Page 69 of Elf Shot

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Layla should have known that the moment she had been happiest in her entire life was also the moment a wayward army would arrive to crap on her day.

Waking up in Arne's plush bed, her limbs all tangled about with his, was rudely interrupted by a massive wolf landing heavily on the deck outside and crashing through a door.

"Arne! Layla! Get your asses up!" Tor hollered, making them both startle awake.

Layla wrapped a robe around herself as Arne dragged on some clothes and hurried out to find Tor.

"What's going on?" Arne asked, his hair sticking up at odd angles.

Layla squinted at the pink sky. "What time is it?"

"Sorry to interrupt, but at dawn, four portals opened on the northern border, and warriors are already filing through," Tor said, his gray eyes wild and shining with a wolf's bright sheen.

"Has Vili been spotted yet?" Arne asked, grabbing his phone off the kitchen counter.

"No, but Varg has. The scout who reported to me knew him on site. That fucker!" Tor's pacing stopped, and his eyes shot to the bearskin on the floor. "Seriously? Can't you two fuck in a bed like normal people?"

Layla smirked. "What? I chased him through the house. That's where he landed, so that's where he was fucked."

"Don't tell him that. He'll believe anything," Arne said, fingers dancing on his phone screen. "Tor, go wake my mother up. She will need to reach out to Brök and Eydís to let them know what's happening and activate the extra wards around the city. Do you have wolves watching the army now?"

"Of course I do," Tor growled. "They are going to get back to me with head counts and any movements they make further inland. What are you going to do?"

"Rally the warriors." Arne looked at Layla. "Sorry, vennen, the ink shamans will have to wait."

"Ink shamans! Have you two…" Tor looked between them and then inhaled. "Well, fuck. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Layla said, trying not to go red.

Tor's smile slipped. "Shit, Arne, you sure you two are going to be okay with the fight while in the frenzy?"

"I think it's going to make me kick Vili's ass twice as hard for interrupting my shagging marathon," Layla said with bite in her voice. She kissed Arne. "Go wake the warriors. I'll get a hold of my brothers and let them know what's going on."

Arne brushed a thumb over her cheek. A look of longing in his eyes. Layla gave him a gentle shove. "I know. Just go. We need to get to the borders and surprise them before they expect us."

"I'll be back soon," he promised, and he and Tor headed out the door.

Layla found her phone and sent an SOS message to the family group chat before calling Bayn.

"What…" he answered on the fifth ring.

"Vili's army has turned up," Layla answered, jumping right in. "I've sent an alert but need you to go wake up Kian and Killian."

"On it. Have you got some decent gear with you, or should I bring you something?" he asked, his voice already alert.

"I'm good for gear, but I'd like to see your face if you're up for a fight today," Layla replied hopefully. It wasn't that she didn't think the elves would be able to seriously kick ass, but having three fae princes wouldn't hurt their odds either.

"You don't even need to ask, little sis. We will come. Keep us updated, and Layla? Make sure you eat something. It's easy to forget in a crisis, but you need it for energy."

Layla couldn't help but laugh at his mother hen instincts. "I will see you soon."

Layla dug about in her bags and pulled out her black hunting suit. When she had originally packed it for the elf summit, she thought that she was being over cautious. It was a pain in the ass to get in and out of, but at least the reinforcements over her vital spots would give her a bit more protection.

Shame you don't have your fancy elf armor ready, she lamented while dragging on the tight-fitting material. Her phone buzzed, and she hurried to look at her message from Kian.

I hope your back up plan works.

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