Cassie raised a single brow at Lisa. “Really, because the death looks they gave me before chasing after me wasn’t a clue at all.”
“Well, don’t you want to know why they were chasing you,” asked Lisa.
“I guess that would be useful information to know.”
“It’s against Elfin law for a human to ever see an elf in its true form. My family has known of them for generations. I’ve known of the Elfin my whole life, and even have a close Elfin friend named Syndra. None of us—not one—has ever seen them in their natural form.
“What does that mean, exactly, that I’m not allowed to see them?” Cassie asked nervously.
“Unfortunately, Elfin law states that if a human has seen one in their true form, then the human is marked to die. Even the light elves, who are supposed to be the good guys by the way, stick to that rule. So essentially…”
“Your ass is grass,” Elora said absently as she nonchalantly flipped through a magazine as if they weren’t discussing her best friend’s imminent demise.
“Again, thank you, Elora, for the overflowing empathy,” Cassie said matching her friend’s dry tone. “Okay so let’s say that I believe you, what do I do?”
“I will speak with Syndra and see if there is some loophole that I don’t know about. Maybe there is a way to petition the Light Elf King.”
“So we are going to basically beg for them to let me live even though I know their little secret?”
“Pretty much,” Lisa said nodding her head.
“You two are just little rainbows of positivity, you know it?” Cassie said sarcastically.
Lisa laughed. “Meanwhile, you need to see what Trik wants with you. He is a dark elf, Cassie. No, no, he is the dark elf. He isn’t one to be trifled with.”
“Yes because I make it a habit to trifle with dark elves,” Cassie snorted. “Sorry, Lisa. I’m not trying to be a butthead; I’m just a little overwhelmed.”
“Understandable,” Lisa said as she patted Cassie’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out, alright?”
“Did you know my dad’s company was owned by the elves?” Cassie asked Lisa.
“Yes, but we aren’t allowed to reveal that we know about the Elfin, which is why Elora has never told you that she knew about them.”
“Are you going to be in trouble?” Cassie asked her.
Lisa shook her head. “I don’t think so. After all, we didn’t reveal them to you; it was Tamsin’s fault.”
“Who is Tamsin?” Cassie asked apprehensively, not sure if she really wanted to know.
“He’s the Light Elf King. I imagine he was probably one of the one’s you saw in the conference room.”
Cassie stood as she blew out a deep breath. “I think I need to head home and stick my head in the ground. Hopefully when I finally emerge maybe the elves will have forgotten about me.”
“If you are on Trik or Tamsin’s radars, I imagine they aren’t likely to forget about you,” Elora told her friend.
“Okay, you are not allowed to speak anymore,” Cassie pointed a finger at Elora. “Take me home please and keep your happy thoughts to yourself.”
Chapter 4
“I’m scared, I won’t lie about that. But I can’t deny that a part of me—a part way, way, way, waaaayyyy deep down inside is slightly excited about the elves. Okay, and about Trik. Excited about some elves that want to wipe my existence from the face of the earth? Apparently, I’m a glutton for tragic endings. Who knew?” ~ Diary of Cassie Tate
“Should I come back later?”
Cassie jumped when she heard the deep voice behind her, letting out a completely undignified squeal. At the same time, she jerked the shirt back down that she had begun to lift up to pull over her head. Her hand went to the place over her heart as if to hold it in while it tried to beat out of her chest.
“How, what, where…” her words quickly tumbled out as she shook her head and tried to process how the handsome man had suddenly appeared in her room.
“Your mirror,” Trik said in explanation to her unasked question as he pointed to the mirror above her dresser.
“What about it?” Cassie asked, finally finding her words.
“It’s how I got into your room. That’s what you were asking right? How did I get into your room?” Trik crossed his arms as he leaned back against the wall behind him.
Cassie stared at him. She noted to herself that she must be seeing him in his human form at the moment.
“I was trying to be gentlemanly by announcing myself,” he said. “Though now that I consider the situation, it would have been much more to my enjoyment to let you finish what you were doing.” He continued with a smirk.
“That would have been rude,” Cassie told him as she took an unconscious step towards him. She was drawn to him. Something in her longed to be close to him and she could no more turn away from him than she could separate her soul from her body.
“Why are you here?” She asked him.
Trik pushed off the wall and prowled towards her. Her breath quickened as she saw his eyes begin to turn from grey to silver. She watched in awe as his shoulder length hair extended before her very eyes, becoming so dark as to appear tinted purple. His skin became more bronzed and the beauty that was already painful to look at became even more pronounced. She lost her breath as she took him in.
“Wh-wh-what are you?” She stuttered breathlessly.
“I think you know,” he told her softly as he came to stand mere inches from her.
He reached up and brushed away a few wispy strands of blonde hair that had escaped her ponytail. Cassie tried to remember to breathe as she looked up into his handsome face.
“How can you be an elf? How is that even possible?”
“How can you be mine? How is that possible?” He leaned forward and placed his forehead against hers.
Cassie’s breath caught as she felt something pass between them. It was like her spirit was joining with his. She could feel something deep inside her flowing from her body to his.
“What’s happening?” She whispered as her eyes closed giving herself over to the sensation.
“You are my Chosen.” Trik answered.
“What does that mean? Chosen what?” She asked breathlessly.