Page 23 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
“You don’t play fair,” I protest, adjusting my position until I’m straddling him. I reach for his breeches, tugging the laces. I want him to see himself unravel the way I did. The stranger suddenly snatches my wrist, bringing it to his mouth. The movement is so abrupt it surprises me a little.
I giggle at the feel of his tongue and teeth against my soft skin. “That tickles.”
He pauses from kissing or biting my hand, or whatever it is he’s about to do. His face contorts with a sudden confusion. The intensity of that stare is freaking me out.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him.
“You seem like a real person,”he says in utter bewilderment.
“I am a real person,” I say defensively.
I wiggle on his lap to switch position, shifting to sit on his thigh instead of his crotch. He is quiet for so long that it surprises me when he speaks again.“Is this not a dream?”
“Well it is…But it’s my dream,” I say with a frown.
He sets his elbow on the armrest and rests his head on his knuckles to study me. I draw my knees to my chest to feel less vulnerable.
“How did you find me, little fawn?”he asks.
“I followed a song. Were you singing to me?”
He seems mortified by the very idea.“I would never do something that absurd.”
We stare at each other for a long, heavy moment. Something bright catches my eyes. There are twice as many stars in the night sky as usual. And they’re falling to earth. Everything finally clicks in my pleasure-addled brain.
“I think it makes sense for our paths to cross,” I mutter with awe. “It’s Merafall. The sacred anniversary when the Goddess Mera descends from the heavens to save the world.”
He settles back on the throne.“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Sometimes two wandering souls bump into each other on this holy night,” I say, my eyes straying to the desolation and despair around us. “Although, we could have picked a better place, like a cafe or something.”
He quirks an eyebrow.“What’s a cafe?”
“It’s a place where people gather to eat and drink,” I answer nervously. I’ve never actually been to one. My description is purely based on the things I heard from Tallula and Lenna.
“Like a tavern?”
“Yes! But there are books and it’s quiet. It smells nice too.”
“It sounds like a nice place,”he says absently.
“You’re supposed to take me out on a date, spend time with me before—what we did.” Once again, heat sears my cheeks.
He stares at me with that dark gaze until a smile tugs his lips.“I would love to court you, little fawn.”His deep, alluring voice fills the night. The fear in my chest eases at the sound of that.
A long silence stretches between us as I stay on his lap. I don’t know what kind of spell he has cast on me, but I feel perfectly comfortable. He gathers me closer to his chest to keep me warm. I love the way I fit in the crook of his body so perfectly. It feels so wonderfully right, like I’ve always belonged here. I reach my hand to catch one of the falling stars and close my eyes.
“What are you doing?”he asks.
“Making a wish. Prayers are answered on this holy night,” I share with him. “Go on, try it.”
He glances to the distant sky before reaching a hand to grasp at the stars like I did.
“I want an end,”he announces his wish.
“A happy ending?” I ask.
His mouth lifts a little. “An end to my sufferings.”
