Page 7 of Magic in the Moonlight

HANNAH

In the few minutes Ellister is gone, all I do is worry. About my parents. About my future. About the fact that Ellister seems to think we can fly under the radar here for thousands of years.

Doubtful.

How could we possibly be off grid for that much time?

So. Much. Time.

And what if we get tired of each other?

Smiling a little, I strike that thought from my mind. I don’t know where the confidence comes from, but I’m sure that won’t ever happen.

I’ll be enough for Ellister. He’ll be enough for me.

Still, we’re bound to run into someone eventually. I have no idea what the social norms are in a faerie world. Everything is unfamiliar. The customs are different, and I definitely have no hope of blending in if I stay in my current outfit.

I look at the pile of folded dresses several feet away. Most of them have matching ballet flats to go with them—such dainty shoes. Now I understand why Ellister got all this for me and why he’s dressed like a pirate. He’s just blending in.

Huffing out a breath, I decide to try one of the dresses on. I find a yellow gown with an empire waist and cap sleeves. I really don’t understand why the fabric is so thin. When I hold it up, I can see the candle flame through it because of how sheer it is.

As I shed my clothes, I shiver so hard my teeth chatter.

It’s way too cold for the dress, but I slip it over my head anyway. Needing another layer, I wear my dad’s flannel shirt over it. Then I put my jeans on under the long skirt. It’s a total fashion faux pas, but I’m not about to freeze.

Next, my shoes and socks go back on.

As I glance down at my mismatched outfit, I’m reminded of the scene of my first meeting with Ellister—how his clothes didn’t look right.

Human fashion is not his expertise, and apparently, fae fashion isn’t mine.

When a gust rushes through the cave, disturbing my skirt and hair and nearly blowing out the candle, I know Ellister is back.

I turn around, and his shadowed lump is sprawled out on the floor ten feet away. With a groan, he starts to push himself up.

“Do you always land that hard?” I ask as I go to help him.

Seeming unbothered by the tumble, he shrugs. “Used to it. No need for concern.”

Once he’s standing, he sways unsteadily on his feet, contradicting his statement, and I firmly grip his forearm to keep him balanced. “Yeah, that’s why it looks like you might fall over any second.”

He rubs his forehead. “I’m all right, really. I took Astrid from a future time—from the real present—which means I had to jump back and forth twice. Time travel is ten times more draining for me than crossing universal planes.”

“That’s why you have the Glow.” My gaze drops to the flask sticking out of his pocket. “Should you drink more of it?”

“I’ll recover with rest.” Changing the subject, he scans my dress with a small smile. “You look nice.” Then he frowns at my untouched plate on the floor behind me. “You haven’t eaten your meal.”

“Yeah, see, this crazy thing happened,” I drawl wryly. “I got kidnapped, and then someone electrocuted me. It’s funny how those things disrupt my appetite.”

“I’m glad to see your sarcasm is in place. You had me worried there for a while.” He tenderly strokes my cheek with his knuckles, and my heart pounds out an extra beat.

If he’d tried to touch me like that before Astrid’s spell, I would’ve screamed my head off, but my body immediately craves him now.

It’s weird that I have memories of doing things with him—orgasmic things—but it hasn’t actually happened.

The vision of us in the hayloft comes to mind. When I think of the incident, I can still feel his erection pressing against my clit.

My nipples tighten and wetness floods my panties.

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