Page 30 of Elves and Espresso

His eyes looked into mine and, for a brief moment, there was hope, almost like he could believe what I said. He reached up to caress my cheek, and I fought the urge to pull away. I had to survive. I had to make this work. This sable held my life in his hands. Leaning closer, he pressed a kiss on my forehead and something between us sizzled to life. My desire to live had been a spark, and now it was a flame.

“I wish I could,” he finally spoke. “For you would be my next choice.” My heart dropped, landing on the forest floor with a thud that echoed from inside my chest.

“If I could cut the string, if you could cut the string, you would be my next choice.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“We’re here.”

We walked another hour after our conversation. Despite the pleading I longed to do, I was silent as there was no more I wanted to say to Nilsorn. His mind was made up, and even when presented with an alternative in me, he was not willing to give in. Despite the fact that a girl who had watched her love be killed before her, who was still willing to marry him, was not enough. It may not have been sacrificing my body, but it had been a form of sacrifice to me.

I scanned the clearing we’d stepped into, then fell on a bed of rocks with moss pressed onto it. “You prepared this area?”

“I did. I’ve also brought things for you to prepare yourself with.” He opened a bag, taking out perfume jars, bags of crushed flower petals, and a long silver gown. “You may begin if you wish.”

I nearly said yes, just to stall for time, but it didn’t matter anymore. I couldn’t return home, not with Nilsorn after me. Aleixo was gone, and I felt numb at the thought of him. There was nothing I could do. I was doomed to die here.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped toward the mossy bed of rocks. I sat down, then faced Nilsorn. “If I am to die, I would rather not prolong the inevitable.”

“Ah, an elf after my own heart.” He took long strides until he stood before me, then gestured for me to lay down.

My heart was beating so fast, I could feel blood roaring in my ears. The bed wasn’t comfortable, despite the moss beneath me, but what could I expect from a bed of rocks? Moss was a poor substitute for downing, and even my mind could not work to make this resting place comfortable.

Nilsorn’s smile grew as he leaned his head closer. “Thank you, Calista.” He sighed over me. “You are giving me a gift greater than you know.”

There were so many words I wanted to say, but I couldn’t gather my wits enough to speak them. I felt like Nilsorn was not the last being I wanted to hear my final words, but here he was, about to be that being.

He raised the knife above me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable stab of death. I heard the whoosh as it flew through the air, I heard the clang of metal on metal, and I wondered if this was what it felt like to bleed out.

There was no pain, no moment of feeling the knife hit where Nilsorn had aimed. It was silent, and then there was a gasp. Was it from me? Had I made such a sound without realizing? Was I now in the process of dying? Would the Realm Guard of Death see me soon, now that the Realm Guard of Life was offering me as a trade?

But nothing happened. Seconds passed like minutes, and I waited as long as I dared before opening my eyes. Nilsorn was above me, this much was true, but he was not alone.

For locked in a duel of death was none other than Aleixo.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

His eyes were not on me as he held his dagger inches above my chest, where he’d stopped Nilsorn’s blade.

Was this a dream? Brought on by the stricken feelings of grief? Had the Realm Guard of Death brought Aleixo as he came to fetch me? Was he collecting both of us?

No, that couldn’t be, because the Realm Guard of Death could only be summoned by death, and judging by the strength displayed before me, Aleixo was very much alive.

He didn’t glance at me, not even once, as he stood facing Nilsorn with fire in his eyes. “Surprised to see me, Realm Guard?” He spoke with pure venom. “Did you think I’d been condemned to death by your hand?”

“What—” Nilsorn sputtered as he continued to push his blade down, forcing the sharpness closer to me. “How are you here?”

“Your little friend found me. Your counterpart,” Aleixo continued to fight the dagger that hovered over me, finally winning out as shock filled Nilsorn. “Didn’t you know? You can’t die in a realm that’s not your own.”

Nilsorn’s face paled as the information filled him. “What do you mean?”

A roll of parchment appeared from Aleixo’s free hand, sprawling out to reach the ground. “According to this fine contract I received upon my disappearance, it’s true. I was also granted immunity, so you can’t sense me.”

Nilsorn ripped the paper from Aleixo’s hands, his eyes moving quickly as he read the words, his hand shaking as it still held the dagger. “But this…this says nothing.”

“Read the fine print.”

“I am.”