“And what if he draws her from the light instead?” Tamsin challenged, ever the analytical tactician.
“Then we must beg the Forest Lord’s help,” she responded. You know that our realm cannot survive without the humans. If Lorsan destroys them, he destroys us all.”
Tamsin nodded in acknowledgment. “We must also hope that he does not realize the importance of Cassie’s role. If he suspects that she represents a threat to his power, then he will kill her, regardless of whether she is Trik’s Chosen.”
Tamsin pulled Syndra into his arms pressing his forehead to hers. His love flowed into her. Even after a millennia together his desire and love for her had only grown. He wasn’t ready to end their long life ; he wasn’t ready to give up any time with his Chosen, especially not for a Dark Elf King’s selfish desires.
~
Trik sat surrounded by the darkness of Cassie’s room. He smiled as he thought about the appalled look on her face when he suggested that she let him sleep next to her…for her protection of course. Protection from what? She had asked. He had grinned his sly smile and told her protection from any who would take his place in her dreams. She had rolled her eyes at him and he had agreed to sleep on the floor. He had never needed much sleep so he had taken up a seat in the corner of her room, on the chair that had sat in front of her desk.
It had taken Cassie a while to fall asleep. She kept telling him to stop staring at her. But she didn’t understand. She didn’t understand that when Trik looked at her, he wasn’t just looking at her physical beauty. He was seeing all the beauty that she brought into his world , all the beauty that he had never known existed. Cassie held his attention as sure as the sun held the devotion of a flower, seeking out her life-giving rays. Even in the dark , he had seen the blush that had stained her beautiful skin. But eventually, exhaustion had taken over. His thoughts drifted back to the pain they had both felt when they had been separated. He had heard of such a thing happening between Chosen pairs, but never had he ever imagined it would feel like that. It made him sick to think that Cassie had endured such pain. It angered him that he could have prevented it if he had denied her request. He should have stayed and forced her to hear him out. Then again , he didn’t imagine his Chosen could be forced to do much.
Trik heard Cassie whimpering softly in her sleep. He went to her and kneeled by her bedside, putting his face level with hers. He gently brushed back the hair that fell like a veil in front of her face. As his fingers brushed her skin she leaned into his touch and she settled. Even in sleep , she knew him.
As he knelt there, captivated by his Chosen, he felt the pull of his King. Lorsan had the ability to call his elves back to him no matter the distance. For the first time in his long life, Trik ignored his Lord’s call.
~
Cassie walked next to Elora through the drab, crowded halls of their high school. Rows and rows of lockers lined the halls, crowding the students as they stopped to retrieve their personal belongings. To any new student, the school might seem interesting, with all the inspirational posters hung on the walls. The posters contained such stirring proverbs as “There is no I in team,” and Cassie’s personal favorite, “Change is inevitable and life changes as swiftly as the wind blows. It’s which direction that you let the wind blow you that matters.” Some student, bound to be indispensable to society, had crossed out the word ‘the’ and then added a ‘Y’ to the end of ‘wind.’ Cassie might not get a quality education at Northpointe High, but she would certainly learn the important lessons in life, like how to smut up an inspirational poster.
As they walked, Cassie kept looking over her shoulder to ensure that Trik was still behind her. He leaned casually against a row of lockers, arms crossed over his chest, looking way too edible for his own good. She was the only one who could see him, and that was a good thing since he was in his Elfin form. He had started out the day in his human guise but she had asked him not to use his glamour around her. She didn’t know how but she had felt a wave of pleasure emanate from Trik when she had made this request.
“Is he still there?” Elora asked as she bit into the bran muffin Cassie’s mom had shoved into Cassie’s hand on the way out the door. Cassie didn’t have the heart to tell her mom that she hated bran, so she continued to accept them and pass them on to Elora.
“Yep,” Cassie answered.
“And he’s just going to follow you around all day?”
“So he says.”
Elora shrugged. “If you need me to remind you not to pick your nose or dig out a wedgie just let me know.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Good to know you have my back.”
Elora raised a single brow. “Somebody has too. I leave you alone for one night and you go and get yourself tied to a dark elf assassin.” She shook her head as she continued to eat her muffin. “Only you, Cassandra. Only you would wind up with the bad boy when really you should be with Mr. All American.”
Both girls jumped when Trik appeared next to them back in his human guise, apparently having decided to allow Elora to see him as well.
“Who is Mr. All American?”
Cassie tried not to look at Trik as she answered. “What?”
“You’re dark friend here seems to think you would be better off with him.” Trik’s indignation and possessiveness at her statement were apparent in both his voice and his glower.
Elora made her famous give me a freaking break face. “Get a grip man, aren’t you some bad ass killer?”
“Yes, please pass that on to this, this All American you are talking about.”
Cassie laughed and quickly covered her mouth.
Trik leveled her with a piercing stare.
“It’s not a real person Trik. It’s a type of guy, you know, like a ‘knight in shining armor’ type.”
“You picked a real winner here, Cass,” said Elora. “I think this guy is one arrow short of a full quiver.”
Trik's head snapped around to Elora. “How did you know I had a quiver?”
This time Cassie couldn’t catch her laughter.
“What are you two laughing at?” Trik growled. “I always keep my quiver full.”
The girls roared, Elora losing her usual stoic composure. “That just sounds so wrong,” she said when she finally caught her breath.