Page 86 of Kissing Potions and Elves

Footsteps echo as Lyrion and Rhystan round the corner, their conversation stopping abruptly as they spot the Elf woman.

Ice floods my veins as Lyrion’s face pales, and Rhystan’s mouth drifts open.

“Lyrion?” My voice shakes as I force the words past my lips. “There’s someone here to see you. She says… she’s your betrothed.”

“Isobel,” Lyrion begins, hesitation and guilt easily read in his features. “Please, let me explain.”

My stomach twists. “Is it true?”

Before he can answer, Elyssia steps forward. “Is this what your ridiculous message was about?” Her gaze flickersdismissively toward me. “I thought you were working on your precious compendium, not amusing yourself with a human.”

She looks me over critically and then turns back to him, arching a condescending brow. “I never thought you would be one to have a sordid dalliance with the help, Lyrion.”

“She’s not the help,” he snaps.

“Oh?” Elyssia’s gaze narrows, appraising me with cold judgment. “Then, tell me, human, what exactly is it that you do?”

Heat floods my cheeks as I lift my chin, forcing strength into my voice. “I work in a café.”

Elyssia’s lips curl in disdain, and she turns back to Lyrion. “Is that supposed to be better?”

My chest tightens, humiliation scorching through me as I look at him. Lyrion is engaged.Everything between us was a lie.

My gaze sweeps to Rhystan, then to Hilda. They both avoid my eyes, shame clear on their faces.

Pain spears through me as I realize that I’m nothing but a fool. A naïve girl who believed in fairy tales and dreams too big for someone like me.

But what hurts even more is that I trusted Hilda and Rhystan, and they knew.They had known all along.

“Please, Isobel,” Lyrion pleads, “let me explain.”

Anger surges through me, rapidly replacing my devastation. “Don’t bother,” I snap. I refuse to cry in front of him. I’ve survived worse than this. And I’ll survive him, too. “You’ve said enough, or rather, said nothing at all. Why would I be interested in your explanations now?”

Turning, I storm toward the stairs. “Errol!” I call up to the second floor. “Errol!”

“What on earth is she doing?” Elyssia’s voice is sharp and incredulous.

“Isobel, I beg you,” Lyrion tries again, his tone desperate, “just let me—”

“You had plenty of time to explain.” I glare at him accusingly. “And instead you chose silence.” I turn to Rhystan and Hilda. “Eachof you did.”

Rhystan’s expression darkens with regret, and Hilda’s eyes glisten with remorse before she lowers her gaze.

I blink back tears, anger blazing within. “Errol!” My voice cracks as I call again, desperate to leave before despair crushes me entirely.

A loud yowl echoes down the stairs, and Errol races toward me, feathers trailing in his wake. Confusion briefly flickers through me, but I ignore it as I scoop him into my arms, holding him close.

“Isobel.” Lyrion reaches for me. “Wait.”

“Don’t touch me,” I snap, stepping quickly out of his reach. “I don’t want to hear it.”

I glance toward the stairs. My belongings are still in my room, but I’m not going back for them. I want nothing from Lyrion—not the beautiful clothes, not the warm, safe home... not the lies.

He follows as I storm toward the door. “Please, don’t—”

“No!” Devastation wars with anger as I spin to face him. “You lied to me, Lyrion. You made me believe that you cared for me. That you loved—” My voice breaks.

“I trusted you.” A traitorous tear slips down my cheek, but I brush it away, refusing to let him see me fall apart. “I gave you my heart. And all the while, you were engaged to someone else.”Sadness tightens my chest. “No one has ever hurt me the way you have.”