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Because of somescheduling for one of the afternoon workers, my shift at Book Nookery started later than usual, so I didn’t finish until about six thirty in the morning, which was when Ms. Booker came mincing down the stairs to relieve me.
“Good morning, Chloe, dear,” Ms. Booker said.
“Good morning, Ms. Booker.” I put the last book away that I was restocking, then collapsed the now empty box I’d been carrying it in. “Thank you so much for giving me off my previous shift. I’m sorry about the last-minute change.”
Ms. Booker smiled and adjusted her pearl necklace—this time matched by a pearl bracelet. As usual she was nothing less than genteel and tidy with her black skirt and orange sweater—which was about as close as Ms. Booker got to embracing the seasonal changes.
“It was no trouble, dear,” she said. “The other clerks have already informed me you took on two extra shifts they needed covered as thanks. You are quite conscientious about such things. I am glad for you that you are back with your elf.”
“Yeah, I mean yes.” I awkwardly folded the collapsed box in half before opening the closet we stored recyclables in and tossing it in. “He’s coming to pick me up this morning, so I was hoping you’d be interested in meeting him.”
Ms. Booker raised her penciled in eyebrows. “You told him I know about him?”
“Yes.” I darted back behind the desk so I could sign out of my checkout ID in the system. “I told him yesterday when he dropped me off, but my shift was so late that you’d already retired for the evening.”
“The wise are early to rise,” Ms. Booker said. “But yes, I’d be delighted to meet your beau.”
“Um,” I said.
A hint of a wicked smile tugged at Ms. Booker’s lips—colored with perfectly applied red lipstick that had a hue of orange in it to match her sweater. “There is no need to be shy, Chloe, dear.”
“It’s not that, I just wanted to tell you…” I took a deep breath in, then let it out. “There are more elves alive than just him,” I said. “Some work for him, others he’s protecting. There’s a whole city, actually, that lives in a corner of the fae realm he’s carved out with barriers. I’ve known for a while, but I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to endanger you.”
Ms. Booker set a hand on the desk. “I see,” she said. “Then I assume you must believe it’s safe to tell me now?”
“Because they’re going to go public within the next year,” I admitted. “I wanted to tell you now, though, since I know you won’t share the information.”
Ms. Booker nodded thoughtfully. “You are correct. But I will be forthright and say I won’t share the information, only because these elves are all attached to your King of the Mors.”
I blinked. “You trust my judgment of him?”
“Partially, yes,” Ms. Booker said. “It is more that I trust his judgment of character for choosingyou. But also because as a scholar of history, I am fairly certain we have that king of yours to thank for the supernaturals winning the war against the elves.”
I mashed my lips together—I’d gotten hints that Noctus was indirectly responsible for the win before, because he’d wiped his family out, and they’d been the elves’ strongest fighting force with their death magic.
But I haven’t talked to Noctus about it yet, and that’s something I want to hear from him.
Ms. Booker glanced at the clock. “Your beau I assume won’t arrive for another minute or two. Why don’t we retreat to the kitchen? A revelation such as this warrants a cup of tea, and we will hear the bell if anyone enters. Then you can tell me more of what has happened.”
“Okay.”
I followed Ms. Booker into the back and filled her in on the Calor Villa, the clocktower, and the elves’ presence in Magiford.
It took less time to explain things to her than it had to Pat or Joy, because Ms. Booker had already been aware of Noctus and had a much better reference of elves in general as a wizard with a penchant for history and books.
“I appreciate your candor,” Ms. Booker said when I finished. “I shall not abuse your trust—although you are right, I will do my best to order elf books in preparation. Mr. Gleevers will be thrilled,” she dryly predicted.
“Yes, it’s a shame there aren’t many books about elves in existence,” I said.
“Nonfiction books? Oh, yes. But there are a shocking number of fiction fantasy romance books that feature elves,” Ms. Booker said. “Those will be the best sellers. We’ll have to plan for a special display once the announcement is made.”
My mouth dropped open at the thought of my elegant employer making a display of fantasy romance books—Ms. Booker had always favored nonfiction over fiction, so it was already a bit of a shock that she knew about the elf romances—so even though I heard the bell attached to the front door, I could only stare at her.
Ms. Booker, having finished her cup of tea and begun bustling around the kitchen, peered through the doorway. “Oh,” she said. “Judging by his stature and appearance, I would say this is your beau, Chloe, dear?”
I bolted from my chair and zipped in front of Ms. Booker—a protective measure drilled into me thanks to Pat—and relaxed when I recognized Noctus.
He smiled when he saw me. “Chloe,” he said. “Charon and the others are waiting in the car. Shall we leave?”
