Page 7 of Elves and Espresso

I had to get Aleixo and myself out of here, no matter what. It wasn’t safe for either of us. As I shoved the remaining items I’d need into a bag, I quietly snuck downstairs and headed for the counter. I opened the cupboards to take out food and drink before heading for the couch Aleixo rested on.

He slept so quietly, so still. Perhaps he’d been exhausted, but I was surprised he’d remained with us.

“Aleixo,” I whispered, but he didn’t move. “Aleixo, we must depart.”

His eyes fluttered open as he looked up at me. “Calista?” he asked. “What are you doing here?”

“We must run.”

He sat up in a flash, his eyes filled with alarm. “What is it? What has occurred?”

“The Realm Guard will return, and there will be dire consequences when he finds you to be not of this realm.”

“But he’ll break our binding, or whatever your father called it.”

“You are in danger. And I truly do not wish to be bound to him.”

“So you’d rather be bound to me?” A charming smile fell on his features, and I rolled my eyes. “Am I that irresistible?”

“We will find our own way to break it and return you to your realm.”

“Will he follow?”

I hesitated, suddenly avoiding his gaze as I moved to the front door.

“Calista?” he repeated.

“He will follow when he becomes aware of the situation.”

He stood slowly, as though thinking through each motion. “And you would enjoy being hunted down?”

“Would you rather wait here and not have a chance of missing the Realm Guard?”

“He will fix this. Why are you so unwilling to break our engagement?”

“Because there will be harm!” My voice rose, and I quickly looked to the door leading upstairs, hoping Father hadn’t heard me. I turned to him, panic in my eyes. “I can’t bear it.”

“Are you so caring to everyone you come across? Strange humans you’ve never met, who are in places where they don’t belong? Ones you accidentally become engaged to the day you meet them?”

He was annoying me with every word he spoke. I didn’t have time to stand here with him and waste words when we could have been halfway down the road by now.

“Are you truly going to flatter yourself because I enjoy watching someone live more than I enjoy watching someone die?”

His face was still as he observed me, and I fought the urge to squirm under his gaze. I needed to stand firm. He could either come with me or deal with the consequences of the land being occupied. I turned away from him and turned the knob as silently as I could. There was no more time to be wasted. He didn’t believe that he would die; it was more likely that he thought this was all a dream in his mind. Perhaps he would only truly grasp it later.

“Wait.” His voice was soft behind me, as I heard the rustling of clothing and steps moving closer. I could feel him stop and the warmth of his breath on the back of my neck. “It is hard for me to trust in a land where I know no one, but you are the only one I know, and likely my only option of finding my way back.”

“Well, when you put it that way, now I'm the one who’s flattered.” I took a step forward through the door, and he followed closely behind me.

“Where to?” he questioned as we walked down the main path to the road.

I stopped before passing through the open gate before looking up at him, a wicked grin on my face. “Tell me, Aleixo, do you fear death?”

Chapter Seven

“Ijust can’t believe you did that!”

It was four in the morning, and darkness still surrounded us as we trudged through the dark, lush forest. I was recounting the last day, and poor Aleixo was the one stuck listening.