Page 14 of Elf

Finn walked over to him to lean in close. “That sexual tension went both ways, my friend. You should talk to Xavier and getsomeone else on Ezra so you can explore this further. Chemistry like what I just felt? It’s rare.”

Alaric sighed. He knew that. He also knew he shouldn’t in any way be attracted to someone like Ezra, but he was. So much so it was affecting his job. “What are you doing here, Finn?”

“I brought some of Ezra’s things like you asked. By the way, his place was being watched by a wizard. And I heard about your fight with the sylph. How’d you see it to send the spell?”

“A blocked section of wind. I just aimed the spell there along with a lot of hope and got lucky.”

“Luck had little to do with it. You got skills, and you know it. It’s why you’re one of the best Xavier’s got.”

Alaric snorted. “Xavier’s entire roster is superior, and you know it, smoke man.”

Finn nodded. He knew their boss only hired the best of preternaturals. And the most honorable. Alaric was proud to be a part of Protective Solutions, and Finn clearly was, too. “Seriously though, Alaric. What are you going to do about this thing with Ezra?”

“There is no thing, so I’ll do nothing.” Alaric picked up his mat and marched inside.

Ezra

He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, and he really shouldn’t have.

Ezra is a spoiled rich boy without ambition or focus.

Ouch. Alaric didn’t know him. Knew nothing about him.

But old doubts and insecurities had flared strong at those words. He rubbed the sudden pain in his stomach as the words played over and over in his head. And after Ezra had blatantlyshown his reaction to the sexiest bout of exercise he’d ever seen. The elf’s body had been so supple, so graceful, muscles straining and sweat dripping down his dusky skin despite the winter air. Ezra had been mesmerized, frozen in place, unable to tear his gaze away. He’d wanted Alaric then more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. Wanted to lick away that sweat. Wanted to feel those straining muscles against his own.

That big frame with its lean lines…Alaric was like sex personified. And to know what he actually thought of Ezra? The disdain that dripped from his voice? All that lust had turned to shame. An emotion he had way too much experience with.

He did have ambition. Had already applied to school in the fall, and he still ran two of his family’s charities—something his brother, Ezekiel, had washed out of his life.

Did he know what he would do with his life long term? No. And at twenty-six, the pressure to decide sat heavy on his shoulders at all times.

What he really wanted to do was photography. Which was crazy since he hadn’t picked up a camera in over two years. Living with Brian had killed his secret dreamy side. In high school, he used to sneak off to take pictures of anything that caught his notice, from unusual flowers to unique people. He’d spent hours combing city streets for the right images.

But life with Brian—a phrase that always made him smirk because of the Monty Python movie—had changed him. It had killed the last of his belief that he could maybe have something good in his life. Three years of constant tension did that to a person.

He supposed in a way, hewasa spoiled rich boy. Never spoiled with any sort of affection or acceptance, but he’d never lacked for anything he needed physically. He’d always had the nicest clothes and cars. Never went hungry. And Lisa, the faun who’d lived in his home working for his parents, had been kindto him. She’d mothered him in a way. Not really with affection, but she’d always made sure to have a snack ready when he got home from school, and she’d talked to him. Told him all about the world of preternaturals.

She was the one who’d given him his first camera after warning him that even if he tried to capture images of preternaturals, they wouldn’t show up in the pictures. That their glamours worked that way. He’d tried, though. And each time, he’d been disappointed that the things he saw didn’t translate to film. So he’d gone back to photographing humans and other inanimate objects.

Would he even find that same joy in the process now? Or had Brian finally finished what his parents had started and killed what was left of his idealistic side?

He knew the answer to that.

Yes.

Ezra sat on the bed in the massive bedroom they’d given him, scooted until his back was to the headboard, and just stared at the small nook off the room.

Ezra is a spoiled rich boy without ambition or focus.

Alaric was right. Ezra didn’t really have anything of substance left in him. He’d spent the months since leaving Brian just going through the motions. He planned to go to school, but for what? It wasn’t like he needed more education to run those charities. It had just been something to do, and they pretty much ran themselves.

A feeling of stark emptiness made his body go cold.

Truth was, he had no purpose. Had nothing but money.

And he was pretty sure he now, also, had no heart.

Chapter Nine

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