Page 78 of Enchanting the Elf
Florence places her other hand on my upper arm in comfort, and a line forms between her brows.
“I didn’t know it was that strong. Is it uncomfortable?”
I shake my head and give a reassuring smile.
“Not really uncomfortable, but it’s a sensation I haven’t experienced before and haven’t since. Perhaps there’s some magical ley line running under that meadow that I’m unaware of. It could explain the boost to my magic that I get there and not at home.”
The forest opens up and the meadow spreads out in front us with the giant oak tree at its center, framed by the blue sky and the rolling hills in the distance. The yellows, oranges, and reds of the early fall leaves enrich the landscape. From next to me, Florence lets out a very satisfied sigh.
“It really is something special, isn’t it?” I whisper reverently, feeling something deep within me clicking into place whenever I am here.
“It is. I’ll never get enough of this place,” Florence says and leans her head against my shoulder.
“It’s here for you whenever you want. I am, too.” I place a kiss on top of her head.
Feeling silly for the first time in my life, I utter words I never thought I’d say, “Last one to the oak is a rotten egg.”
I take off, and Florence’s laughter skitters through the air behind me. Soon she’s catching up, giggling the entire time and I slacken my pace to lace our fingers together and run alongside her. Strands of golden hair glowing in the sun stream out behind Florence, and a carefree smile is painted on her face. I take a mental picture of her like this, wanting, needing to remember this image whenever I have a hard day.
Florence is my purpose.
My hope.
My future.
My grin is stupidly big and there’s a lightness within me that makes me feel like I’m floating.
When we get close to the oak tree, I grab Florence’s hand and slow us to a stop. I bend down and band my arms under her butt to lift her up. She slings her arms around my shoulders and, cautiously at first, I spin us in a circle, then go faster and faster.
“I’m flying,” Florence sings and throws her arms out on either side of her. She tilts her head to the sky and laughs giddily with every twirl. Her pure delight permeates the air, and I fall a little deeper for her.
This feeling right here, this unencumbered gleefulness when I’m with her, is something I never want to lose.
I carefully bring our spinning to a halt and slide Florence down my front. Leaning my forehead against hers and withgoofy smiles plastered to our faces, we take a moment to drink each other in and get our breathing regulated.
“That was fun,” Florence whispers.
“You make me want to have fun,” I whisper back.
Florence leans back, cups my jaw, and trains her fiery gaze on me.
“Good. You deserve to relax. To play. You’re not a robot programmed to jump when someone tells you to. You don’t have to carry everyone else’s burdens and responsibilities,” she says with such utter passion it makes my eyes sting.
I sigh sadly and lace my fingers with hers, bringing them to my chest. Florence’s compassion and empathy wrap around me like a warm embrace, viscerally easing my burdens and motivating me to communicate my feelings clearly.
“I have never been given a choice before, Florence. I have been conditioned to serve others, and to put their needs before my own. To not feel, to only think. To not be self-centered and to only make decisions that will benefit my future as the sole heir of Alberad. It has been my whole identity until now. Please be patient with me as I unravel the beliefs I once held dear. I want to reevaluate my priorities as I discover this new side of life—with you.”
“I understand that your father, even your name, has placed an incredible amount of pressure on you,” Florence says and a dab of anger glimmers between her words. Not anger at me, I realize, but anger at my father and the situation. “But I’m telling you, withme, you have a choice. As long as I’m around, I’ll always give you the freedom to make your own choices. I want you to be selfish and ask for whatyouwant.”
Like shutters lifting off my eyes, my brain and my heart come into alignment. The fates, the island, the research, everything has led me to this moment. Right here, in the middle ofmy favorite meadow—the meadow that appeared in Florence’s dream—my soul is calling me to recognize its mate.
I know what I should do.
Staring intently into Florence’s captivating eyes, I ready myself to say the words that will alter my future forever.
“Florence Everly,I choose you,” I say passionately, enunciating every word with all the love I have.
Florence sucks in a breath. The weight of my words—my choice, my decision—reflects in her eyes and her emotions change so quickly that I find them hard to track. There’s surprise, elation, and affection, before finally settling on determination.
