Page 18 of Protected By the Elf Prince

I barely noticed, though, because the female laughed softly and allowed her hand to slide higher.

Mine.

The thought crashed through me violently.

The magic beneath my skin stirred restlessly in response, heat gathering rapidly in my palms.

I could destroy this place with one thought. One moment of lost control.

The alcohol lining the shelves behind the counter would ignite instantly. Flames would climb the walls before any human inside understood what was happening.

And all because a female dared touch what Fate had given me.

Revulsion hit me almost as quickly as the fury.

Not at Landon.

Never him.

But it was for myself.

I closed my eyes briefly and forced a measured breath through my lungs and grasped at the control I knew I held. I had spent many centuries mastering my emotions, my magic, and instincts.

Yet this human male—this kind, stubborn, confused accountant—had unraveled more restraint from me in mere days than most beings managed in decades.

It was both terrifying and exhilarating.

When I opened my eyes again, Landon was rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly while the female continued speaking.

It was then I realized he looked uncomfortable. There was no interest in his gaze, which meant he was merely being polite.

Relief swept through me so abruptly, it nearly weakened my knees.

Still… the female touched him again, which had my jaw tightening.

“You are handling this poorly,” I muttered under my breath.

A passing human glanced vaguely in my direction before immediately looking away again, the glamour ensuring nothing about me lingered in their thoughts.

Humans fascinated me.

Fragile creatures, physically weaker than most supernatural beings, yet remarkably adaptable. Their minds constantly sought comfort and familiarity.

The glamour used that instinct.

No human here saw my pointed ears.

None recognized the dangerous amount of power standing quietly in the shadows among them.

They saw only another tall man. A human. Someone who was safe.

The irony of that nearly made me laugh because I had never felt less safe in my life.

This fury was so much more powerful than what I had felt when rival courts attempted assassinations against my father, or during my first century, when I had struggled to control my element ability that was stronger than most elves possessed.

The female leaned closer again, and I had to lock down the instinct to set her ablaze. Thankfully, Landon just blinked at her and said something that had her lips thinning briefly.

I could not hear the exact words over the music, but whatever it was had the female pausing before laughing lightly. She patted his arm one final time before standing and walking away.