“We will protect the king at all cost,” he told her.
She rolled her eyes. “Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” she grumbled under her breath.
“All the elves will be fine, Elora,” Tamsin told her, implication thick in his tone as he nudged her forward to follow the others.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He chuckled behind her. “Just keep telling yourself that if you must.”
Elora glanced around her mother’s shoulder as she made her way into the dim hallway. She caught sight of Cush and felt herself breathe a tad easier.
Holy crap, she thought to herself. I have a crush on an elf. That’s not something a girl admits to everyday. She didn’t know when it had happened, but she knew that it was not good, not good at all.
Lorsan paced his study as he waited for Melda, the she elf that had at one time been in charge of Cassie’s care, to arrive. He knew that she had grown fond of the human and had even helped Trik get her back. She would be punished for that. He smiled to himself, and what better way to punish her than to have her betray her new friend, he thought smugly.
He heard a knock at the door and readied himself for the performance he was about to give.
“ Enter,” he called so she would hear him through the thick door.
Melda walked in with her head down and he could see the slight tremble of her hands as she clasped them in front of her. It was obvious that she thought he was going to punish her. He tried not to chuckle at her pathetic demeanor. After all, he knew it was really an act. Anyone bold enough to defy him and assist his enemy was not really so docile.
“Melda,” he purred her name. Her head snapped up and her eyes widened, obviously surprised at the sound of his voice, “I’ve been watching you.”
“ My liege,” she said with a convincing amount of apprehension.
“ You did a good job taking care of Cassandra, and even though I am disappointed that you let her get away, I find myself fascinated with your tenacity and willfulness.”
Her eyes grew even wider.
Lorsan stalked towards her, slowly looking her over, his interest as plain-as-day on his face. She wasn’t an ugly she-elf, but he had a Chosen with incomparable beauty. So convincing Melda of his interest in order to get the compliance he wanted might be tricky. But he was sure he was up to the task. What woman wouldn’t want to be with a king?
“I find myself in need of a distraction during these trying times, with war knocking on my door and my Chosen constantly nagging me about this and that. I need a woman who will just listen to me and meet certain needs. You see a man of my status has needs, Melda, and well a woman like you…,” he motioned to her feminine form with desire dancing in his eyes, “could definitely meet those needs.”
She swallowed and he could see it was with great difficulty. Her hands we now clasped so tight that her knuckles had gone white and her eyes were the size of saucers.
“Now, what I think is important for you to know is that there is a war coming, and there will be many deaths, but those who are closest to me, those,” he paused dramatically, “who help me, will have the full weight of my protection. Who knows what kind of horrible death Triktapic has planned for the dark elves. Even though you helped him, you are still a dark elf, my dear, and will be subject to his wrath if he should make it this far.” He could tell that she was really beginning to think about what he was saying, beginning to understand that he could keep her alive. If Lorsan knew anything about his dark elves it was that above all else, survival was their instinct. They would do what they had to to survive.
“What would you have me do, my king?” she finally asked after several minutes of silence.
He smiled as he stepped up in front of her and ran a thumb across her lips. “I’m glad you’re seeing things my way.”
Chapter 1
“Have you ever noticed that something as smooth as milk slides down your throat easily but can cause lots of backups on the opposite end? Yeah, well think of our escape as milk. It started out smooth but then the exit got very backed up.”
~Elora
Elora crept up silently to stand beside Cassie. The light-elf warriors were scouting out ahead of them in the murky tunnels of the dungeon, ensuring the way was clear. Elora was amazed at how silently they moved, especially as large and as muscular as they were. She found herself feeling like a sloppy toddler floundering around in the dark by comparison.
“So how’d you get to us so quickly?” she asked her best friend.
Cassie cast her a quick glance. “Quickly?” she asked with a snort. “It took us three days. How can you possibly think that was quick?”
“Did you find my dead, decaying body rotting in the dungeon after months of capture, beatings, and torture?” Elora whispered.
“No.”
“Then that is how I think three days is quick.”
Cassie gave a quick nod. “Okay, I see your point.”
“Honestly, El, it was all way too easy. Well, at first all the ways into the dark-elf realm seemed to be blocked to Trik. Then we tried to go in through his cabin, but we couldn’t get more than twenty feet away and we started going in circles. Finally, Syndra told us to try Sanctuary. It was one of those moments when you’re like damn why didn’t I think of that.”
“Hate those,” Elora quipped.
“I know, right?” Cassie crouched down and Elora lowered herself as well, balancing against the slick walls.
“So then Trik just walked through a mirror into Sanctuary and we walked straight here. He knocked out a few dark elves along the way, and then bam, we were standing in front of your cell.”
“You’re right; something is not kosher with this rescue mission. Ours didn’t go nearly as smooth.”
“Really?” Cassie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Cause I thought the whole getting caught thing must have been part of your plan.”
Elora narrowed her eyes. “Who flipped your bitch switch?”
Cassie quickly covered her mouth before the laugh could escape. “I like that one,” she whispered.
Elora rolled her eyes. “You’re still easily amused I see.”
Lisa stepped up beside them just then and leaned forward into their space. “What’s so funny?”
“Bitch switch,” Elora answered dryly which brought another laugh from Cassie.