The bellover the door gave its final chime as Rezer disappeared into the night.Lisa stood frozen for several seconds, staring at the empty space where he’d been, trying to decide whether to scream, laugh, or maybe just close up shop and pretend today had never happened.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered, dragging a hand down her face.“Absolutely unbelievable.Apparently I’ve managed to intrigue a tall, brooding elf with boundary issues.Great.”
She turned the sign on the door toClosedand began flipping off lights, the soft click of switches echoing in the quiet.For one blissful moment, she thought she might actually make it to the back room and collapse into her chair in peace.
“Rough day, darling?”
Lisa froze mid-step.“Syndra,” she sighed.“I don’t think I have the energy for your brand of crazy right now.”
The air shimmered, and there she was—the former Light Elf queen, radiant and amused, leaning casually against a shelf of crystal pendants.Her silvery hair glowed faintly in the dim shop light, her eyes full of far too much mischief for Lisa’s current level of patience.
“I’m not kidding,” Lisa said dryly.“I’m exhausted from dealing with two males who might have a pissing match over me.”
Syndra grinned, entirely unrepentant.“That’s both interesting and gross at the same time.”
Lisa crossed her arms, one eyebrow arching.“You are so disturbed.Is it the age thing?Does living so long just eventually make you crazy and weird?”
Syndra drifted closer, studying her with unnerving precision.“You’re flushed.And I can practically taste the tension in the air.Did our elusive dark elf rock your peaceful world?”
Lisa blinked at her.“You really don’t waste time, do you?”
She waved a hand while making an annoyed sound.“Time is irrelevant when you live for so many lifetimes, and it makes a person crazy, as you pointed out.I’m just impatient.Now, details.Don’t make me guess.”
Lisa groaned, pressing her palms to the counter.“Fine.Quick summary, because I’m officially done for the day.Bachelor number one—the human and former dark elf employed, showed up, as he usually does on a Thursday afternoon.His usually flirty grin in place and scones in hand.Bachelor number two, the dark elf with a questionable background and too much confidence—sat in my sitting area all.Damn.Day.And then proceeded to goad Tony as much as possible until I finally asked one of them to leave.”
Syndra’s eyes lit up.“You asked only one?The plot thickens.”
Lisa gave her a flat look.“It’s not a plot, Syndra.It’s two headaches with egos too big for my small shop.”
The elf queen tilted her head, smiling faintly.“And yet you’re blushing.”
“I’moverheated,” Lisa said firmly.“From stress.And from standing too close to six feet of bad decisions wrapped in dark leather.”
Syndra laughed, the sound light and musical.“Oh, Lisa.You do know how to pick them.”
“I didn’tpickhim,” Lisa shot back.“He just ...appeared.Like a magical fungus.One that smirks too much.”
Syndra made a show of examining her nails.“And according to him, he’s coming back tomorrow?”
Lisa hesitated, then groaned again.“Apparently.Because why not?The saga of my life continues tomorrow, same time, same place.Bachelor number two, the mysterious dark elf, will return for another round of emotional torment.I’m sure it’ll be riveting.”
Syndra’s grin widened.“Oh, I’m certain it will be.And I’ll be here for all of it.Don’t worry, I’ll bring popcorn.”
Lisa pointed at her.“Don’t you dare.It leaves behind an after smell that doesn’t go away for days and doesn’t blend well with my herbs.”
The elf merely winked, utterly unbothered.“Sleep well, dear heart.Tomorrow promises to be ...illuminating.”
Before Lisa could reply, the air shimmered again, and Syndra vanished, leaving only the faint scent of jasmine and amusement behind.
Lisa stared at the empty space for a long moment, then as she turned off the final light and locked the door, muttered, “I need new friends.”
CHAPTER3
“A distraction I can’t afford.”~ Trik
The palace slept, wrapped in velvet silence, but the forest beyond did not.Nor did its king.Triktapic stood at the wide window of his study, arms folded behind his back, his gaze drawn to the wild forests of the Elfin realm.Moonlight cut through the ancient canopy, painting restless shadows on the polished stone floor.The trees whispered secrets, but Trik couldn’t discern what they were saying, just that they were uneasy.He felt it in his bones, in the low hum that vibrated through the roots and boughs, a warning older than any current language.
Behind him, the Book of the Elves sprawled open on the carved table, its light flickering like a candle in a draft.The magic that used to pulse steady and sure had gone discordant, a heartbeat that jumped and stuttered, leaving the air tinged with unease.Trik could feel it pressing against his skin, tugging at the edges of his mind, insistent and wrong.
