Page 37 of The Nixie and the Frost Elf

The figure moves into a shaft of moonlight, revealing a woman with purple hair. For a moment I think she's drunk, but it soon becomes clear that it's more than that. She's sleepwalking. "Should we wake her up?" I ask Edur.

"I don't know," Edur responds. "Are you supposed to wake up someone who is probably sleepwalking with magic?"

"No idea." I look over to where the pale woman with bright purple hair is wandering through the courtyard. "Maybe it's not magic-induced."

Even as I say the words, the colour starts to leach out of her hair until it's a shimmering silver-white. That's not going to happen by accident, that means magic is involved.

"Do you know what she is?" I ask Edur.

He shakes his head. "Maybe a banshee? I know they have silver hair, but I'm not sure about the sleepwalking."

I grimace. "Whatever she is, it's not going to be fun for her."

"No, probably not."

"Maybe we should wake her up." I'm about to step forward when someone appears from the shadows and approaches her. I recognise him from one of my classes, but I can't remember which one. From the way she responds when she breaks free of sleep, she's not against the interruption from us.

"I guess we're not needed," Edur says.

"No, apparently not."

"This is what I get for planning a date in a public part of the academy," he jokes.

"What were the chances of anyone actually coming across us?" I respond.

"Very true. I really didn't expect that."

"I doubt sleepwalking banshees are part of anyone's date plans," I joke.

Edur laughs. "True. But maybe we can focus on our actual date plans now that she's awake and with someone she knows."

"There's nothing I'd like more." I take his hand and turn to face him, enjoying the look of adoration on his face. It's just one more thing that makes me look forward to all of the future dates we're going to have, and all of the things we're going to discover together. I no longer want to run away, now I want more than anything to stay by his side.

Epilogue

Lexi

I tilt my neck to the side so I can see my gills better in my reflection, and carefully rub them with a special water-based lotion in order to keep them from drying out. I've had to deal with cracked gills before, and it's not pleasant, so I take better care of them now, especially when I'm out of the water for most of the time. Maybe I should make more of an effort to go down to the moat.

My handheld mirror lights up and I set the tub of lotion down so I can check it, not at all surprised to see it's a message from Edur saying that he's leaving his flat and will be with me in about ten minutes. I wish our flats were closer together, but luck of the draw means that they're not.

I type a quick message back and finish applying the lotion to my gills before giving myself a once over. Almost all of my nerves over dating Edur are gone, the time we've spent together, and the thoughtfulness he's shown to me, making it easy to relax and feel like I can be me, even in my most vulnerable moments.

The door to my room opens, and for one moment, I believe that it's Edur coming in, even though that doesn't make sense.

"Ooh, are you going on a date?" Marnie asks, leaning back against the door.

"Yes," I respond.

"Is he picking you up here? Does this mean I get to finally meet your frost elf for a second time?"

I roll my eyes. "He's been here several times. It's not my fault you weren't in," I respond to my friend.

"Fair. I was actually coming to ask if you wanted to go for a swim, but I'm going to assume that the answer is no."

I nod. "Maybe tomorrow?"

"Sure. I heard that Ianthe is planning on having a party tomorrow night."