Page 58 of Enchanting the Elf
Try as I might, I can’t shield all the emotions she has awoken in me.
I make sure to look directly into her bright eyes when I say, “Thank you for sharing today with me. It was… amazing.Youare amazing.” My voice cracks at the end and I have difficulty swallowing around the odd pain in the back of my throat, but I forge on. “Of course, we cannot allow this to happen again. Because the bond might intensify,” I add hastily.
Florence sees right through my excuse and her smile turns sad, understanding. She crosses one arm over her torso and holds her elbow.
“It’s okay. It was fun. For today only. A good memory.”
The sadness in the air is so acute that I don’t know if it’s her emotions I’m feeling, or my own. Time seems to slow down as Florence’s eyes brim with tears and a single one escapes andtracks down her cheek. Unable to resist, I cup her face with my mage hand and wipe the warm drop away.
“You are more exquisite than I could have imagined, Florence Everly. Perfect. Beautiful. So deserving of everything I cannot give you: love, affection, attention, the world. You deserve to have it all, and more.”
With a quivering voice, Florence says, “You are a good male, Adelbert. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. You’re going to make someone very happy one day.”
Then she goes into the house, leaving me outside.
I allow myself a couple of shaky breaths before I steel my spine and head to my study, hating myself more with each step I take.
The door shuts behind me with a snick, and I lean against it before sinking to the floor. Resting my head against the door, I stare up at the ceiling and let all my thoughts run through my mind so I can properly process what happened today.
I can’t allow myself to form any kind of attachment to Florence. I need to remain firm on this. Despite how perfect she was this afternoon, it can’t happen again. If my desire for her increases only marginally or if the bond strengthens, she could get stuck here.
What would that mean for the future of Alberad? What would that mean for me?
I’ll make sure Florence is comfortable, taken care of. I’ll be kind and considerate, as much as is expected from a host to a guest.
We’ll travel to the opening of her sister’s store and maybe the bond will have broken before Florence even has to return. It will simplify everything.
I take a fortifying breath and stand up, bracing myself to run through all the exercises I want to demonstrate at my presentation. For some unknown reason, my magic feels weaker tonight. It could be because I exerted too much energy withFlorence, but I didn’t feel tired then. My magic didn’t even feel strained.
I will keep practicing and practicing until I have perfected everything and prove that what was thought to be dormant magic in elves, has once again been awakened.
Chapter twenty-eight
Florence
“Cece!” My sister shouts and flings herself into my arms. I hug her back so hard, I’m afraid I might bruise her ribs. Dede knows how much I need this touch so she doubles down and squeezes harder.
No matter how hard I try, it’s impossible to stop the tears from coming. I let them run freely down my face, unwilling to let go of my sister.
Everett sent his plane for us the day after the meadow incident. Adelbert and I were polite to each other as we tookseats on opposite sides and I pretended to instantly fall asleep. Lindsey offered to feed Sir Purrington while we’re gone and to send updates, but we’ll only be here for a night before we have to go back again.
“I missed you,” I say into Dede’s neck, wetting her hair with my tears. Lowering my voice, I add, “You guys totally just fucked before we got here, didn’t you?”
“Shh. You can’t call a girl out like that right when you arrive,” Sadie says in mock outrage, tears still thick in her voice. “At least give me some conversation foreplay first.”
I hold her shoulders and lean back so I can look at her face. “Sorry I ruined your makeup.” I try to fix it by wiping some of the mascara under her eyes.
Dede shrugs. “It might have been ruined before you got here,” she says with a devilish smirk and a quick glance to Everett. “Either way, worth it.” Dede winks at me and I laugh as she wipes my tears away. It feels good to laugh and to be reunited with my sister.
“Hi, Cece,” Everett says and holds out his arms for me.
“Hi, Ev.” I easily step into my brother-in-law’s friendly embrace and hug him back. It’s the first time I have physically touched a male in over two months. Despite the kindness of the gesture, I can’t help but wish it were Adelbert’s arms instead.
From the corner of my eye, I notice the muscle jumping in Adelbert’s jaw and the way he crosses his arms over his chest as he pretends not to watch us.
I know Adelbert is attracted to me, and I acknowledge that he won’t let it go anywhere, but I don’t want to hurt him either.
I step back from Everett’s platonic embrace and turn to Dede. “Tour?”
