Page 76 of Elf Shot

Apollo appeared with a large mug of mead. "Layla! Come and taste… Oh. Hello Lachlan."

"Apollonius. I didn't know you were coming," Lachie said, frowning at the golden-haired magician.

"And miss my Layla's party? Not for the world. Excuse me, I need to be over there," Apollo said, striding away with a sassy flick of his golden curls.

Layla raised a questioning brow at Lachlan. "What's up there?"

"Don't know what you're talking about. Oh look, there's Tor. I need to talk to him," Lachlan said and went off in the opposite direction.

"Weird boys." Layla shook her head. The whole garden was packed with people, and a burst of anxiety rushed through her. They all seemed to be getting along fine for once, but there was a tingle starting in her stomach that told her she was close to getting overwhelmed.

A warm hand slipped into hers, and the tightening inside of her eased. Arne tucked her under his arm. "Want to get out of here for a moment?"

"Please," she whispered. They weren't noticed as they slipped through the garden and down to the lake. The sun was setting over it, and Layla sighed at the beauty around her. By winter it would be freezing cold and frozen solid, so she would enjoy it while she could. They slipped out of their shoes to paddle in the cool shallows.

"I have been thinking about my magic," Arne said. There was something in his tone that made her stop.

"What about it?" she asked.

"You once told me that I could use it any way I wanted. Do you still believe that?"

Layla rested a hand on his chest. "Yes, it's your power to do with as you want. I'll support you in whatever you decide. You know, as long as it's not to start Ragnarök."

"Not even a little funny," he huffed.

"Kind of funny." Layla tugged on his shirt. "Out with it, Arne. Tell me."

"I want to use it to make you immortal," he said in a rush.

"What?!" Layla would have gone over into the lake in surprise if he didn't grab her.

Arne cupped her cheeks. "I want you by my side forever, Layla Ironwood. When Vili's magic hit me, I felt what it was like to have you die in my arms. I won't go through that again."

Layla's heart ached, remembering the anguish and terror that had been on his face that day. "Arne, it was just Vili fucking with you. We will all die at some point, my love. You can't change that no matter how much magic you have."

"I know that, but I want your life to be at least as long mine. Please Layla, let me use it for something good," he begged.

Layla looked over at her messy family, all drinking and talking together. They were chaos, but she loved them. She knew Bron and Imogen would live a long time because of their partners, so it wasn't as if she would be alone. She looked back at Arne, at the love shining in his eyes. No, alone was the last thing she would be.

"Okay, Arne," she whispered.

"Really? You'll do it?"

"Yes, I'll do it. But if you change your mind in like fifty years, we are not allowed to take it back," she said. She laughed as he lifted her up in his arms and kissed her. Loud wolf whistles and jeers started up almost instantly from her rowdy family.

"Just ignore them," Layla said, giggling at their antics.

Arne kissed her sweetly. "I've only ever seen you anyway, vennen. "

EPILOGUE

Sweat poured down Ciara's back and ran into her eyes. The cars on the streets of Oslo blurred in front of her, but she managed to park.

"Almost there. Keep it together," she whispered. Her mouth was so damn dry. Warm, wet blood seeped through the bandages on her shoulder, her arm hanging uselessly at her side. She checked her mirrors for anyone that could be following her. She wiped at her sweaty face and zipped up her leather jacket to hide her wounds.

Ciara climbed out of the car, and her vision started tunneling. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Have to get to safety, her father's voice said in her head. You're almost there.

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