Page 4 of Enchanting the Elf
I’m not an inexperienced woman, but never before have I felt such an instant, visceral attraction to someone. I blink the thought away just as Adelbert starts to speak.
“I apologize for the abrupt appearance of my brethren. Please do not fret. Though their monstrous appearance may startle you at first glance, I can assure you they mean you no harm. I can attest to the sound character of each.”
My heart twists at how sincere he is, but the formal speech is not going to calm anyone. I want to step up and help but speaking in front of so many people is not something I am able to do.
“Ladies,” Everett drawls in a voice I’m sure has got Dede swooning. I look over at my sister, and I see verifiable hearts in her eyes.
Everett proceeds to translate Adelbert’s words into a more palatable manner that the women seem slightly more receptive to.
A muscle ticks in Adelbert’s jaw but he nods stiffly at Everett to continue, most probably acknowledging that Everett might have a smoother way of convincing the ladies to trust them.
My eyes sweep over the many interesting features on the different species, but for some reason, my gaze keeps drifting back to Adelbert. His body is so rigid I’m afraid he’s going to hurt himself. I have this weird urge to either hold his hand and tell him it’s going to be okay, or nibble on his ear until he giggles.
One by one, the men head off to the manor, giving the women some breathing room to hear Adelbert and Everett out who remain behind with us. They try their best to explain that none of the men pose any threat to the safety of the women. They just want to get to the bottom of why we were able to get on the island.
After some serious deliberation, the women cautiously decide to follow them, making Adelbert’s shoulders visibly sag in relief.
His silver eyes catch mine. A sensation I can’t place wells up in my chest and spreads outward to the tips of my fingers and toes. Blissfully unaware of the effect he is having on me, he gestures for me to walk in front of him.
“Thank you.” My voice comes out more timid than I’d like. I gather the skirt of my dress so I don’t trip on it in the dim light, then clear my throat. “I’m Florence.”
I glance over my shoulder to see Adelbert inclining his head. “Adelbert.”
“I guess you don’t meet many women like this?” I try to joke. Despite my shyness, I have this awkward sense of humor that always makes an appearance when I’m nervous.
“Never,” Adelbert answers seriously. “You are the first to have crossed the wards. No human has ever set foot on this island. Until now.”
“Oh.” I’m not sure how to follow that, and we lapse into silence.
I can’t make out what Dede and Everett are saying, but they are chatting nonstop, chemistry almost popping between them. I hope she gets his number and that they can stay in touch.
I chew on my lip, trying to think what I can say to ease the tension between me and Adelbert when a good idea springs to mind.
“Adelbert, what do you call a cow that plays the guitar?”
“Cows do not play guitar,” he scoffs.
“I know, silly goose. Just play along.” I shrug, then try again. “What do you call a cow that plays the guitar?”
“I don’t know,” Adelbert says flatly.
“A moooo-sician,” I draw out the word then giggle at my own joke, but Adelbert’s brows only furrow deeper.
Okay, not a fan of corny jokes. Or maybe it’s not the right time.
“Do you live here?” I ask, hoping a plain question is simpler to answer.
“No. I live in Germany. Everett lives in Las Vegas. The others are spread out around the world. We came together for our reunion this weekend.”
“What kind of reunion is it?” I prod, trying to find the question that’ll ignite conversation. There’s something about him that makes me curious, like I want to know more about him—everything about him.
Adelbert lets out a long sigh and my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I roll my lips between my teeth to keep myself from speaking until he asks me something instead.
Surprising me, Adelbert explains, “We attended Alberad School for the Supernatural in Germany. It has been ten yearssince all of us have been together in one place. We would have met there, however, some preferred a tropical vacation. This island has been specially warded with extra magic to keep humans from stumbling upon it. Now, it is my duty to figure outhowandwhyyou were able to make landfall.”
Before I ask another question, I let all that information seep into my brain so I can sort through it. He introduced himself as “Adelbert Alberad” and if the school is “Alberad School for the Supernatural” then he is most probably like school royalty. Before Adelbert arrived, Everett told us that the Alberad family owns this island too. That must puta lotof pressure on him. I hope the others can help him figure it all out.
“I’m sorry,” I offer weakly, my feet slowing automatically with the apology. Even though I know I didn’t crash their party on purpose, I feel bad for ruining what was probably a lot of fun.
