Page 38 of Protected By the Elf Prince

The distinction mattered a lot, as this didn’t feel broad or confusing anymore.

It felt focused and tied to the elf currently looking at me like I was the most important person in the room.

Which… yeah, knowing that he felt that way was doing things to me too.

“I’m fine,” I said finally.

A faint smile touched his mouth. “You are a poor liar.”

“That’s kind of rude,” I said, but I did so with a smile. I waved toward the couch. “We should probably sit down before I fall down. I haven’t had much sleep the past few days.”

“I could leave so you can retire to bed.”

“No,” I blurted too fast. His smile had my pulse racing. I cleared my throat. “You can stay for a bit longer. But if I fall asleep, it’s not because I found you boring.”

His soft laugh caressed my ears.

Dear God. I seriously was in trouble here. I was also way out of my element.

It had to be the bond. Even though it wasn’t completed yet, maybe it still helped me see something in Dashiel that I never would have with any other guy.

And yet, I couldn’t find it in myself to care if it was because of some magic Fate had placed on us.

I dropped onto one end of the couch while Dashiel settled beside me with an effortless kind of elegance that made me suddenly aware of how large he actually was.

To distract myself so I wouldn’t stare at how tall and broad and close he was, I grabbed the remote and turned on the television.

Some random cooking show appeared on the screen, but neither of us paid much attention to it.

For a few moments, silence settled comfortably between us.

Until curiosity got the better of me.

“So,” I asked, glancing sideways at him, “what do you actually like doing?”

Dashiel turned slightly toward me. “Doing?”

“Yeah. Hobbies. Interests. Ancient elf activities.”

His eyes crinkled in the corner in amusement. “You believe all elves are ancient?”

“You remember a time before electricity,” I pointed out.

“That is fair.”

I snorted softly.

Dashiel considered the question seriously before he answered, “I enjoy reading and sword training. Strategy games.”

I blinked. “You know how to use swords?”

“Yes.”

“Of course you do,” I muttered. “Why wouldn’t the magical fire elf also know weapons?”

His soft laugh curled through me again.

God.