Page 38 of Enticing the Elf
“It’snotokay. For starters, whatever hurt him must have been bad. Bad enough that he never even mentioned it, just let the wounds fester.”
“Maybe don’t use that word if you talk to him about it.”
“Is this a sign that he’s not that invested in me? Don’t people talk about their past wounds with the people they love? Did I ever have a chance at all, if whatever happened is so bad, he can’t even talk about it?”
“I guess the Warhammers are going to have to wait. Eoin, listen—you’re blowing this out of proportion. We don’t evenknow for sure that somethingdidhurt Dáithí. What do I know about stuff like this? And even if his heart was broken or whatever, the fact that he’s willing to let you try says a lot about how he feels about you. Don’t get in your head over this.”
Sucking in a deep breath through my nose, I hold it, then exhale slowly. I hate when he’s right. There’s nothing I can do about this except what I was already doing.
There’s just one last painful thought I need to shake. “What if I objectively pass all the tests but his past hurt is still too much for him to get over?”
Ari grimaces. “Then you might have to give him the space he needs to heal. Or… have you ever asked the king if you and Dáithí are paired souls?”
I shake my head before he’s even finished asking the question. “It doesn’t matter to me. I love Dáithí, even if there is a chance our paths will diverge—” I freeze. Fuck. “That would be dirty play, Ari. Dáithí and I agreed that this is how I’ll prove myself.”
“I’m not suggesting that you should renege. But if, like you said, you objectively pass all the tests and Dáithí is still struggling to let go of his fear, that could be an ace up your sleeve… if you’re paired souls. He won’t have to worry about you not wanting a committed relationship if your souls are guaranteed to grow in the same direction, because if that happens, he’ll feel the same way.”
“It’s not going to happen,” I say reflexively, but I can’t deny the temptation in his plan. The only potential downside is that Raðulfr might say we’renotpaired souls, and then I’d be right back at square one, only with a secret from Dáithí that might be unethical to keep. “It’s a worry for another day,” I add finally. “Let me prove myself first. It might not even be a problem.”
“Exactly.” Ari studies my face, then nods like he’s satisfied with whatever he saw there. “Ready to hear about the Warhammers?”
“That depends on whether I’m going to like what you say.”
He shrugs. “Mostly. A few drunk and disorderlies from after the playoffs final three years ago. Two public indecencies—the enforcement reports on those were pretty clear, and I don’t think they need to be followed up. One guy and his girlfriend decided to get frisky in a park, but it was late at night and nobody was around except for one guy walking his dog.”
I wave that off. Sex with a partner isn’t going to pose a threat to Raðulfr, even if they decide to do it at center ice. “The other one?”
Ari snorts. “Guy had to pee real bad and couldn’t find a bathroom. He thought the alley was safe.”
“But it wasn’t. Poor guy.” That’s not a concern either. “So we’re clear?”
“No. There’s one player who was charged with aggravated assault and destruction of private property. The assault charge didn’t stick, both because they couldn’t prove intent and the doorbell camera clearly showed that he was swinging at the window and the victim jumped in the way, but I think we need to ask some questions.”
I hold out my hand, and without asking what I want, Ari passes me the enforcement report. Skimming the list of property damage, I let out a low whistle. “He did all this with a hockey stick?”
Ari nods. “By the end it was only half a stick, but yes.”
That’s a lot of anger and violence. “I’ll call Erik and tell him we want a meeting with…” I glance at the top of the page. “Felix Ansas. Can I leave it to you to put together our questions for him?”
“I’ve got it. The rest of them are fine, which surprised me. The club has a reputation for recruiting big guys only, bruisers, so I was sure there would be a lot of problems, but most of the players are settled family men. The most aggressive one is Ansas, and he’s the opposite of a bruiser.”
“Sound like our talk with him is going to be interesting.”
I stareup at the sign identifying the building in front of me as an animal shelter. “Dáithí?”
“Yes?” He tugs on my arm. “Come on, don’t just stand there.”
Letting him draw me toward the door, I ask, “Why are we here? I thought you didn’t want to have another pet.”
He stops. “It’s not that I didn’t want to?—”
“You weren’t ready,” I correct. I remember when his last pet, Embla, died, and how heartbroken he was. Since then, he’s mentioned not wanting another pet when he can’t give them security and safety.
It’s nice that he now feels like he can.
“So we’re here to find you a new baby?” I perk up at the thought that he wanted me here for this personal and important?—
“No, I found her. We’re here to pick her up,” he says, and I try not to deflate too visibly. He asked me to help bring her home—that has to mean something.