Page 30 of A Bridge to a Troll's Heart
“Well, I’m certainly not staying here.” She glanced around with distaste.
Arlo shrugged. “Suit yourself, but you’re always welcome.”
A glowing gold ring of surprise shimmered in her eyes, which she quickly hid. “I haven’t brought you anything.”
“That’s all right. Don’t need anything.” As the words spilled from Arlo’s lips, he realized how very un-troll-like they sounded, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He was happier these days than he’d ever been.
Liosa crossed her arms over her chest. “You seem awfully plucky today.”
“Thank you?”
Her nostrils flared. “Oh! Wolf shifters are coming. Perhaps I’ll get to meet your Toby.”
Arlo wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but he also couldn’t risk saying that and offending Liosa. Who knew what she’d do? Toby and whoever he’d brought along with him would have to hold their own with the water nymph.
“Be nice,” he warned. “No cursing.”
Liosa mocked a pout and rolled her eyes. “Cross my heart and hope to get eaten alive.”
Cringing, Arlo headed up the bank to greet Toby. To his surprise, the pair of wolf shifters had only just rounded the bend. Liosa’s sense of smell must rival a hound dog’s to have picked them out at such a distance. All the better, for it gave Arlo a chance to warn them.
He met them halfway. Toby had his cousin Ellis in tow.
“Arlo,” said the two wolf shifters in unison, Toby’s voice laced with affection, Ellis’s with excitement. The boy was younger than Toby by five or six years, with shaggy blond hair and a lithe build. He carried a huge pack over his shoulder. His cheeks were flushed pink from the cold
“Hello, fellas.” Arlo greeted Toby with a hug and a kiss to his shining, ebony hair. “What brings you by, Ellis?”
“Someone has to make the trip to Fern Pack with the Christmas gifts, and since Toby insists on spending his whole day fawning over you, I volunteered.” Ellis grinned. Though his playful tone teased Toby, the younger shifter was clearly thrilled to be making the journey. Hopefully, his good mood would rub off on Liosa.
“Well, travel safe,” said Arlo. “You know, the last time Toby came through on Christmas Eve’s Eve, he brought back freshly baked cookies. Just thought you should know.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Ellis reached forward, fist clenched around something. “I didn’t forget my tribute, though. This is for you.”
Arlo’s tummy did a little flip. Something about an offered tribute never failed to excite him. He put out his hand, and Ellis dropped a perfectly rounded, tawny snail’s shell into his palm.
“Ooh. Lovely.” Arlo admired the shiny little house. “Thank you, Ellis. You may cross, but first, I have a guest who wants to meet you both. Be polite. She’s rather terrifying.”
“A guest?” asked Toby. “I’ve never known you to have guests before. Other than me, that is.”
“She’s just a lass passing through.” Arlo motioned to the riverbank. “Come say hello.”
They ambled down the riverbank and found Liosa perched on a moss-covered mound, her posture tall and elegant, colorful tentacles stretched long beside her golden tail.
“Whoa,” said Ellis, a bit too loud.
Toby elbowed him in the ribs and put on a smile. “Hello, miss.”
Arlo stepped in to make the introductions, but Liosa beat him to it.
“You must be Toby.” A slight sneer appeared on her face. “Hello to you, you teasing trollop.” Her gaze flitted to Ellis, and her brows rose. The sneer faded away. “And who are you, dear? My, but you’re darling.”
Arlo took a step closer to Ellis, just in case. He could never tell if Liosa wanted to make friends or catch dinner.
“I’m Ellis, miss. Pleased to meet you.” He bowed low, a move that clearly pleased the water nymph.
“And you may call me Liosa,” she said to Ellis. Then to Toby, “You must stick to ‘miss’ until I change my mind about you.IfI change my mind about you.”
Toby’s smile wavered, but he managed a nod. “Um, yes, miss.”
