian's eyes narrowed. "Yes sir.. Very bold."
"They're idiots," I said. "Or rather foolish. Either way, it ends today." My fingers itched toward the hilt of my blade, a dull heat settling over me. I wasn't about to let a dozen smoke-popping thieves ruin my day.
The streets of Aureclaire were alive with the usual morning bustle. Merchants called out, guards patrolled, children darted between legs. But beneath the surface, I could feel it… the unnatural shift in the air. A thin haze curls through the alleyways, just enough to mask movement. Just enough to hide them.
"Keep your eyes open," I said, voice low. "They'll strike where it starts getting to crowdy.."
We had barely taken a few more steps through the crowded market when the air shifted.
Fog rolled in, thick and unnatural, curling around the stalls and winding through the people like smoke from a fire. The chatter and calls of merchants dimmed, swallowed by the haze. My gut tightened instantly.
"Finally," I muttered, voice low, teeth clenched. "They're here. Let's get this over with so I can have my breakfast. Anyone making me miss it deserves to die."
Xavian moved closer, keeping his posture casual, blending with the crowd… I knew he was ready. Every muscle coiled, every sense alert.
I sniffed the air, eyes narrowing. The fog smelled faintly metallic, sharp… the signature of the Veilers. Quick. Precise. They thought they could hide in plain sight.
I dropped my voice to a whisper. "Stay close. They'll strike from the shadows. Fog and smoke… that's their specialty. Watch the hands, the movement… don't lose them in the crowd."
The mist thickened, wrapping around my legs and hiding the ground beneath me. Figures flickered in the fog… shapes moving faster than normal, disappearing before you could lock eyes on them.
I flexed my fingers, ready. "Time to remind them why stealing in Aureclaire is a mistake."
Xavian's eyes met mine, sharp and steady. No words were needed.
I stepped forward, letting the fog roll around us like a battlefield waiting to erupt. The hunt had begun.
Then… suddenly.. a hand slammed into my chest, hard enough to throw me off balance.
I stumbled, my boots skidding across the cobblestones. Fog swirled around me, masking everything, hiding shapes and shadows.
But that scent…
I froze. My stomach tightened, and my pulse skipped. Sharp, wild, and faintly sweet… nothing as I had ever smelled before.
I spun, trying to catch a glimpse through the haze, but the fog shifted, hiding whoever or whatever it was.
Xavian moved beside me, hand on his weapon, eyes scanning. "Sir?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't. That scent… that presence… it burned into my senses. My body coiled, every instinct screaming.
Then suddenly it was gone.