Page 5 of Elves and Espresso

“Do you have any idea what you have done?” The words finally fell from my lips, and Aleixo turned to me in confusion. Of course, he didn’t; he wasn’t from here, and he didn’t know our customs. And yet, he had just changed his entire fate…both of our fates.

“Father, wait!” I called after him, but before I knew it, he was running back in, the silver ball in his hand. “Please, stop.”

“We can’t stop now, Java! This young man has inquired about your silver ball. We never thought this day would come.” Father wasn’t even going to look into what kind of man this was? Was he so eager and desperate to have me married off that he would just send me with the next man who came along? Those thoughts stung more than I wanted to acknowledge.

“I have no money, sir,” Aleixo cut in as Father moved to offer him the silver ball.

“No, no.” Father laughed. “Why, you’re a joking man, aren’t you? I would never dream of accepting payment. This is your payment.”

“My payment? Wow! This really is such a lovely town.” He reached out to take the ball, and I lunged forward to intervene.

“Don’t take it!” I cried out, shocked he would accept something like this from a stranger.

But it was too late.

Sparks flew everywhere as the silver ball met his hand, and a silver chain shot out in my direction, wrapping around my wrist before disappearing before our eyes.

We were bound, well and truly bound to one another.

My eyes flashed as I raised them to meet his. “What have you done?”

He looked at me, panic filling his gaze as he attempted to pass the silver ball back to me. “I don’t know. I’m sorry!”

Father hadn’t noticed the sheer and utter shock that circled the three of us, but before I could open my mouth—and just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse—a dark shadow passed over the front window. The door swung open, a creak sounding throughout the room.

“Knock, knock…” a low, velvety voice called out.

The Realm Guard had arrived.

Chapter Five

“Ah, there you are. Orisola, the master of brewing himself.”

The voice entered the room like a king, sweeping around us like the touch of a slithering snake, and squeezing tight, sending shivers down my spine.

Nilsorn had guarded the realms since the early years of Starshine, and there was not a soul alive who could escape this man. From the pits of Hades to the gates of Paradise, Nilsorn saw all. While the Realm Guard before him had ruled with peace and a calming presence, this was not the case with how he ruled.

His dark piercing eyes, his flowing white hair, and the horns that adorned those of the sable race sat atop his head like a crown.

The song I’d sung for Aleixo minutes earlier came to mind. Nilsorn was the very reason the descriptor for a sable had been changed to conniving. For before such times as these, they were described as willowing, given their destiny of being realm guards. Those days had passed, and there would be no return. Sables lived hundreds of years, and we were barely into our third decade with Nilsorn.

“R-Realm Guard,” Father stuttered, fear showing in his eyes. “I have not seen you in these parts.”

“You’re seeing me now.” The smooth voice circled Father as Nilsorn took a step closer to where we stood. I could feel his eyes on me, and he paused, tilting his head. “Is this your daughter?”

“One of them,” Father rushed. “My other two have married. She is the one who remains, until today, that is—”

Nilsorn raised one hand. “Words from you are no longer required. I came here in search of someone…an individual who has crossed realms. My journey has led me here.”

I looked over at Aleixo, but he was nowhere to be seen. Odd. I glanced behind the counter and noted him slowly opening a cabinet door, his finger to his lips.

It wasn’t that I wanted to protect him—that wasn’t it at all. I could turn him in and be free of the worry of an engagement. Surely, the Realm Guard knew of a spell that released me from this foolish binding. But then why couldn’t I open my mouth and speak? Why did I feel some strange loyalty to this human?

“A fugitive in our realm?” Father’s eyes widened as Nilsorn leaned closer still.

“Precisely.” Nilsorn’s gaze landed on me once more. “But how thrilled am I that I was brought here to inquire? For this elf appears to be a suitable candidate.” The smile he gave me shook me to my core, and I averted my gaze as quickly as possible.

No. Oh, realms, no.