Page 46 of Enchanting the Elf
“I still have a while to prepare. It’s either going to be revolutionary for elves, or I’ll be an even bigger disappointment for my father.”
“Is he still the wonderful monster he was when we were at school?” Everett asks, sarcasm dripping thickly from his words.
I answer truthfully. “I think he’s getting worse with age. Disappointment in me is quite possibly fueling his moods.”
I get up and start pacing through the messy study, stopping when I ask Everett, “Do you remember my father’s face when he caught you and Jasper streaking through the grounds in our senior year?”
Everett barks out a chuckle.
“That was so much fun. I still tried covering my junk with my hands, but Jasper just let it all hang loose with fists raised in victory when he passed the rose bushes.”
I recall the night in question. Everett and Jasper were wild and reckless as they ran naked around the perimeter of the school buildings. The rest of the males from our wing watched them from our secret vantage point where we used to play truth or dare.
“Could you blame him?” I empathize. “He needed to celebrate completing the course. A worthy accomplishment making it through without detection or injury. A knot the size of his would hardly be fun getting snagged on thorns.”
Everett chuckles again. “Knowing him, he might actually be into it.”
That has me letting my own huff of laughter. My humor sobers as I say, “And yet, somehow, I still got blamed for your streaking. I wouldn’t have minded if I perhaps could have joined in with a special cock of my own. Might have made it worth it.”
“It always felt like you were on the cusp of having fun, but old Nithard would always find opportunities to ruin the moment right before you’d commit.”
I mimic my father’s staunch tone. “‘The future of Alberad is weighing on your shoulders. Do not disappoint me or your forebearers.’”
Everett’s wistful smile is evident in his voice when he says, “I wish you could start over somewhere without him dictating your whole life.”
“Honestly, that thought has not even had the privilege of entering my mind.”
“But if you could, would you?”
I take a moment to consider that. “Yeah, I think so. I do feel like I have a future in academics, but the thought of seeing other schools and not being limited to Alberad sounds too good to be true.”
“Never say never,” Everett advises.
“Not as long as Nithard Alberad is alive is a better saying perhaps.”
“True.”
There’s a comfortable silence between us, years of friendship lending quiet support and understanding to each other before Everett says brightly, “So, Vegas. When can we expect you two?”
We handle the logistics of the trip and call it a night soon after.
For the first time in weeks, the near-constant pressure sitting on my chest has eased a fraction and I look forward to the morning and telling Florence the good news.
Chapter twenty-two
Florence
The next morning I wake with an extra pep in my step. Something about last night made me hopeful and I’m once again looking forward to my days in the Black Forest. It’s not even fully about the plan to visit Dede, and perhaps get some of my own warm clothes so I’m not constantly wearing Adelbert’s, but it’s like something between Adelbert and myself has shifted.
I enter the kitchen with Sir Purrington like every other morning before. But where I expect to find my daily tea, pastry, and sweater, there’s a rather attractive elf standing with a lightof his own twinkling in his eyes—despite the serious expression on his face.
“Good morning. To what do I owe this surprise?” I ask Adelbert cheerfully, coming to a stop just inside the entryway to the kitchen. I haven’t seen him this early in the morning since my first week here and my heart shuffles its rhythm at the thought of having company for breakfast.
Adelbert leans against the counter behind him, bracing his hands on either side, and says matter-of-factly, “I am certain you have grown tired of your daily pastries, so I am cooking you breakfast. How do you take your omelet?”
For some reason, my eyes snag on his grip on the countertop and travel from his very toned arms up to his shoulders.
Were his shoulders always this broad?
