Page 45 of Protected By the Elf Prince

Martin nodded toward his office. “This won’t take long.”

I grabbed my phone before following him. When I stepped through the doorway, I looked straight out his large windows, wondering if Dashiel was waiting downstairs.

The door clicked shut behind us, which seemed louder than normal.

God, I was overreacting and expecting something nefarious to happen. Shaking my head, I watched as Martin moved around his desk and sat.

Martin smiled again, but it was still forced and wrong. “Landon, I wanted to discuss your future here.”

That caught my attention. “My future?”

He hummed. “You’re doing good work.”

My stomach tightened when I saw the nervous look in his eyes.

Why was he nervous?

“I appreciate that,” I said slowly.

Martin nodded before he glanced off to the side of the office. The movement was quick. But I noticed.

“What exactly⁠—”

Strong arms locked around my chest.

A cloth slammed over my mouth and nose.

Panic detonated instantly.

I struggled and screamed as a sharp chemical smell flooded my senses.

My heart lurched violently.

I thrashed.

Kicked.

Fought.

My phone crashed to the floor.

Martin stood, waiting and watching, and the realization hit harder than the chemical.

He’d known.

He’d planned this.

Betrayal slammed into me.

I struggled harder.

The cloth remained pressed tightly against my face.

My lungs burned.

My vision blurred.

“No!” The word came out muffled and weak.