Page 18 of Elf Shot

Arne smiled. "You only need to worry if you start trying to date one of my cousins."

"Don't be such a pussy blocker, Arne, or I am going to think you have a thing for crashing dates," she replied.

Arne's brain short-circuited at the word pussy coming out of her mouth. The plane touched down, and Layla let go of her death grip.

Outside, the cold snap in the air hit Arne's lungs and some of the tension in him eased. He was home; Layla was with him like the Norns wanted; the council would meet, and everything would be okay.

And that was when he saw his mother waiting for them with two of her bodyguards.

"I didn't know you were going to be here to greet us," Arne said, walking across the hanger to her.

"I was here to meet with another delegation and thought I would wait for you." Alruna pulled him into a hug, her silver-gray braid tickling his nose as he kissed the top of her head. "And you know I'm far too nosey to let you sneak a human in without letting me look at her first."

Layla was laughing at something Torsten was saying as he carried her bags down the stairs. Her expression sobered instantly when she saw who Arne was with. It didn't matter that his mother was dressed casually in dark jeans, boots, and a blazer. Layla knew instantly who she was, and her whole body language shifted.

Arne gestured for her to come over, his heart beating a little erratically when Layla touched her hair self-consciously.

"Layla Ironwood, may I introduce my mother, Alruna," he said.

Layla bowed low and said in perfect elvish, "It is an honor to meet you, my queen, and a privilege to be invited to the summit."

Alruna raised an ashen brow at Arne. "You're welcome, Miss Ironwood. My son has told me a lot about you."

"Only good things I hope," Layla said, shooting a warning look at Arne.

"Why would I say anything else?" he replied sweetly. "She never bows or greets me so nicely."

"Well, your mother hasn't ever crashed one of my dates."

Alruna looked between them and started to laugh. "Oh, dear. Please don't blame his lack of manners on me, Miss Ironwood."

"Please call me Layla. There are so many Miss Ironwoods in my family, I'll never know if you're talking to me or not."

"Then you must call me Alruna. I get enough 'my queens' from everyone else." She turned to Tor, who had stowed the last of their gear into the back of the town car waiting for them. "Where is my kiss, wolf?"

"Hello, Auntie," he said and planted a kiss on her cheek. "It's nice to be home."

"I thought you were going to keep an eye on Arne and stop him from doing anything stupid."

"Well, you know how he gets. There's no stopping the stupid sometimes."

"I'm right here," Arne complained. Layla covered her laugh with a cough. "And what are you giggling at, Ironwood?"

"Nothing, just…families," she replied.

"Are you coming back with us, or do you have your own car?" Arne asked Alruna.

"I have a car. Walk me to it." Alruna turned and smiled at Layla. "It was nice to meet you finally. I will see you at the dinner tonight."

Alruna took Arne's arm, and they walked out of the other side of the hanger and into the parking lot.

"She's not what I expected," Alruna said.

"I know the feeling."

"Did you really crash her date?" When Arne nodded, Alruna frowned. "Is the person she was with still alive?"

Arne rolled his eyes. "Of course, he is. I'm not that out of control."

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