Page 80 of Enchanting the Elf
I give myself a second to mentally thank the fates for putting us together. For allowing me to be the strong one and support Adelbert the way he needs right now.
I walk closer and frame his face with both of my hands.
“It’s going to be okay, baby. I’m here and I’ll be with you through anything and everything. I choose you, with or without horn branches.” The final words have their desired effect and Adelbert huffs out a single laugh. I give him a quick but firm kiss on the lips and go to fetch the picnic blanket.
“What did you mean when you said ‘we kind of knew this could happen’?” Adelbert asks as he grabs the other side of the blanket and helps me spread it out under our favorite tree.
Adelbert sits down opposite me and I lace our fingers together.
“During one of our earliest conversations in the kitchen, you explained all your research about the fated bond and how it becomes a mate bond through genuine feelings and choice.” I try to prompt him, hoping he’s not too overwhelmed to connect the dots that have become increasingly clear to me over time.
“Yes.” Adelbert drags the word out, and a line forms between his brows. “Are you saying that this is how the bond manifests for elves? That we grow horns?” He skipped a few integral details, but he caught on quickly.
“I don’t know aboutallelves, but for woodland elves, yes,” I confirm, nodding my head emphatically. “That’s your basest being. That’s what you are underneath all your layers. Just like the portrait of your forefather.”
Adelbert goes completely still and his mouth falls open. He blinks blankly at me as it all sinks in. Sitting quietly in front of him, I brush my thumbs over his limp fingers, linking them with mine, and give him time to process this information.
“A woodland elf,” Adelbert says slowly, eyes still not focusing on me but scanning the forest around the meadow. “That could be why I’m drawn to this particular spot and why my magic is strongest here. It’s not because of a ley line. It’s my connection to the forest.”
I nod furiously, happy Adelbert’s following the thread.
“Yes!” I lean forward and squeeze his hands, my stomach a fluttery mess of excitement as it all clicks into place. “And all your favorite places, the places where you feel most comfortable, they have an abundance of wood.”
Adelbert’s eyes brighten and a lighthearted laugh bursts from him.
“The kitchen. My study. The library.” Each place is said with more enthusiasm. “It seems obvious now.”
“Your desk, the kitchen table…” I add, naming his favorite pieces of furniture too.
A genuine smile settles on Adelbert’s face, eyes crinkling in the corners.
“They’re all made from oak,” he says reverently, then his hand shoots up to inspect the bark.
Wanting to get everything out in the open and not lose momentum, I quickly add, “There’s a chance that there might be some more woodland elf characteristics.”
Adelbert’s eyes narrow with curiosity. He tilts his head to the side, then wiggles it a little as he experiments with the weight of the horns.
“How do you know all this? How did you connect it so fast?”
“Firstly, because I always pay attention when you speak.” I wink and Adelbert smiles indulgently at me. “And also because of that portrait of your ancestor,” I explain. “I loved the horns and wanted to embroider a version of them, so I studied the portrait in detail. I noticed he had some bark on his skin, around the collar of his shirt.”
Adelbert reflexively pulls his collar away from his neck and peeks down.
I started the piece so long ago, but I’ve not been able to complete it. Now I know why. I’d much rather prefer recreating Adelbert’s horns instead.
Adelbert’s mouth turns down and his throat bobs on a swallow.
“You don’t mind patches of barky skin?” The shadow of insecurity in his voice hurts my very soul. This male has no idea how much I love him or how handsome he is to me.
I better remind him.
“Not one bit. Can you lie down for me?” I ask gently.
Adelbert nods and lies stiffly on his back, hands at his sides. I kneel next to him and roll his sweater up slowly. I stop when I find an inch of raised bark on his smooth abdomen.
Leaning down, I place a tender kiss on top of the new skin.
“How does the bark feel for you?” I ask.
