Page 17 of Troll Charming

“I don’t know much about such things, Red.” Troth moves his massive hand in Alexandra’s direction. “But I can tell you the others and I will speak on your behalf to the council. They must see reason. Try to enjoy your day with her. I will see you tonight at sundown. That is when they told me you must appear.”

“Thank you, my friend.” Troth nods, waves at my mate, and strides down the path out of sight, the trees on either side shaking ever so slightly which each of his steps.

Alexandra’s face is pale, like the crisp white sheets I wrapped her in just a few days before.I cup her delicate chin and bend to kiss her soft lips.

“Are we in trouble?” I feel her tremble under my touch.

I won’t alarm her.

“It is nothing to worry about, my love. Now, isn’t this fountain amazing?”

But inside, my mind is going a million miles an hour.

How will we survive this?

CHAPTER 9

Ilove it here! It’s so peaceful. But what were Red and the ogre talking about? It didn’t look good. That much was obvious. That’s always how it starts, right? Sure was with all my foster families. They were all excited to have a new kid or whatever. Maybe it distracted them from their marriage or family problems for a while. But eventually, the novelty wore off, and they told me, “It just isn’t working out.”

God, I hope that’s not what’s happening here.

Alex… get a grip. Nothing happened.

I push that old story out of my mind. But it would be just my luck that I fall in love with someone, and in such a magical place, and it is ripped away from me somehow.

No. This can be different.I will love this troll and live in this village. Everything is fine. I double down on my best happy act, and grabbing his hand, I ask him the questions that burn in my mind.

“Red,” I begin.

He squeezes my hand in response as he waits for me to continue.

“This place is so magical, but I didn’t see any humans at all. Why is that?”

His eyes flash with a warmth that sends waves of happy tingles down my body. “The magical world and the human world once lived in something approaching harmony, but that was long, long ago. Now my kind must hide amongst you. For that reason, this place is protected by powerful and ancient magic. Only magical beings or those of certain blood can walk freely through the barrier that surrounds us. Of course that includes what humans would call ‘mythical creatures’ such as myself. He actually makes air quotes as he says it, which for some reason strikes me as adorable.

“Okay, fine. But I am human, so how did I get in?”

Fair question, I think.

With this, Red pauses, and I can tell he is thinking about something. I love how he furrows his brow.

“Maybe it’s possible to be sort of invited.” The last word trails off, and he gazes off into the distance.

“Come with me,” Red says, an idea apparently coming to him. He leads me towards the forest again, but this time, it is hard to keep up with him, and I stumble until he picks me up off the ground and carries me.

“What is the hurry?” My heart beats fast, and it’s hard to breathe for a moment.

“I need you to meet someone. And I might just have an idea.”

“But can you tell me one thing?” I ask him as he makes his way with me past the lake and into a darker forest area. “You’re sure your friend Troth didn’t tell you anything I should know?”

He stops then and sets me gently down on my feet.

“There are just a few details I need to work out. So you can stay with me… longer. As I was explaining, the town is not used to having humans around, Alexandra,”

“Call me Alex, please.”

“Alex. The elders of the town are actually maybe a little afraid of you.”

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