“Coming with you.”
I smile to myself and lead him through the open doorway to her massive bedroom. There are a few random elves standing around talking, but no Raef or Meela.
“Hmm.”
I make my way through the entry room, then to the bathroom. It’s wide open, and when I peek inside, there’s no one in there.
I turn and look at Daegan, shrugging.
He nods his head toward the front door.
As soon as we emerge into the dimly lit hall, we find Raef standing across the way, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. Meela is standing across from him with her arms crossed.
“I told you not to drink that shit,” I say to him as we approach.
He shrugs, his moody eyes only landing on us for a second.
“I’ve never seen it hit someone so fast…” I muse.
“That’s because you’re always with me when I drink it. And I’m always frowning anyway so you don’t notice the shift,” Meela explains.
I can’t help but laugh at the situation. Raef shoots me an annoyed look that makes me laugh even more. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, trying to stifle my laughter.
Daegan looks like he’s suppressing a smile himself.
“I thought you were the life of the party, huh?” Meela teases him sarcastically.
“I hate it here,” Raef drawls, glancing out the glass window into the dark night. “It’s cold. And you elves are so serious all the time.”
“And you’re never serious,” Meela shoots back.
“And that forest was terrible…” Raef continues, staring out the window more.
Uh oh.
Meela narrows her gaze at him.
“What if we give him some of the pink stuff? Will it counteract it?” Daegan asks, trying to divert the conversation.
“Sometimes it does…” Meela ponders the idea. “It just depends. Could make things worse.”
“I’ll go get it,” Daegan says.
“No, let me,” I say. “You should stay with this one.”
He offers an appreciative nod.
I return inside and grab two pink wines, just in case. Raef is large.
When I return to the hallway, everyone is in the same position I left them in and Raef is mumbling about something.
“…and what’s the point of it all?” Raef grumbles.
I stifle a laugh.
“There is no point,” Meela grunts back.
“Oh not you too,” I sigh.
