Page 39 of Elf Shot

"We need to get him alone, Layla, and try and break whatever Vili has done to him," Tor said, giving her shoulder a shake.

"What if he's done nothing? What if he's just decided to side with his father?" she replied.

Ciara was keeping an eye on the people around her, waiting for Layla to make a decision on what to do next. Layla was never good at making decisions, especially mid-job. She liked to plan things out, and now her plans were all tangled up in her emotions, and she couldn't think straight.

"Layla, look at me," Tor demanded, and she did, focusing on the gray eyes she could see in the slits of his helm. "That's not Arne. He's not even moving the same way. He's under an enchantment, I swear it. We need to get him alone."

"You may have a chance," Ciara said and gestured with her head. "Deep breaths, cousin."

Layla was lucky she obeyed her cousin because when she turned back and saw the girl draped over Arne, whispering in his ear and making him grin, Layla stopped breathing. When they got up together and headed down a dark cleft in the rock behind them, Layla became furious.

"Fuck, prepare yourself, Ciara," Tor growled.

Layla was already moving, not caring if they followed, or if she had to cut her way through every goddamn person in her way.

She had enough sense about her to stay in character, swaying a little as she drank from her mead. Gods knew, she probably needed it to cool the rage coursing through her. Not that it worked. No one stopped her as she moved around the other revelers and slipped down the passageway.

There were torches burning in sconces that lit her path. A pair of dark elves were making out and dry humping in a corner and didn't pay her any attention at all.

As she passed a door, the tugging sensation gripped her hard. She didn't know what she was about to walk in on, and her self-preservation was gone. Layla was pissed. She opened the door without knocking.

In the bedroom, the female had her back to Layla and was giggling while slowly stripping off her dress. Layla moved silent as a shadow behind her, and with one swift hit to the back of the head, the woman dropped. Arne sat on a huge bed, his gold eyes going wide in surprise.

"Was that really necessary? You could have joined us," he said, his smile widening as he looked her over. "Though you are definitely more my type."

"Do you not know who I am?" Layla asked.

Arne tugged her into his lap. "Do I need to?"

"Shit, Tor was right."

"Who is Tor, lovely?" Arne purred.

"Me," the shifter said, coming into the room with Ciara. He shut the door and took off his helm. "Do you know who I am?"

"No. And like I told this one, I don't need to in order to have some fun," Arne replied.

Layla tried to climb out of his lap, but he held onto her. She looked at Tor for help. "Any ideas?"

"Mating bond is stronger than just about any enchantment. Maybe kiss him?"

Arne brushed his nose up the side of her neck. "I agree with him. You should definitely start by kissing me. Gods, why do you smell so good? It's like something from a dream."

Layla tried not to respond to him or his hardening dick pressing into her thigh. She had to snap him the hell out of whatever Vili had done to him and fast. She ran her hands over his braids and gripped them so he lifted his head from her neck.

"Show me how a prince kisses," she said and licked his full bottom lip. Arne's smile was devilish as he leaned in and took her mouth with his.

If his odd behavior wasn't enough to convince Layla he was under a spell, the kiss would have. It didn't feel the same as it had in Alta. His energy and the way he used his tongue were totally different.

"Come back to me, Arne," she whispered against his lips. Golden light shivered to the surface of his skin.

"Layla…" his voice broke, sounding like her Arne, and then the light was sinking back into his skin, and his eyes went cloudy again.

"Arne, you must fight it," she begged. She remembered the magic that had overwhelmed him in Alta. She had been able to calm it then, so she had to be able to break it now. She pulled him closer. Kissed her way up his strong jawline.

"Please, Arne. I'm in danger here. I need your help. Your mate needs your help. Come back." She kissed him again, and the golden light started to seep out of him. "Help me, Arne. I'm so scared." His hands tightened on her hips, dragging her closer, but the light didn't vanish. She decided to appeal to another side of him.

Layla looked over her shoulder at Tor. "If this doesn't start to work soon, I say we knock him out and carry him out of here." Tor nodded, and she turned back to a dazed looking Arne.

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