Page 5 of Enticing the Elf
The reminder that Dáithí’s too good for me isn’t what I wanted to hear, but it’s somehow comforting. Hedoeshave other options. He’s cute and clever, and everyone who wanders into his orbit falls under the spell of his charm. It’s impossible not to like Dáithí, and I know he gets hit on all the time.
My bruised heart picks itself up and prepares to go another round. “That’s true. It doesn’t help much, but it’s true.”
“Hmm.” Hagen leans his hip against my desk. I’m just glad he’s not sitting on it again. “Interesting. He doesn’t want to be single or date other people— Wait. You’re exclusive, right? I just assumed…”
I press my hand to the bottom of my ribs, where it feels like some kind of fire monster is trying to claw its way out. The thought of Dáithí with someone else is horrendous. “We’re exclusive.” It’s something we agreed on from the outset, that neither of us would see other people without letting the other know. Dáithí suggested it in response to the first time I asked if we were officially together. Not what I’d thought he was going to say.
“Okay, so if he’s been committed to not seeing other people for over a year, why won’t he commit to being officially with you? That doesn’t make sense.” He shakes his head. “There’s more going on.”
Since this whole conversation hasn’t done anything to change the situation buthassucceeded in not just reminding me how shitty I feel about the whole thing but also making my personal life fodder for gossip among my subordinates—not to mention pity. Gotta love when the people you manage feel sorry for you—I’m pretty much ready to have done with it all.
“Whatever’s going on, I’ll deal with it. In the meantime, we all have work to do, so it’s time for you to go.” I put all the authority of my job into my voice. It doesn’t work all that well on Hagen, since he doesn’t report to me and also used to be my roommate. If I couldn’t make him leave my stuff alone, there’s no way he’ll abandon a juicy puzzle about someone’s love life. He lives for stuff like this.
“Don’t worry,” he assures me. “We’ll fix this. Get ready to wave your situationship goodbye and say hello to commitment!”
What a disturbing promise. My gaze tracks him out to the hallway, and horror floods me at the sight of King Raðulfr standing in his office doorway, Brandt beside him, both of them clearly having overheard what Hagen said. The king looks mildly sympathetic—he knows a bit about the issue, since it’s hard to resist when my species leader offers a listening ear—but Brandt’s expression is pure, avid curiosity.
Sighing, I get up and go to intercept. The king’s office is a more private place for this conversation than the security office or the hallway.
“You’re in a situationship?” Brandt asks before I even reach them. “And do you want to keep it or not?”
The king rolls his eyes. “Inside,” he orders, tugging Brandt away from the door so I can join them. I wait until the door is firmly closed before answering.
“Dáithí has some concerns about a committed relationship with me,” I say simply. “I’m trying to convince him that I’m a good bet. That’s all. Except that I think we’d both prefer not to be office gossip.”
The king winces, and Brandt waves that off dismissively. “Too late. Everyone knows something’s going on with you two. I hadn’t heard that Dáithí has cold feet, though. The rumors all suggest that you’re the one holding back.”
“Fuck,” I whisper, then remember who I’m talking to. “I beg your pardon, I?—”
“No, fuck sums it up pretty well,” Brandt agrees, and the king nods.
“It does. I’m so sorry, Eoin. I hadn’t heard that particular rumor, or I would have made you aware.”
Brandt turns on him. “You mean you knew about this?”
“Eoin confided some of his concerns to me, yes. And I kept them to myself, because that’s the respectful thing to do.” His tone is heavy with meaning.
Sighing, Brandt says, “Yeah, yeah. I can keep a secret.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Although… now that I know the truth, I could be helpful. Dáithí’s never been a commitment-shy person. Why would he suddenly become one with you?”
Does everyone in this building want to rub salt in that particular wound?
“That’s a question that haunts my nightmares. Please don’t try to help. This is something Dáithí and I will sort out in our own time.” I hope.
And if not, then I’ll just be his situationship for as long as he’ll have me.
CHAPTER THREE
Dáithí
“No.”I don’t even bother to glare at the miscreant who dares to ask a favor of me after such a vile insult.
“Please, Dáithí,” Niamh begs. “I’m sorry. You know I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it—I don’t think that way! But I was?—”
“Excuses aren’t welcome here,” I say icily. “If you’ll step out of the way, there are people waiting.”
Her face screws up in frustration, but she steps aside, probably not willing to risk annoying me any further. I’ll forgive her eventually, but we elves live a very long time, so that’s not likely to help with her current problem.
The elf who was waiting behind her has a wary expression on his face. I don’t recognize him, and I know everyone who works here, so he’s probably questioning our professionalism. That’s how I know he’s never had to work on reception before—if he had, he’d recognize that I’m just doing what I must to keep the office running. We receptionists are a rare combination of protector, assistant, and parent.
