Page 10 of Troll Charming

“Red!” Troth brings his huge hands up to his equally huge head. “What are you thinking? You can’t keep that from her! She’s going to find out!”

“I know, I know,” I sigh. “I’m going to tell her. I just… need to find the right moment.”

Troth snorts. “And when will that be? After the wedding?”

I glare at him. “I’ll figure it out, all right? For now, I just need to keep her safe until she recovers. Then I’ll explain everything.”

“And if she rejects you?” Troth asks gently. “Humans aren’t exactly known for their tolerance of our kind.”

“Tolerance? Are you kidding? They don’t even believe we exist anymore to tolerate in the first place!”

“Fair point, and all the more reason to rethink this!”

He’s not wrong.

The thought sends a pang through my chest. “Then… I’ll deal with that when it happens. But I have to try, Troth. I can’t let her go. You don’t know what this feels like!”

Troth studies me for a long moment, then sighs heavily. “You’re in deep, my friend. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“So do I,” I mutter.

“Well,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder. “I suppose congratulations are in order then. Though I must say, your taste in women is… interesting.”

I can’t help but grin. “Hey now, don’t insult my mate. She’s perfect.”

Troth chuckles. “If you say so. Though I must admit, her scent is rather… enticing. I can see why you’re so smitten.”

A growl rumbles in my chest before I can stop it. Troth holds up his hands. “Easy there, big guy. I’m not trying to steal your woman. Just making an observation.”

I force myself to relax. “Sorry. I guess I’m feeling a bit… protective.”

“Perfectly understandable,” he nods. “Now, what are you going to do about the elders? They’ll want to know the intruder’s been dealt with.”

I run a hand through my hair, mind racing. “I’ll… tell them I escorted her safely out of our lands. That should buy me some time, at least.”

Troth looks skeptical. “And when they want proof?”

“I’ll figure something out,” I insist. “For now, I just need you to keep this quiet. Please, Troth. As my friend.”

He sighs again. “All right, all right. My lips are sealed. But you’d better sort this out quick, Red. You know she can’t stay here forever.”

“I know,” I say softly. “Thank you, friend.”

As I show Troth out, he pauses at the door. “She doesn’t know where she is, does she? What this place really is?”

I shake my head. “She doesn’t know a thing. But I’ll tell her everything soon. I promise.”

“Good. Because the longer you wait, the harder it’ll be.” He claps me on the shoulder one last time. “Good luck, Red. You’re going to need it.”

As I close the door behind him, I lean my forehead against the cool wood.

What have I gotten myself into?

CHAPTER 7

“Are you hungry, my love?”

I nod. I have just awoken. It must be the next day. Suddenly, I am ravenous and realize I haven’t eaten anything in I don’t know how long. And I still have my blindfold on. Vaguely, I recall that Red seems to have a vested interest in my keeping it on.

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