Page 33 of Protected By the Elf Prince

“What the fuck?” he repeated faintly.

Landon dragged a hand over his face. “You know that’s my son,” he told me slowly, like speaking to someone potentially unstable. “Not an intruder.”

“I am aware of that now.”

Monkey pointed at me. “He was about to murder me!”

“I was about to protect my fated mate.”

Monkey blinked rapidly.

Landon muttered, “Jesus Christ.” But he seemed calmer now.

“I would not have harmed him once I recognized him,” I reassured him.

Monkey looked unconvinced. “That’s somehow not comfortin’.”

I forced myself to relax fully. “My apologies,” I repeated sincerely. “Your entrance startled me.”

Monkey snorted. “Buddy, you’re the one standin’ in the kitchen like some deadly elf assassin.”

“That is fair.”

To my surprise, Monkey barked out a short laugh.

Landon looked between us both like he regretted every decision leading to this moment. “I leave the room for five minutes,” he muttered.

Monkey snorted. “You probably shouldn’t leave him alone again. Never know what he’ll get up to next,” Monkey advised solemnly.

Landon pointed at him immediately. “You’re not helping.”

Monkey grinned. “I think I’m helpin’ a lot.”

“You absolutely are not.” Despite the exasperation in Landon’s voice, warmth lingered beneath it.

Watching them together stirred something unexpectedly soft within me.

“So,” Monkey drew out. “You about to cook?”

Landon narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “I’m sure you’ve already had something at the compound, didn’t you?”

His son rolled his eyes. “Maybe.”

“Monkey.”

“What?” He shrugged innocently. “You make good food.”

Landon sighed heavily before looking toward me, then back at his son. He sighed once more. “Fine. You may as well stay for dinner.”

Monkey’s expression brightened instantly. “Wicked. I’ll keep an eye on the elf, and if he tries to set somethin’ on fire, I’ll kick him out.”

“I do not believe you possess the authority to remove me from my own fated mate’s home,” I said before thinking.

Silence met me.

Monkey’s mouth dropped open, and Landon stared at me in horror.

I immediately realized my mistake. “My apologies,” I said quickly. “That sounded significantly more possessive aloud than it did in my head.”