Unfortunately, I couldn’t ask because clearly I was supposed to know. And also unfortunately I had to cover.
“Right,” I said quickly. “I forgot.”
He examined my face while repeating, “You forgot,” in a way that said he didn’t believe me and in a way that said he either thought I was slightly unhinged or highly untrustworthy (or both).
“Uh…” I started to cover further, “I’m kinda freaking out about the elves being back after centuries, Frey. It slipped my mind.”
He stared at me. Then he whispered, “Right.”
Totally didn’t believe me.
So I covered more by smiling at him and I did it big. That worked. His eyes dropped to my mouth, his arms convulsed and the tension went out of his big frame.
I gave him a light push with my hands and said, “You better go. The cool-as-shit elves are waiting.”
That got me another hitch of one side of his mouth then he nodded and let me go.
When he did, I turned and looked around the room, saw his stuff tossed on a trunk and hurried to it.
He followed me and I handed him his sweater. He took it and pulled it on while I blathered.
“When you get back, I want to know everything. This is so cool. I love this. I can’t wait to hear what they have to say.”
“Finnie –”
I handed him his socks and cut him off. “No. Don’t say you can’t tell me. If you hear what they say and you can’t tell me, okay. But maybe you can. Don’t burst my bubble now. You can burst it later if you have to.”
He took his socks but didn’t put them on. He just stared at me.
Then he hooked me with an arm around my waist and I was suddenly plastered against his body and his mouth had crushed down on mine. He gave me a short, hot kiss (with tongues) then let me go.
Then he ordered, “Loft, wife, I’ll be back soon.”
I smiled at him and agreed, “Okay.”
Then I rushed to the ladder and up.
Once in, I stuck my head out and called to my husband as he tugged on his boots, “Have fun with the elves.”
His head tipped back and his eyes caught mine. Then he shook his head. Then he grinned.
I grinned back and slapped the curtains closed.
Then I rushed to the bed, sat cross-legged in the middle of it and listened to the door open and close.
Then I giggled.
Holy freaking moly! This world had elves and I was married to their lord, a man who, for some reason (magic?), didn’t suffer cold or heat.
How… freaking… cool!
This adventure was totally worth a million dollars.
Totally.
Chapter Nine
The Message