Page 4 of Elf Shot

"Now, I don't know much, but I know when someone isn't telling me everything," she began, folding the gum foil between her fingers and rolling it like a cigarette she was trying to give up. "So…anything you want to add?"

"I went and saw the Norns to learn how we can defeat Vili," Arne replied, leaning his elbows against his knees. "They told me that unless Layla helps us, the world will burn. It's why I need her to attend. The goddesses of fate themselves have decreed it."

Kenna only popped her gum again, her expression not shifting.

"I know you don't really care for supernatural creatures, but you care about this world. If Vili is allowed to reach Midgard, he'll kick off an apocalypse."

Arne desperately tried to think of something he could offer her.

"The elves would pay you an extremely generous fee. I also know that you have more hunters due to turn up and stay at the manor for training and to form a safe base. It's a lot of mouths to feed and many people to discipline. The elves are some of the most elite fighters in the world. I will send you elves to help train the new recruits."

Kenna held up her hand. "If you keep offering me things, I'm going to think you're going to use my Layla for a blood sacrifice. Just…take a breath, lad. There you go. I'll do you up a contract for Layla's services. She'll be pissy about it, but she's a good girl and will do what's right. If she wants to fight about it, she can fight me."

Arne sagged with relief. "Thank you, Kenna. I have a plane to take her to Finnmark. Would it be possible for me to speak to her while I am here? I'd like to give her an itinerary and tell her what meetings she will need to attend."

And to see her face for a moment. Pin her down and make her listen to my apology. Perhaps just pin her down…Arne quickly shook those thoughts away.

"Yeah, you can't see her right now, lad. She's busy tonight, but I'll talk to her tomorrow," Kenna said, turning to her laptop and bringing up a contract template.

"What do you mean she's busy? The fate of the world hangs on her getting this done correctly."

Kenna rolled her eyes. "And it can wait until tomorrow. She's got a date tonight and hasn't had one in a while."

"A date," he said flatly. Arne's vision swirled with red.

"The girl needs to have some fun, especially if she's about to be working with the elves for gods know how long," Kenna said.

Arne couldn't be sure, but he thought her eyes gleamed with mischief for a moment. His nervous sweat had turned cold, and his hands were clenching the arms of the chair too tight.

"It is very important I speak with her. Do you know what time she will return?" Arne asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"If it goes well, I imagine it won't be until tomorrow morning." Kenna raised a brow at him. "Have to admit, I'm kind of jealous. The restaurant she was going to is a new Italian place that just opened up in Temple Bar. Roberto's, maybe? It sounded good anyway."

Some of the red cleared from Arne's vision. Had she just told him where to go? Kenna's printer buzzed, and a contract slid out. She passed it over to him.

"Sign on the line, prince."

Arne did so without checking any of the details. He was too busy thinking about another male touching Layla and all the violent things he would do to make it stop.

2

The light buzz of Reeve's tattoo gun was like straight dopamine to Layla's brain. From the first sting of the needle, her anxiety seemed to ease, and it was like she could breathe again. She sat in a chair in the Greatdrakes's laboratory, staring up at suspicious stains on the roof and wondering what spell had backfired to cause them. Anything to take her mind off what she was about to do.

"Remind me again why I thought going on a date was a good idea?" she said, turning her head to watch the blood and ink well on her pale skin.

"Because the world has almost ended like three times in the last six months?" Reeve replied, wiping the ink away. "I don't know why you're nervous. Seamus is a cool guy. Apollo wouldn't set you up with anyone who was a jackass. Trust me, the O'Connells are magicians and good people."

Layla huffed out a breath. "I know. It just seems, I dunno, like a frivolous thing to do with another general walking about."

"Or it's more importantbecauseanother general is walking about," Reeve pointed out. "No one has seen or heard from Vili anyway. Killian thinks he's not even in the human world. We know he won't stay gone forever, so we might as well have fun while we can."

"Yeah, I suppose you’re right." Layla stared up at the ceiling, relishing the feeling of the tattoo taking shape. It was a clean pain that was easier than figuring out messy emotions.

"The elves have their summit in a bit. I'm sure if they know anything about Vili, Tor or Arne will say something," Reeve continued.

Just hearing Arne's name was like a stab in her chest. "Or they won't say anything at all, like usual," she said, sounding way too bitter.

"You gotta get over that, Layla. If my dad was a psycho primordial god, I wouldn't want to advertise it either."

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