Page 88 of Enchanting the Elf
Chapter forty
Florence
“Are you ready?” I ask Adelbert as we walk through the forest, retracing our steps toward Alberad School for the Supernatural, just like we did the morning after I first arrived in Germany.
Adelbert pulls me closer to him and tucks me under his arm.
“With you by my side, I’m ready for anything,” he says and kisses my temple.
“I’ll remain just out of sight, but within hearing distance,” I promise, needlessly reminding him of the plan we’ve gone over at least a hundred times already.
Since our mating a week ago, Adelbert and I have visited the meadow every day to hang out with the trees before they rest for the winter. We made plans for our future and talked about our goals and dreams until we had a rough idea of what we wanted it to look like.
Under Lebethron’s branches, we laid out our picnic blanket. Adelbert read his grandmother’s fairy tale book while I embroidered the sketch I did of his horns. He also learned to braid my hair—apparently something he had wanted to do for quite some time—using one physical hand and one mage hand. Adelbert practiced his magic every day and had long conversations with Lebethron about how to best help the forest.
Then, we’d make love. Or I’d ride his face. Or he’d go beast mode on me until my legs got all wobbly and I struggled to walk back.
Yay for piggyback rides.
I lift my hand to Adelbert’s resting on my shoulder, and trace the enchanted emerald in the ring he’s wearing on his index finger. For the first time since we left the island, he had to put on his glamour ring to hide his horns, bark, and hazel eyes from the other elves who are attending today.
“I can’t wait to see your father’s face when you reveal your horns and magic,” I say, thinking how shocked that male will be when he sees elvish horns in person for the first time.
“Is my mate feeling a little diabolical today?” Adelbert teases and chuckles lightly.
“Perhaps a little.” I giggle, then scrunch up my nose. “Am I mean?”
High above us, the branches sway on an invisible breeze and the leaves rustle in a way that lets me know they support my scornful thoughts.
“Never,” Adelbert says. “I like all sides of you.”
We walk in comfortable silence for a stretch, both lost in thought as we mentally and emotionally prepare for this day that will redirect Adelbert’s future—ourfuture.
“We’re almost at the wards. You should be fine, just like last time.”
“Need me to punch through them again?” I ask. I jump into a boxing stance and wiggle my eyebrows.
Adelbert bellows out a laugh and takes my hand as we start walking again. I tilt my head to study his profile and the smile that’s just about a permanent fixture now. A lilting melody reaches my ears, and it takes me only a couple of seconds to place it.
“Are you humming my favorite song?” I ask Adelbert, recognizing the tune.
“I think so? I’ve never heard the original version, but the melody has been stuck in my head since I met you. You were always humming when you first arrived and it annoyed me because it was so pretty and wouldn’t make me stop thinking about you.”
“I’m sorry?” I say hesitantly, not sure what to make of this confession.
“Don’t get me wrong. I was only annoyed because of how much I liked it. How much I likedyou. It’s entirely my own fault for being so obtuse for so long.”
Adelbert pauses and cups my shoulders. Dipping his head, he looks me square in the eyes with his once-again silver ones.
“Loving you has always been inevitable, Florence.”
My knees weaken and I blink the instantaneous tears away that threaten to spill over.
“You can’t say things like that to me before the biggest presentation of your life,” I choke out and wipe at the happy tear that managed to escape. “You’re going to make it hard toconcentrate on what you’re saying when I have all these mushy feelings from your ooey-gooey sweetness.”
Adelbert brushes a tear away that’s tracking down my other cheek.
“Good. Hold fast to that feeling. I will amplify my barriers so none of the other elves can sense you. My father might not be very nice today and I don’t want you to focus on him,” Adelbert says. “Remember, today is just a formality. I’m doing it for the Black Forest, for Lebethron, and for all the woodland elves who deserve to know the truth. But most importantly, I’m doing it forus.”
