Page 5 of I Destroyed the Elf Prince's Harem

Before I even finished that thought, I lifted a gloved hand and pinched the bridge of my nose. A yelp of pain jumped from my lips and my eyes watered. Pain meant I wasn’t dead, and I wasn’t dreaming. This was something else.

The elf’s eyes snapped to me, and his smooth brow furrowed. Yep, I was making him question my sanity. Not that I could blame him. Nothing that had come out of my mouth or even my actions since he’d first set his eyes on me could be called normal.

“Lockhart?”

“Yes? I…” I stopped on a sigh, not even knowing whether I should tell him to use my first name or just let it go. My brain was turning into cold gloppy oatmeal, and there wasn’t enough brown sugar in all the world to save it.

A grunt escaped the elf, and he stood, brushing his hands off against each other. “That has decided it. You’re coming with me,” he announced. “I wasn’t looking to acquire a pet, but my conscience won’t allow me to leave you alone here. You’re likely to be eaten by something the moment my back is turned.”

My mouth opened to let loose an indignant shout, but the sound withered in my throat. I’d been thinking the same thing a second earlier. While I wasn’t keen on being viewed as a “pet,” I couldn’t argue that my survival skills rivaled those of a toddler.

“There’s a town close to here called Misty Pass. If we’re lucky, we’ll find someone there who recognizes you. At the very least, we can have a healer inspect your injuries.”

What he wasn’t saying was that he was hoping to make me that poor doctor’s problem. That was fine. Return me to society where I could find food and shelter and—God help me—people. Then I might figure out what the hell had happened and if there was any chance of getting home.

“Yeah,” I exhaled. With a nod, I repeated it for myself as much as for this helpful stranger. “Yeah, that might be a good idea. Thanks.” The elf extended his hand, and I took it, using him to pull myself up to stand on shaky legs. “By the way, what’s your name?”

The elf paused, and the tip of his tongue sneaked out to slide across his bottom lip. “Nylian. You may call me Nylian.”

“Mn.”

That little grunt was the best I could manage. It was taking all of my shattered concentration to keep my face from showing my panic as I released his hand. The elf’s eyes skimmed over my face.

“Thanks for your help, Nylian,” I said, flashing him a crooked smile as I tried to appear as blank and helpless as I had been since first meeting him.

It must have worked, because he nodded and started toward the horse waiting nearby. “You’re welcome.”

The second he turned his back, I opened my mouth and let out a silent scream.

His name was not Nylian.

His real name was Xeran Elrich, former prince now living in exile after being accused of killing his twin brother, Orian.

Not only had I been dropped into Betrayal of the Elf Prince, but I’d located the main character as he was beginning his quest to regain his right to return home, and possibly even the throne.

Had I just agreed to travel with a murderer, or was he simply a victim of political intrigue?

Fuck.

Chapter 3

That Doc Was a Quack

Reaching the town of Misty Pass took longer than either of us had planned, and it was all my fault. We discovered the hard way that my faulty memory had also blocked out my ability to “remember” how to ride a horse.

Okay, okay. I’d never known how to ride a horse.

I’d been riding all of four times in my life, and that was only because Georgie had dragged me along. She’d wanted to go and hadn’t wanted to ride alone. She might have also sold me on the fact that it would be excellent research for my books.

All I’d gotten out of it was a sudden fear of heights, a sore ass, and a new respect for cowboys.

I had offered to walk while Nylian rode, but he grew impatient with my slow amble through the woods and demanded that I ride behind him. Unfortunately, my meager skills did not include that.

After nearly sliding off the back of the horse twice and panick-grabbing at my new friend, Nylian switched positions with me. That wrapped me in his arms—not exactly the place I wanted to be—and we moved much faster with him keeping me on the horse.

Lesson learned, kids. If you’re going to get swept away to another world, make it one that has at least invented cars, not one dependent on horses for getting around. Your ass will pay the price.

I couldn’t tell how much time had passed while we traveled through the woods, but the great wall of trees finally pulled away from the narrow dirt track we were following to reveal that we were in a valley between two tree-covered hills. Among the green were little specks of orange, yellow, and red, announcing the steady approach of autumn. Birds glided on the soft eddies, twirling and dipping into the thick leaves to disappear. For the first time since waking up in this world, something within me relaxed, and I enjoyed the sights. My worries, for the time being, slipped from my mind, allowing me to breathe in the beauty of a nice late-summer day.

---