Page 3 of The Dark Elf's Secret Twins

All he does, day in and day out, is lean up against that godsdamned wall and scowl at anyone unfortunate enough to end up near him. For the gods’ sakes, even hisvoiceis a constant snarl! It’s like the male was bred to be incapable of civility!

I give into my anger, letting it overtake and drown out any of the more uncomfortable emotions I was feeling moments ago. He’s terrible, awful, the downright worst! I’m sure he was justhopingthat asshole in the audience would try something so he’d have an excuse to be a prick!

I don’t need Lykan to swoop in and save me, and I willrelishthe next opportunity I have to remind him of that.

After a deep, cooling breath, I shove my way out of the hallway. I fix my hair, wipe away the sweat that’s suddenly accumulated on my palms, and dutifully look anywhere other than where I know Lykan is standing against the wall. Let him chew on that. He’s not important enough for me to waste any more time on.

Despite the tension laying like a fog across the theater, I quickly fall into my usual dance. More people begin to trickle in as the late-night prime spots open, chivdouyu of all different kinds of musical talents taking up their spots on stage.

I weave in and out of the audience, switching empty cups with full ones and checking on the patrons. I smile and whisper and nod and do everything that I usually do.

But Lykan’s eyes never leave me.

Even when I’m not looking at him, I can feel his gaze on me, as hot and heavy as a physical touch. I refuse to react, to give in to his silent goading and intimidation tactics. If he thinks I’m going to give him even one more second of my time, that sorry male has another thing coming.

Lanzano stumbles to his usual table, and I try my best to look busy. He spots me as he all but collapses into a chair, and waves me over. I suppress a grimace and walk over to his table, pasting on my brightest smile.

“Good evening, sir. Can I bring you your usual?” I chirp, careful to stay out of grabbing distance. I could swear Lykan is drilling a hole into the back of my head with his eyes.

“I don’t suppose you’ve… expanded your menu?” The elf replies, his eyes skating over my hardly concealed figure. I fight the shudder that threatens to ricochet down my spine and force a laugh.

“Unfortunately not! I’ll be right back with that mogabii, extra dry!”

I walk away before Lanzano can say anything else, my smile falling from my face the second my back is turned. I lean against the bar, catching the eye of our bartender for tonight.

“I need a mogabii, extra dry. It’s for Lanzano, so garnish it with two berries instead of one please.” The bartender gives me a nod and starts working on the drink immediately, but as I go to turn around, I bounce off of a wall of muscle.

“Stop making that drink. She doesn’t need it,” Lykan snaps at the bartender, who freezes at the sound of his voice. I look up at him incredulously, his nearly black eyes impassive as they meet mine.

“Excuse me?” I ask, my voice a little too shrill to be normal. I whirl on the bartender. “Keep making that drink.”

“You can’t serve him,” Lykan growls back. The poor bartender’s eyes bounce frantically between us, her reluctance to piss either one of us off obvious.

“And why can’t I serve him, Lykan? Because you don’t like it?” I demand, pushing up into his face. Let’s see howhelikes someone trying to intimidate him.

The damned bastard doesn’t even blink.

“He’s too drunk. He’s a liability to the theater.”

“Since when has that ever stopped Benshobe from making money off of his patrons?” I retort, rolling my eyes and motioning for the bartender to continue with the drink. She reluctantly obeys. Good. I’m her shift leader, not this overgrown bully. Lykan’s eyes leave mine for the first time since this altercation began when he hears the bartender continue shaking the cocktail.

“I told you–”

“Oh, go kick rocks Lykan. Don’t you have somebody else to scowl at from your little corner?” I snap back, swiping the finished cocktail off of the bar. The bartender hurries away, undoubtedly to try and escape Lykan’s wrath.

“And stop trying to bully my staff!” I shout over my shoulder as I walk away, letting my ass shake a little extra as I make my way back to Lanzano’s table. I know Lykan’s watching. Fucking pervert.

I drop the drink off at Lanzano’s table without further event, but my blood is still boiling. OfcourseLykan would find a way to insert himself where he doesn’t belong. If he would just stay out of my way, I’m sure we’d both be happier.

No, scratch that. If he’d just leave, we’d both be happier.

Before I know it, the last chivdouyu is leaving the stage, bowing through the raucous applause filling the theater. Patrons stumble back out into the streets, no doubt to their glamorous carriages, and I can finally kick off these godsdamned heels and slip into the flats waiting for me in the service hallway.

Lykan meets with the other guards from around the theater for their nightly run down – not that I’m paying attention – while the rest of the staff and I focus in on our closing duties. The floors are swept, the tables and the bar wiped down, the various glasses cleaned, etc.

I’m in the process of giving the bar another wipe-down when a shadow falls over me, and I don’t even bother to suppress my aggravated sigh.

“What do you want, Lykan?” I ask, turning to face the insufferable ass and propping my hands on my hips.

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