Page 10 of His Impossible Elf Mate
“I understand. Truly, I do. Axel is precious to me. Causing harm to him would be to hurt myself.”
Mollified, Dakota settled. “Good. I like you, T, and want to keep it that way.”
The tattoo did not take long after our talk. I settled into the routine of the ink and the needle, quickly drawing the family scene on Dakota’s back.
He thanked me with a hug before returning home. He had asked me to go with him, but my host family needed time together without me along.
Also, my heart was pulling me towards the mansion, where Axel was likely eating dinner with the pack. He liked to do that a few times a week to give Dakota and Jasper time as a family. The betas, Grady and Trey, also made themselves scarce on those nights. This pack was so family oriented.
While I walked, I dreamed about what it would be like to be one of them. To not be a prince, to be a shifter and not an elf, so I belonged by Axel’s side. We could shift together, explore the forest, protect our home. We could be mated, for life, without others worrying.
There, under the rising moon, I wished for a life with Axel. I just prayed it was what he wanted, too.
The dining room was full when I entered. I caught sight of Axel immediately. He was sitting surroundedby his kin, his pack, yet looked so alone and withdrawn.
Like he sensed me too, his head snapped up, his eyes met mine. A smile stretched across his face.
Yes, the feeling was mutual. My heart sang with rightness and I couldn’t contain my answering smile.
Dates
Axel
The memory of that day would be branded into my soul. Our first kiss. The thing that started it all.
I was packing my things, the stuff Chase had brought me from home to encourage me to wake up, and the couple of outfits he had thought to bring me since I’d woken, when Teárlach finally broached the subject.
Not Abrocaelum and the rejection there, but something much more pressing. Eventually, I’d ask him about it. There was a bigger elephant in the room that needed to be dealt with.
“With you going home…” He was quiet for so long, I didn’t think he could get the words out. I didn’t rush him, just like he never rushed me through any of the physical therapy exercises to rebuild my muscles, or when I struggled to get the words out, my exhaustion playing havoc with my focus. “When will I see you again?”
He had drifted closer to me, seemingly unable to stay away. I knew he was feeling this pull the same as I was. I reached out and snagged his hand. We had beencareful not to touch skin to skin before, some sort of unspoken agreement not to cross a line. His skin was soft to the touch, warm and just so right. This felt more intimate than any kiss I’d ever had.
“There’s nothing to say you can’t come with me.”
“But I have a room here.” T frowned. The expression looked so odd on his perfect face. I could look at him all day and not get bored.
“You don’t have to sleep in it, if you don’t want to. Or not alone, at least.” I wondered if he would get my meaning. There was still a language barrier between us where he would misunderstand or not pick up on my more subtle flirting. I found it cute.
Finally, he seemed to understand. “I fear you cannot manage the stairs just yet. They are quite steep.”
A smile flitted across my face. Never had I had to work so hard with someone I wanted to sleep with, and I did want to sleep with T just as soon as my body caught up with my brain. “You could carry me. I assume elves are as strong as shifters,” I teased.
“Stronger.”
As if to demonstrate, T lifted me into his arms princess style. “Shall I carry you like this?”
Now he was getting it. I loved this banter we were falling into. It felt so natural to be playful with Teárlach.
I wrapped my arms around his neck as if it was the most normal thing in the world for me to do. His hair felt like silk against my fingers. I wanted to rest my faceagainst his neck and breathe in his honey and jasmine scent. “I quite like it here.”
My words seemed to break the spell we were under.
Teárlach set me on my feet carefully, checked I had my balance, then stepped away from me, putting distance between us. “I fear it is not appropriate for me to feel as I do for you. We have only known each other for a handful of weeks. You are still recovering.”
This felt so incredibly wrong. Him denying our connection physically hurt, like the stinging of a slap.
“Do you believe in fate?”
