Page 27 of Elves and Espresso

“If you let him live, I will come willingly.”

“I’m listening…” His foot tapped impatiently.

“I will willingly become your bride,” I rushed on. “I will do whatever you ask without question. I will comply.”

“Calista, no,” Aleixo gasped. “Do not make such promises for me.”

I couldn’t face him as I spoke the words. I couldn’t even stand to hear him speak. “Whatever you need, I will dedicate my life to your happiness, only if you let him live.”

Aleixo was still behind me, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me back toward him, trapping me in his embrace. “No,” he whispered in my ear. “I would rather die than have you commit promises to such a creature.”

“I’m sorry,” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to watch you die.” His chest was against my back and his lips were on my cheek as he pressed a kiss against it. I could feel his face wet with tears as I shoved away from him to stand firm in my promises.

“You said you wanted me as a bride and the human was an afterthought. You can free him and have me.”

Nilsorn pondered my words, tapping his fingers under his chin with pursed lips. “You make a very tempting offer, Calista.”

I hated the way my name sounded on his lips. It was as though a nightmare of my childhood had taken physical form and was haunting me in my waking hours.

“I suppose I don’t really need to kill him…”

I felt my body relax and the words poured out of me. “Yes, yes! Thank you! I will do all you ask, I will—”

Nilsorn let out a laugh before pointing in Aleixo’s direction. “But I do hate to be predictable.” His voice cut right through me as I watched Aleixo vanish before my very eyes.

“No!” I screamed as every part of me broke into pieces. “No, you can’t!” I collapsed to the ground in a heap of sobs as he disappeared completely, the last view of Aleixo being his sad smile as he faded out of being, his final words ending in an echo.

“Goodnight for now, Calista.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

“You know, I’ve never actually had the chance to do that. It truly is so dull being a Realm Guard. This is the most fun I’ve had in ages.” He spoke with delight as he grabbed my arm and pulled me deeper into the forest. “I’ve never had the opportunity to kill anyone. Oh, I should have liked to, but you know… Can’t just do it whenever I please. I’ve got to really mean it.”

Aleixo was gone. He was well and truly gone. My body had lost every desire to fight, and all I could do was stumble after Nilsorn in a grief-filled stupor as I poured my energy into breathing.

“Come along, Calista, we have a binding ceremony to attend.”

“But…but…” I sputtered. “The laws of mourning are clear. I must abide by them for at least six months.”

“It wasn’t as though anyone witnessed his death. It doesn’t really count.”

“It counted to me,” I whispered.

“You will get over this little crush you had in time, and one day, it will pale in comparison to what you’ll experience. Trust me. He’s of no consequence, no value.” His voice had an edge that shouldn’t be questioned, but something in me still wanted to make my point. I wanted to honour everything Aleixo had been to me, despite the short time we had spent together.

“It wasn’t a little crush. I love him…loved… I found value in him.”

“His own realm rejected him, and you are just a silly love-struck girl, blinded by delusions of adoration,” Nilsorn snapped with venom as he stopped abruptly, and I crashed into him.

“Recognizing his value doesn’t make me silly or blind!” I fought back. “However, devaluing him and making him out to be worthless does make you the villain of his story…of our story!”

He yanked me closer to him, and I felt my body shiver with fear once more. “Listen here, you stupid elf. If I didn’t need you so badly right now, I would have ended you long ago, just for attempting to run from me. But since I have need of you, you’ll remain alive. One more word out of your mouth that is contrary to my demands, and you’ll be sorry.”

“I already am sorry, although for many more things than you’d imagine,” I whispered, staring into his eyes. There was a flash of surprise, and I fell to the ground as he released me. “If you knew what love felt like…”

“If I knew?” he spat out bitterly, his honey sweet voice long gone. “Love is exactly why I’ve been on this quest.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. Surely… Surely, Nilsorn, the great and grand realm guard, hadn’t fallen for an elf. Surely, he hadn’t fallen for me.