Page 8 of Elf Shot

Layla took out her phone and opened her e-book app. "Furniture can't talk."

Arne growled something in elvish that was too low for her to catch. She pretended to be reading, resting her chin on her palm. A trickle of nervous sweat ran down her back. She was never this rude to anyone, but he had started it by crashing her date. She opened her messaging app and opened her chat with Kenna.

What the fuck, Mom? You signed a contract with the elves without even talking to me?She added a line of angry emojis for emphasis.

Sorry, darling, you can't be precious when the fate of the world is at stake. It's an easy job for an eye-watering amount of money that will help the family and the hunters a lot. I'll give you a big bonus.

Layla wanted to hurl her phone at the glass wall. It shouldn't surprise her that Kenna would do something like sign her services away. Layla always did as she was told for 'the good of the family.' She'd never argued even when sent on awful camping trips or when she gave up her free time to look after Moira or help David. She was always on call to help with research or whatever they needed help with.

This is bullshit. I don’t care about the bonus. I already told the elves no,she shot back, her nails clicking hard against the glass screen.

The pretty one said that, but he seems to think you're the best person for the job, and so do I. He's pushy, but it'll be good for you. How else will you get invited to see the elves, like in those hobbit books you like so much?

Layla drained her whiskey. Trust her mother to use the only shit that brought her joy against her. 'Those hobbit books' had always been a point of contention because they were Ironwoods; they were meant to hunt and kill magical creatures, not read fantasy books about them. Shehadalways wanted to see the elves, the real elves. She just didn't want to do it like this.

Layla wrote out a reply three times and deleted it. She was writing out a fourth when her food arrived.

"Thanks," she said to the waiter, who still looked scared.

Arne was staring at her, his golden eyes shining with intense annoyance.

Good. Layla wasn't hungry, but she was too stubborn to back out. She picked up her fork and went back to her reading app. She tried really hard not to flick any cream on her clothes as she ate and read at the same time. She could feel Arne's eyes boring into her, following every movement.

Her phone buzzed, and she looked down at the message from Apollo.

How's the date going? Didn't I tell you Seamus was the cutest?

Yeah, you did. The date was going well until a big elvish asshole crashed it.

????!!

Layla turned her phone, snapped a photo of Arne obnoxiously, and sent it to Apollo.

Told you. Big. Elvish. Asshole. He scared Seamus away.

Rude! But to be honest, he looks like he's about to pounce on you.

I'm making him wait while I eat pasta. Fuck him.

You are my hero. I'd give him whatever he asked for.

Layla bit down a laugh.You slut.

If only he was interested in crashing any of my dates. The pouncing look makes more sense. He probably has blue balls watching your big lips sucking on linguini. Mine are blue just thinking about it.

It's fettuccine, actually.

Work it, girl, suck those cheeks in. You show that elf who's boss. He looks like the type who would love to be dominated. All pent up and princely, he probably needs to hand the control over to someone else, if you know what I mean? Get him on his knees.

Layla went hot all over with that visual of Arne kneeling before her. Naked. And sweaty. She wasn't usually dominant in bed, but the image had its merits.

Jesus fucking Christ, Apollo. I'm trying to eat. Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, she texted back, angling her phone so there was no way Arne could see it.

They are our dirty thoughts now, Lay Lay. Let me know if you make him cry by the end of the night.

Will do. I really did like Seamus.Layla sighed. Of course, the first okay date had to get ruined.

"Your date messaging you and making you smile like that?" Arne asked.

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