Page 33 of Kissing Potions and Elves (Oakvale Ever After #1)

ISOBEL

P anic tightens my chest as the river’s surface ripples, then shimmers as something darts just beneath it.

“What is that?” I whisper, clutching Lyrion’s arm around my waist.

Nyxus chuffs and paws at the ground.

I gasp as a tiny orb of glimmering teal light rises from the water. It floats just above the surface, flickering like a captured star.

Lyrion sighs. “It’s a water sprite. Mischievous, but harmless.”

“They like to play pranks,” Rhystan adds.

The sprite flits back and forth over the water, skipping playfully across the surface.

“Do we need to give it an offering for safe passage?” I ask.

“An offering?” Rhystan frowns. “Why would we do that? They’re pests.”

I gasp in horror. “Don’t say that,” I hiss, praying the sprite didn’t hear him. “Or you’ll be cursed with bad luck for an entire year.”

Rhystan’s head jerks back. “What in Vaelar’s blade are you talking about?”

“Isobel leaves offerings for the sprites on the windowsill,” Lyrion explains, the arm around my waist giving a gentle squeeze. “She believes it’s bad luck to offend them.”

Rhystan arches a brow at me.

“It’s polite,” I say defensively. “They like honey drops and bread crusts. And once, Tressa found a silver leaf in her tea tin the morning after I left a bit of cinnamon cake.”

The sprite flies back to us, its light pulsing brighter, almost expectantly.

Reaching into our satchel, I pull out a small piece of bread. I hold it out in my open palm. “Here. It’s not much, but it’s fresh.”

The sprite twirls midair, then dips toward me in a swirl of teal mist. With delicate precision, it plucks the bread from my hand.

It hovers near Lyrion, emitting a series of high-pitched squeaks that I assume must be language.

“She says the river is higher than normal due to a storm upstream, but there’s a relatively shallow place to cross,” he says. “She’ll show us.”

The sprite flies a few feet downriver and then flits across the water in a zigzagging path.

Rhystan blinks. “Well, that’s… interesting.”

The sprite circles back toward me and pauses, the glowing orb hovering before my eyes as she begins squeaking again.

“She says to hold out your hand,” Lyrion translates.

Something light and cool drops into my palm. I glance down to find a small moonstone, and smile.

Lyrion says something in Elvish, soft and reverent.

I twist my head to look back at him. “Was that… thank you?”

He nods, smiling down at me. “More or less. It’s an old phrase. Closer to ‘light guide your path.’ ”

The sprite gives one final spin before vanishing into the mist, leaving sparkles behind like trailing fireflies.

I tuck the moonstone carefully into my satchel, my heart warm despite the lingering thrill of unease as I gaze at the river ahead.

The water roars, the current rushing fast over smooth, dark stones. I feel a bit better that the water sprite suggested this place to cross, but it still looks dangerous.

Nervous, my heart hammers as I grip the thick fur along Nyxus’s shoulders.

“Isobel?” Concern threads through Lyrion’s voice. “You’re trembling. What’s wrong?”

“It—it’s just...” I swallow hard. “What if we get swept away?”

“You won’t.” His voice is low and soothing. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Fear claws at my chest as we approach the water’s edge. “Wait! Please, wait!”

The Dire Wolves halt immediately. “Isobel, what is it?” Lyrion asks. “Did you see something else?” He scans the water, searching for any signs of danger.

“What’s wrong?” Rhystan reins up beside us.

“I—I’m sorry.” I hate that I’m so afraid. If not for me they’d already be across. “I just need a moment.”

Lyrion’s expression softens. “It’s alright. You don’t need to apologize.”

“Take as long as you need,” Rhystan adds, his voice devoid of judgment. He gestures to the water. “Asher and I will go across first so you can see that it’s safe.”

He starts to leave, but I call out, “Wait!” Rhystan gives me a puzzled look. “I don’t want anything to happen to you either.”

“I knew I was your favorite.” He flashes a teasing grin. “But don’t worry. Asher and I will be fine.”

Normally, I’d laugh at Rhystan’s joking, but I’m still so nervous. I turn back to Lyrion. “I’ll be alright in a moment. I just need to muster my courage.”

“I don’t like seeing you afraid.” His eyes meet mine in concern. “We don’t have to go. If you want, we can head back to Oakvale right now.”

“But what about the ball?” I frown. “Won’t your parents be upset if you don’t go?”

“Mother will be positively furious,” Rhystan answers, having heard our conversation. He shrugs. “But she’ll get over it. Eventually.”

It means a lot to me that Lyrion is offering to do this. That he wouldn’t push me to do something I’m uncomfortable with, no matter the cost to himself.

But as I gaze at the churning river, I think of everything I’ve been through. When I lost my parents, I lost everything, but somehow I managed to survive. And if I can do that, then I’m strong enough to face this.

Determined to conquer my fear, an idea enters my mind. I turn back to Lyrion. “Can I—” I hesitate a moment, embarrassed, before finally deciding to push forward. “Would you mind terribly if I held onto you while we cross?”

“Of course.”

He starts to dismount, probably thinking I want to ride behind him and hold onto his waist, but that’s not what I had in mind, so I stop him.

“I meant like this,” I explain as I carefully shift my body, turning around to face him fully.

My face flames hot, but I push through my embarrassment and wrap my arms around Lyrion’s neck, and my legs around his waist as I bury my face against his chest.

Lyrion tenses against me. And stars above, I know this isn’t proper—certainly scandalous by any measure—but at this moment, I don’t care.

I just don’t want to get swept away and drown.

Closing my eyes, I listen to his heart beneath my ear as it pounds a strong and steady rhythm, soothing my frayed nerves.

He straightens and loops his arm around my back. “Are you ready?” His lips brush the shell of my ear as he whispers. “I promise I won’t let you fall.”

Drawing in a deep and steadying breath, I nod against him and squeeze my eyes shut as Nyxus starts forward.

Lyrion tightens his hold, anchoring me against his chest. “It’s alright, Isobel.” His voice is low and soothing. “Just breathe. You’re safe with me.”

His whispered reassurance eases some of the tension coiled tightly within. The water laps against my boots as Nyxus moves steadily across the shallow crossing.

I focus intently on the comforting rhythm of Lyrion’s heartbeat, the soft warmth of his breath brushing against my temple. “You’re doing wonderfully,” he murmurs. “We’ll be across in no time.”

“I’m sorry to be such a burden,” I whisper. “I know it’s ridiculous to be so afraid.”

“The first time I came into The Enchanted Teacup , I was drenched from the rain, irritable, and nursing one of the worst headaches I’d ever experienced.

” He pauses. “You were so busy that day. The café was full because everyone was trying to wait out the weather inside, but you knew I was suffering and you made sure to bring my tea straight away.”

I still. “You remember that?”

“Yes. You even brought me a blueberry scone because you said that dessert always seems to make everything better.”

“It’s true. I… can’t believe you remember that day.”

“Your kindness is the reason I kept coming back.”

I’m stunned. “I didn’t think you even knew who I was,” I admit. “I mean, I didn’t think you even noticed me, before the potion incident, that is.”

A soft huff of laughter escapes him. “Your smile and your laughter are very hard to miss, Isobel.”

“Are you saying I’m loud?” I ask, mildly offended.

“No. I’m saying that even when I had the most terrible headache, seeing you smile or hearing you laugh somehow always made me feel a bit better.” He sighs. “And even when I was trying to focus on my work, I noticed everything about you.”

My heart flutters. Perhaps Lyrion truly likes me for me and it’s not just the potion affecting him.

Nyxus emerges from the water, and I sag in relief, my arms still wrapped around Lyrion.

“We’re across.” His lips brush against my temple in a tender kiss. “Safe and sound.”

Warmth fills me. “Thank you.”

“Only a few more hours and we should be there,” Rhystan says, interrupting the moment.

Carefully, I unwind myself from around Lyrion and he helps me turn back to the front. As we resume our journey, my heart is still hammering, but now for an entirely different reason.

Stars help me, but I’m falling deeply, utterly in love with this Elf, and I don’t think there’s any turning back.