Page 116 of Fate Calls the Elf Queen

Thane. What is Thane doing now?

She threw herself back on the bed and draped her arm over her eyes, blocking out the sun shining in through her window. No, she couldn’t think about him either. She’d start to cry again. She had to get up and do something, distract herself.

A knock startled her. “Yes?”

“I’m going out. I’ll be back soon,” Hel said from the hall.

Layala flew out of bed and practically dove for the door. She jerked it open. “Where are you going?” He was the perfect distraction.

He was already halfway down the stairs, but he stopped. “To check out the area in daylight.”

“But isn’t it dangerous to leave me here alone? We left Adalon because it was too dangerous…”

“This house is heavily warded against anyone who would wish you harm. I can feel the magic still in place from before. It goes out to the wall so you can go outside if you wish.”

“Alright.”

His eyes flicked over her, and the corner of his mouth tugged up. “What were you dreaming about?”

“Why do you ask?” She thought about how he’d swept her into his arms as his last act in the dream.

“You said my name. Well, moaned it more like.”

“Goodbye, Hel.” Layala closed the door, and she heard his laughter as he went down the steps.

Chapter35

LAYALA

Layala stepped out the front door and stood in the morning sunshine. The warmth of it against the skin of her face brought a sense of calm to her already anxious morning. A piercing bird call made her jump, obliterating her moment of peace. A red-breasted robin-look-alike hopped along the unkempt path, pecking at the ground. Layala rubbed her eyes, sure she was hallucinating. The robin must be at least four feet tall with an orangish serrated beak that could tear a hand off.

She reached for the dagger on her belt and cursed realizing it was upstairs.

“Good morning, Valeen. Or would you prefer I call you Layala?”

Layala half turned, so she could still keep an eye on the bird. It hopped once more then flew away giving her a chance to think. If she was going to embrace her past shouldn’t she go by her old name? At the same time, she didn’t want to give up this life.

Presco stopped beside her. His golden hair was combed and tied back at the base of his neck. He wore a simple white tunic with a brown belt and pants. Round glasses reflected the sunlight until he pushed them up a notch.

“Valeen is fine.” Although it felt strange to give up the name her parents gave her and everyone she loved knew her by.

“So, Hel cursed the elves.”

Layala was surprised he’d tell him that.

“Word spreads through the realms. The elves have had a rough go the last few hundred years. I pity them.”

“He claims he didn’t create them, and that they did it to themselves, but I don’t believe it. We all know if a spell of his isn’t fulfilled people change. That’s the consequence. He did that, not the balance of nature.”

“He told me he meant for them to be loyal as the price for not fulfilling his stipulations but not the monster consequence. I really do believe that was out of his control.” Presco slipped his hands behind his back. “It must have started from a single spell. It would have been a complex spell, not a simple one.”

Layala chewed on her lip. “It must have been the mate spell that started it all. Those who were disloyal to their mate would be loyal to him.” Layala thought back to Novak’s death, the human man she loved before she ever met Thane and died because of that mate bond. If he’d been an elf, he might have turned rather than died and then he could have bit her. Was that how it happened? Then the curse spread through the bites and became rampant.

“What if we destroy the spell? Would it end?” But then that would mean she’d never be able to be mate bonded to Thane again. She didn’t believe Varlett’s lies about not being able to use it a second time. Everything Varlett said came into question. What were her true motives? Did she want Hel awake so that she could have her—former betrothed back?She avoided thinking about his name, either of them or it might send her into a spiral. Especially knowing they were together.Now I know how he feels about me and Hel.

“That may work but if I had to guess, the damage is already done.”

“The goddess of wisdom said the key was his heart. I tried to shove a blade through it once. But I can’t, and even if he, accidental or not, cursed the elves… I don’t want to.”

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