Page 85 of Protected By the Elf Prince

Razor leaned against the bar with Deacon, Nox, Soren, Spade, and Coms. They were all talking quietly among themselves.

Though, the moment the portal closed behind us, every conversation stopped, and then every head turned. For half a heartbeat, complete silence settled over the room, but then Riker squealed.

“Oh my God!” The fox shifter launched himself out of the chair and rushed our way before he wrapped both Dashiel and me in an enthusiastic hug. “Congratulations!”

I blinked. “On what?”

Riker bounced on the spot. “You completed the bond.”

I looked at Dashiel, who was smugly staring down at Riker, before I asked the shifter, “How do you know?”

Riker grinned so widely, I thought his face might split. He tapped the end of his nose proudly. “Shifters can smell it.” He pointed dramatically between us. “You two absolutely reek of each other.”

Heat immediately climbed into my cheeks. “Oh.”

Riker nodded enthusiastically before clapping. “This is awesome. Our family is getting so big.”

Razor wandered over, slipping an arm around his mate’s waist. “He told me he’d be able to smell the bond, but I did tell him to wait to announce it.”

“I did wait.”

“All of five seconds.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “It’s fine.”

Monkey stopped directly in front of me with a smile, but he was also studying my face. “It’s true, then?”

“Yeah. Dashiel and I completed the bond.”

Monkey’s smile grew. “Congrats, old man.” He pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear, “You look so fuckin’ happy, Pops. It’s good to see.”

My heart thumped, and I hugged him tighter. “Love you, kid.”

“You too.” His voice sounded thick with emotion, but he pushed me back, patted my shoulder, and turned to Dashiel. “Take care of him.”

Dashiel didn’t hesitate—he tipped his chin down and replied, “I shall.”

The certainty in his voice left no room for doubt.

Monkey nodded once. “I know you will.”

The others began gathering around us.

Rio hugged me first. “I’m so happy for you.”

Then Kieran added, “Welcome to the weird club.”

Laughing, I grinned. “Glad to be a part of it.”

Spade moved up, grinning, before saying to Dashiel, “You’ve got yourself a good one.”

My elf beamed and nodded. “I know.”

Soren smiled softly beside his mate. “We’re pleased everything worked out.”

I nodded. “Thanks. Me too.”

Deacon tipped his chin up at me and then shook Dashiel’s hand, telling him something. Nox did the same. Neither of them wanted to touch me out of respect for Dashiel.