Page 75 of Elf Shot

Alruna had set up the party in her pretty garden beside the lake. Wooden tables were covered in red linen cloths and decorated with centerpieces of candles and the wildflowers that were growing like crazy in the warmer months.

"There you are! I was about to send out a search party," Alruna said, striding across the grass. She was barefoot and dressed in a pretty white linen and lace dress.

"I wouldn't leave you to suffer alone," Layla said, and Alruna smiled fondly at her. They had struck an easy friendship since the battle. Layla had been more than happy to get to know her better. Despite Alruna reassuring her and Arne that she was fine, they knew that seeing Vili had affected her greatly.

"I thought after so much time, I would feel different," Alruna had admitted one night to Layla.

"But you didn't?"

Alruna had shaken her head and squeezed Layla's hand. "The heart is a strange and mysterious thing. The pain will pass as it did last time."

The queen was lying, but Layla was polite enough not to point it out.

"I hope you're ready for this," Layla said to Alruna. "My family are a rowdy bunch."

"Hush, we are going to have a lovely time," she replied and opened a portal.

Arne placed an arm around Layla's shoulders as the Ironwoods and the Greatdrakes came through.

"Laaaayyyylllaaa." Moira barreled into her legs. "Look at my dress! Killian got it for me!"

Killian and Bron waved at her from across the garden.

"Well, turn around and show me," Layla laughed.

Moira spun about to show off the pink and purple princess dress. For a child that slept with a cross bow and a German Shepherd, Moira had a ridiculously strong girly streak. She took off at a run down the lake, leaving Layla shaking her head after her.

"You are looking well," Kenna said, coming to stand beside her. "Are you happy here?"

"Yeah, Mom, I am." Layla couldn't stay mad anymore. She hugged Kenna. "Sorry for yelling at you and stressing you out."

Kenna patted her back. "Well, maybe I deserved it. Just don't make a habit of it."

"Out of the way, Mama Bear. I want a hug!" Apollo cried and caught Layla up. She laughed as Basset hugged them from the other side.

"Guys, you're squishing me," she complained.

"You deserve an ass kicking. Hunting down gods and running away to other worlds. I swear you'll give me wrinkles," Apollo complained. He looked over at Arne. "Though I can't blame you. Are all the elvish boys and girls as pretty? Because I could use a holiday." He waggled his golden eyebrows at her.

"I missed you, whore bag."

"Don't encourage him," Charlotte said. "You'll have to tell me about how my patches went."

"I will but…" Layla turned as another portal opened to England. She expected to see Kian first. Instead, her father came through. And he was walking. "Oh my God."

"We wanted to surprise you," Charlotte said, but Layla was already running towards him. He was leaning heavily on a cane, but he was upright.

"How is this possible?" Layla cried, throwing her arms around him.

"Careful, baby. I'm still a little wobbly," David said, rubbing her back.

Lachie's black hair and brilliant blue eyes appeared beside them. "Those fae know what they are doing after all."

"Of course we do," Kian said, coming through the portal with Elise. Bayn, Freya, Arawan, and Imogen followed them through. There was one face she was missing.

"Where's Ciara?" she asked Lachie.

Her cousin shrugged. "Fuck knows. She requested some personal time a week ago and said if she wasn't back by tonight to let you know she's proud as hell of you. You know what she's like. Probably for the best she has a break somewhere. She's had a bee in her bonnet since she came back from Svartalfheim."

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