Page 18 of Kissing Potions and Elves (Oakvale Ever After #1)

ISOBEL

A nother laugh escapes Lyrion as he gazes around him, eyes wide and sparkling as if he’s never seen colors before in his entire Elven life. “Look at the sky and the fluffy clouds, Isobel.” He gestures grandly. “It’s the most perfect day, isn’t it?”

Oh stars. I shouldn’t have given him that scone. I glance helplessly at Tressa, her lips twitching as if she’s desperately trying not to laugh.

Lyrion is definitely not himself, but stars help me, he’s so breathtakingly handsome when he smiles. It’s almost criminal that he doesn’t do it more often, but knowing Lyrion, he’d probably loathe being seen like this if he weren’t under the influence of magic.

He’s currently smiling and waving at passing villagers. Enthusiastically. This is bad.

I need to get him home. Now.

“How long is this going to last?” I ask Tressa. “And why is it affecting him so much? I don’t see anyone else acting this way after they eat your scones.”

“It’s the combination with the tea,” she replies. “I believe it’s enhancing the effects. The magic should fade in a few hours. Take him back home. I can handle things here.”

“Alright.”

“Come with me,” I tell Lyrion, as I take his hand to lead him away. A thrill pulses through me when his fingers immediately entwine with mine, as though it’s the most natural thing in the world.

He follows eagerly, greeting everyone and complimenting their shoes, their hair, their stalls, while they study him in bewildered surprise. This is probably the most he’s ever talked with any of them.

Just when I think it can’t possibly get any worse, Lyrion spots Mayor Finley—the Fox Shifter—strolling by as he greets festivalgoers.

“Finley, my good Fox!” he calls out. “These festivities are wonderful! You’re doing a fantastic job mayoring today!”

Finley freezes mid-step, his tufted ears twitching uncertainly as he slowly pivots to stare at Lyrion with a baffled expression. After an awkward pause, he offers a tentative wave. “Er... thank you?”

“You should try Tressa’s scones.” Lyrion points enthusiastically toward Tressa. “They’re amazing.”

Mayor Finley nods slowly, eyes flicking between us before he flashes a polite smile. “I’ll... be sure to do that.”

Taking his arm gently, I steer my deliriously happy Elf away from the festival, silently hoping this spell wears off before he decides to start singing ballads or reciting poetry.

“I just need to grab my cloak from the café,” I tell him.

Once we’re safely inside the kitchen, I turn to face him.

My breath catches at the intense hunger in his expression. “Isobel.” His voice is low and rough as his gaze drops to my lips. “I need you.”

Moon help me, when he folds me into his arms and seals his mouth over mine, I practically melt into him, the passionate kiss chasing every coherent thought from my mind.

When he finally pulls back, he rests his forehead against my own and closes his eyes. “You taste like sunshine, Isobel.”

My heart flutters. I had no idea he could sound so romantic. He’s looking at me with such open affection that it almost hurts. Tentative hope stirs in my chest, but I force myself to tamp it back down. It’s just the magic making him say such things.

When we step out of the café, the atmosphere has grown even more festive. Lively music fills the air as several people dance around the village square.

A startled squeak escapes me as Lyrion sweeps me into the dance, weaving effortlessly among the other couples. Allowing myself to get caught up in the moment, I laugh as he spins me away and then pulls me back, his brilliant violet eyes full of happiness.

When the song finally ends, he takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine as he leads me to a vendor cart to buy two honey cakes.

“Because you love them,” he says, answering my unspoken question, and my heart flips traitorously.

As we walk back home, Lyrion whistles a happy tune. He stops to converse with a squirrel and a bluebird, laughing at something they say before we continue down the path.

It’s strange, but nice to see him so happy and carefree. I just hope that when the magic wears off, he doesn’t regret these unguarded moments.

When we reach the manor, he insists upon sitting out in the garden. He pulls out his notebook and begins sketching one of the roses along the fence while I go tell Hilda what has happened.

“This isn’t the first time he’s had something like this happen to him.

” She shrugs. “He and his brother used to play pranks on each other all the time when they first started learning potion mixing. It got so bad I had to tell them that if they continued causing mischief, they’d turn into little Goblins, the two of them. ”

I laugh. “Did it work?”

“Aye,” she says. “Like a charm.”

Hilda starts for the kitchen. “I’ll fix him a pot of tea. Perhaps that will help flush it out of his system a bit faster.”

It’s been several hours and while the effects of Tressa’s magic seem to have worn off for the most part, they’re not entirely gone.

After dinner, I bid Lyrion goodnight and then go to my room while he retires to his.

I take a quick bath and then change into my silken sleep gown. Pulling a robe over my shoulders, I step back into the bedroom only to be startled to find Lyrion standing next to the bed. “Stars in heaven! You gave me a fright.”

“I have a surprise.” He smiles, completely unfazed as he holds out his hand. He’s dressed in only his soft knit pants and sleep robe, so I assume at least some of Tressa’s magic is still lingering in his system. “Come. I want to show you something.”

I know I should probably encourage him to go back to bed, but I’m curious to know what it is, so I slip my palm into his.

He smiles. “Now, close your eyes.”

I do as he instructs and he carefully leads me downstairs and out the door into the back gardens.

“Okay,” he says. “You can open them again.”

When I do, I find a thick blanket spread across the grass, along with a few pillows and another comforter folded on top. Butterflies take flight in my chest. “Lyrion… what is all of this?”

“It’s a clear and beautiful night.” He gestures animatedly to the sky. “I thought we could look at the stars.”

To my surprise, he lies down on the blanket and pats the empty space beside him.

Unable to deny his invitation, I lie beside him under the glittering night sky.

My heart hammers as he scoots closer. So close I can smell the warm mint of his breath as he whispers in my ear.

“From here”—he points above us—“you can see the Fox and the Hunter.”

I follow where he’s pointing, but I’m not sure I know what he’s talking about. “I… never learned the constellations or their proper names,” I admit, shame filling me at how uneducated I must seem to him.

He moves even closer, his face nearly touching mine. Gently, he takes my hand and extends my arm, pointing toward a cluster of stars. “Right there,” he whispers. “That’s the Hunter, and that’s his bow.”

“Oh.” A smile lights my face. “I can see it now.”

“Have you ever heard the story of the Celestial Warrior and the Huntress?” When I shake my head, he lifts our joined hands, tracing another shape against the velvet darkness, his voice low and gentle . “Do you see those bright stars there? It looks like a man holding a sword.”

I nod.

“That’s Vaelar, the Celestial Warrior.”

Still holding my hand, he moves my arm as he traces another sparkling cluster. “And there, just opposite him, is Calia, the Huntress. See her bow drawn tight, aimed at the endless sky?”

“Yes.” I squint, studying the patterns. “Who were they?”

“Vaelar was a warrior prince, born of noble blood, destined to rule his kingdom. Calia was a huntress from the wild forests, fierce and free.

“They met one night beneath the silver moon, drawn together by fate. But they belonged to different worlds and agreed they could never be together, that their love was impossible.”

I’m captivated by their story. “So what happened?”

Lyrion turns his gaze toward me, violet eyes filled with warmth.

“They fell in love anyway. Despite everything that should have kept them apart, they chose each other. Their bond was so strong that even the gods took notice. And when they passed from this world, the gods, moved by their devotion, placed them side by side in the night sky, forever together.”

“That’s beautiful,” I whisper.

Errol saunters over to us and flops down onto the blanket.

Lyrion laughs softly, and I assume he must be communicating with my cat as he reaches out and strokes under his furry chin.

“What’s he saying?” I ask.

“He wants to know if there are any constellations named after a cat, but I told him there are not.”

I gaze up at the sky and then point to a cluster that looks almost like the outline of a cat’s face, complete with triangle ears. “What about that one?” I gesture to it.

“You’re right.” Lyrion’s face splits in a wide grin. “We shall name it Errol.”

I laugh, my heart full of warmth, while Errol purrs nearby, clearly pleased.

Lyrion continues to point out various constellations to me, and I listen, mesmerized as he tells me the stories behind each one.

After a while, my eyelids begin to grow heavy, and I struggle to keep them open. I glance down and see Errol is curled into a tight ball near our feet, already asleep.

“Would you like to go back inside?” Lyrion asks softly.

“Not yet,” I murmur. This night is perfect, gazing at the stars with Lyrion, and I don’t want it to end.

A cool breeze blows through the garden, and I shiver slightly. Lyrion curls his arm around me, tugging me against him. Too tired to think better of it, I nestle into his side, enjoying his warmth, breathing deep of his masculine scent.

He pulls the comforter over us both, carefully tucking it around us like a cocoon. “Is that better?”

“Yes.” I sigh in contentment. If only we could stay like this forever.

Even as I think this, sadness begins to creep in. This closeness between us… it’s just the potion’s influence. This isn’t real.

But when Lyrion presses a tender kiss to my temple and tightens his arms around me as we snuggle under the blanket, I allow myself to pretend that it is. Closing my eyes, I fall away into sleep, dreaming of a life where this is real and he is mine.