Page 9 of Enchanting the Elf
“Bertie, it’s okay,” Everett says in a voice so gentle it has my head snapping up. “We’ll find something. If not here, then we’ll go to Alberad and search the library there.”
I sat back and cross my arms over my chest. “And how will that look? A group of human women showing up with monsters who graduated ten years ago. My father would laugh at my ineptitude.” I can already see the frown on ole Nithard’s face.
Every conversation with my father feels like a chess game. Only difference is, I am playing blindfolded while he judges every decision I make.
The rest of the males gravitate toward the desk, and Everett asks, “What other option do we have?”
Looking each of them in the eye, I brace myself for their reactions to what I’m about to say.
“I’ve gone through about a hundred possibilities. Considering we have a time limit with the women having to check out of their accommodations and needing to return to their responsibilities, I’ve narrowed down our options to two. One really. It’s a wild idea, and no one is going to like it.”
Everyone is frozen, the tension building ominously as they await my pronouncement.
Edmond is the first to speak, when he says calmly, “Let’s hear it, then.”
Nervous energy moves through my limbs and I stand up abruptly, unable to sit still for another moment. I take a step to the left, pause, then face forward to see concerned gazes trained on me.
“I need to go to Alberad to scour more comprehensive resources. Since I will be leaving the island, I cannot guarantee that the wards will hold as strongly with so many monsters in place without my presence. So you’ll need to leave, too.
“Tomorrow morning, you’ll have to talk with your partner and determine where you should go—your home, their home, or another location. I’ll leave that up to you as partners to decide.”
Jamie raises his hand hesitantly. “What if the women don’t want to go somewhere with us?”
Already having thought of that based on Iris’s opinion of him thus far, I say, “We will swear oaths to them and promise their safety. You will vow not to touch them—unless it is a consensual request. We do not want them to be any more frightened than they already are.”
Nods are given around the room, everyone in agreement with my plan.
“And you?” Daehan asks.
I raise my chin. “My hope is that this will all pass quickly. I will work without cease and try my utmost to resolve this as swiftly as possible.”
Daehan’s face softens and his concern penetrates my shields. “We’re wondering if you’ll be okay. Having a stranger in your house when you’re so sensitive to emotions and under so much stress with the bonds and with your presentation, that might be hard for you.”
I shrug. No other ideas I have had seem feasible. “It is what it is. Do you have a different suggestion?”
We return the books and tidy the library, then head off for a couple of hours of sleep before we will break the news to the women over breakfast.
Chapter seven
Florence
“Florence, are you awake? It is almost dawn and I would prefer for us to be off soon.” Adelbert’s clipped greeting comes through the door and I open it, already dressed for our mission this morning.
“Sure. All set.” I offer a small smile to the handsome male and get a minor twitch of his lips in return as he assesses my embroidered jeans, white top, and canvas shoes.
He’s not radiating disdain so I’ll take it as approval.
“Come,” Adelbert grunts and it sounds just enough like a command that I wordlessly follow him as he turns on his heel and heads to the front door.
Adelbert and I arrived at his home in the heart of the Black Forest late last night. He helped carry my bag into the house and showed me to my room, which just so happened to be on the opposite side of the house from his, but still within the magical bond’s limit that we’re forced to remain within.
There was no time to explore or ask questions, only a sense of urgency for morning to come so we could head to Alberad School for the Supernatural’s library for him to start his extensive research and find the reason—and solution—to the bond.
Adelbert had valiantly tried to find answers while we were in the Caribbean, scouring the estate library’s limited resources. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find any concrete answers, so the following morning I said goodbye to Dede as she headed off to Las Vegas with Everett, while I had to join Adelbert on the first plane back to Germany.
It’s a little intimidating traveling to the other side of the world with someone you met two days ago, just after finding out monsters are real, but I remind myself that no one chose to be in this situation. The fates had intervened—for reasons yet to be known—and bonded us together.
Adelbert steps through the front door, body rigid as he holds it open for me with one elegant hand braced against the heavy wood, careful not to accidentally touch me. I incline my head in thanks as I pass him, but my feet freeze to the spot when I cross the threshold.
