Page 2 of Enchanting the Elf
“Let’s venture a tad farther in, and then we can get the others. I have a feeling there’s something even more special waiting up ahead for us.”
Chapter two
Adelbert
“Is this helping your brain switch off a little?” Edmond asks me, raising his voice to be heard above the rush of the waterfall and the boisterous laughter coming from our friends. He lowers himself onto the rock next to me and stretches out his leathery wings behind him.
In front of us, Jasper cannonballs into the natural pool then proceeds to playfully wrestle Jamie, taking care not to nick him with his long horns. The rest of our friends are chatting,laughing, or roughhousing with each other around the clearing, and my lips twitch into a small smile.
“I am not sure about switching off, but it is most definitely quieter. I needed to get away for a little while,” I tell my friend and roll my shoulders back.
“It makes me happy to know you are able to relax here with us. We appreciate you offering the Caribbean Estate for our reunion and coming out here early to ward it so securely,” Edmond says with absolute sincerity. He and Harvey have always been the most empathic members of our friend group, the “nice guys” as Everett calls them.
“It is no problem.” I take a deep breath and add, “My father and some other elves assisted me with the warding. He wanted to ensure it was doneproperly.”
“Nithard Alberad actually left Germany to ‘help’?” The surprise in Edmond’s voice amuses me and I scoff at the notion that my father would do such a thing.
“I would not call it ‘help’ as much as ensuring I don’t fuck it up.”
Edmond’s long tail flicks out in agitation. “That seems very on-brand for your father. But let’s not talk about him. He ruined enough fun while we were at school. How’s your research coming on? The final presentation is this fall, if I’m not mistaken?”
I nod and my shoulders tense at the reminder. “It is coming along fairly well. However, I would prefer not to talk about it right now.”
Edmond stretches out a hand toward me in what I’m sure is meant to be a comforting gesture, but quickly retreats because he knows elves don’t welcome physical touch.
“I know leaving Germany must be hard at this point when you are under such immense pressure. Whenever,ifever, you would like to talk, I am here. We all are.”
“I appreciate that,” I say and really mean it, though the prospect of me sharing my research with anyone at this point is highly unlikely.
An odd sense of home seeps into my chest and my heart rate suddenly ratchets up. A wind whips past me and my eyes scan the clearing for its source, finding all the leaves still.
“Did you feel that?” I ask Edmond, my voice holding a nearly breathless quality to it.
“Feel what?” Edmond sits up straighter and his eyes dart around the pool, the waterfall, and the trees surrounding us, searching for a threat.
“Where’s Everett?” I ask when I can’t see or sense him, then realize it’s him who must have zoomed past us. “Please excuse me. I’m going to see where he’s gone off to.”
“Sure.” Edmond tries to look casual but his body remains on high alert as I stand up. “Shout if you need anything.”
My feet lead me toward the wall of foliage where the sound ward extends up to, a strange sensation bubbling deep within me and propelling me forward. My hands grow clammy and my heart beats faster and faster until my whole body vibrates with nervous energy.
I reach forward and part the curtain of leaves. Then, my heart nearly stops beating all together.
In front of me is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. Long pearly hair meets her lithe waist and glimmers in the evening light. Her eyes, alight with kindness, blink at me. They’re an unforgettable shade of blue, the same shade as the cornflowers that pepper my favorite meadow in the summer.
There’s something soft and graceful about her and, instead of fear or shock marring her expression, there’s a serene smile painted on her rosy lips.
I steel my spine and square my shoulders, ignoring the odd itch on my ribs and swallowing down all the unwelcomeemotions the human woman is stirring up in me. Only then do I notice my closest friend and another woman partially hidden behind him.
“Everett, who are these women?” I ask him.
“I was just coming to get you to figure out how they were able to penetrate the wards. I’ve been trying to get some answers out of them, but they’re not being particularly cooperative.” He shoots a pointed look over his shoulder at the woman in the pink dress. Though, there is nothing stern about the expression, it seems rather playful. He likes her.
How long have they been out here while I was relaxing by the waterfall, oblivious of our wards being penetrated by humans? My father will never let me hear the end of this if he finds out.
Something tightens in my chest at the thought of the two women being frightened of us and I do my best to soften my features and project calmness. Everett and I are two of the most human-looking among our friends, though both of us possess monstrous qualities I hope the women have not yet noticed.
“We were merely following the flowers,” the woman with ethereal beauty says. Why does even her voice have to sound sweet?
