Page 9 of His Impossible Elf Mate
“A vision? Truly? This is remarkable timing! Does it not prove we were right to be involved?”
My queen’s gaze turned bitter. “If they were not dismissed as the fantasies of an old queen. They believe I should call you home, ignore this portent. I cannot.” Her tone was filled with bitterness and regret.
“Each day I am with the pack, the more sure I am, it is the place I am supposed to be,” I assured her. “I vow to bring back something useful to our people. A way to bring us out of this crisis.”
“I would caution you to not over promise, my son.”
“Of course, Mother.” I needed to cut this talk short, or we would talk around the subject for hours. Getting back to Sweetwater and Axel was my priority. I was sure half of his unhappiness was a fear I would not return. “I have some things I need to take back to the pack.”
Crossing the room, ignoring my mother’s questioning look, I went to the walk in closet. Elves were much like the dragons. We liked to hoard the finery. I was no different. Each of the walls of the closet held rich fabrics, jeweled crowns, necklaces, and trinkets from all over Abrocaelum. Mostwere bespoke pieces, gifts with our snowy owl emblazoned, or owls crafted in precious metals.
The elves had long forgotten why the owl was the symbol of our goddess and her wisdom. All we knew was the goddess Athena was forged in her image. We had long since lost her true name. Over the eons, we had lost so much knowledge. Perhaps the past had the clue to the current crisis.
I stalked to the back where I kept the things I had saved from my many journeys around the human realm, including what I had come for.
I picked up the box, finding it covered in a layer of dust, since the servants did not venture this far into my space. It was something I had picked up from a witch and updated whenever I got the chance. Tattoos had moved on from the stick and poke method, even with magic involved.
“That thing?” Mother wrinkled her nose in disgust when she caught sight of the mahogany box in my arms. It was covered in runes, demon, elf, fae, and witch symbols in their differing runic languages as well as our family symbol.
“Yes, a shifter wants a family tattoo. His mate is pregnant and he would like to have them tattooed.”
“So the shifters are still having babies?” My mother’s face was lit with hope and curiosity. I supposed she wondered what made them different to us.
“They are, though not quite at the same rate as the Sweetwater pack are. The Alpha Mate, Kade, is pregnant with triplets!”
Mother raised a hand to her mouth in shock. “By the goddess, they are so blessed!” She took a moment to process the news, then stood tall and determined. “This is exactly what I need to explain your presence there. Go! Return to us with good news soon.”
I smiled, happy to have helped her, to have restored her faith. “I will.”
“Be blessed.”
“Where did you learn to do this?” Dakota asked as he lay on the bench in front of me. We had gone to the clinic so the surprise wouldn’t be ruined.
“In the army, much to my mother’s horror.”
“She doesn’t approve of tattoos?”
Without saying too much, I explained my mother was important to our people, and while she did not look down on the soldiers, she was more refined in her tastes. She did not see the beauty that I did in covering skin with ink, especially when it had to be spelled to stay put.
Mother had finally come around to my own tattoo when I explained the significance of it, though Ididn’t reveal my own inked design to Dakota. It was something personal.
The design Dakota wanted was easy enough to sketch, so I could ensure it was right for him before I began. My tattoo gun ran on magic. The ink was spelled colored powders turned into liquid with more magic. All of it was designed to keep the ink on the skin and not let supernatural healing erase the design before it could be set with more magic.
Dakota sat well and answered many of my questions about pack life as I covered his back with his chosen design. The sentiment behind it was beautiful.
I envied him for his family. I wanted a partner of my own, children too.
Truthfully, my heart had already decided on Axel. He was all I wanted. We could make children happen if he wanted that, too.
As if Dakota had heard my thoughts, he asked me about the wolf. “What’s happening with you and Axel? You appear very close.”
“Axel is… I care for him very much and wish to explore our growing connection.”
“He’s… fragile now. Don’t play with his feelings, please. I respect you and don’t want that respect to be ruined.”
“You care for him,” I stated, sensing Dakota’s worry and growing agitation.
“When Kade mated Blake, those brothers all became family. They belong to us and we protect what is ours.Even from well-meaning elves. I know that Kade and Blake have expressed their concerns. We just want what’s best for Axel.”
