Page 5

CHAPTER 5

ROSALYN

I stood beside Primrose, my arm linked with hers, as we surveyed our work.

The bright Whisperbloom sunflowers Winifred had provided brightened the room and added a calming, peaceful atmosphere that encouraged cooperation.

Enchanted peace candles from Lilibet, our local candlemaker, added to the atmosphere of peace.

Primrose had stationed an enchanted harp in one corner.

It played pleasing, calm songs.

At the center table, I had set out the baked goods, all imbued with enchantments for team-building, camaraderie, cooperation, and humor.

On a stand in the corner, I’d placed the beverages, blends mixed for concentration and elevated intelligence, alongside my favorite teacups I’d brought just for the occasion.

“Everything looks perfect,” I told Primrose.

Primrose, a half-elf with a human father and Sylvan elf mother, had an unusual form of magic.

She created comfort.

As well, she was able to synthesize others’ gifts, melding them together.

That ability made her the perfect caterer.

Even now, a soft golden glow hung in the air.

“Are you sure?” Primrose asked worriedly, chewing the corner of her lip nervously.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close.

As her best friend, I knew very well that Primrose always felt uncertain.

She felt like everything she did was too much or not quite right.

“It’s perfect. Just like every event you manage. My heart feels perfectly at ease,” I told her in truth.

“I need you to come by and fix my apartment again.”

Primrose chuckled, then exhaled heavily, releasing some of her tension.

The doors to the meeting hall opened, and the elders entered, all talking in a loud hubbub.

Primrose gave me a knowing look, then flicked her fingers toward the harp, enhancing its volume just a little so it could be heard over the gabbing crowd.

The semi-heated discussions and disagreements soon faded when the elders started to take in the room, the enchantments working on them.

Their bickering was replaced by pleasantries and warm smiles.

“And that’s my cue,” Primrose said.

Patting my shoulder, she left my side and went to greet the elders.

“My illustrious elders,” she began, welcoming them to the brunch.

Leaving her to it, I went to the tea station once more.

I began adjusting the cups and saucers, ensuring I had everything ready.

“You don’t see me,” a voice said jokingly from beside me as Emmalyn, Elder Thornberry’s daughter, appeared.

Grinning at me, she filled a traveling canteen with Pink Blossom tea.

“I’m risking having to socialize because of the lure of your scones. I just wanted you to know.”

I grinned at the pretty blonde, whom I knew to be far more interested in her horses than anything her father might wish her to attend to, as she wrapped one of my scones into a napkin and slipped it into her hip pouch.

“Good to see you too, Emmalyn.”

Emmalyn laughed.

“Everything smells amazing, Rosalyn. Tell Primrose I said it looks beautiful. I’ll see you at book club tomorrow?”

I grinned and nodded.

“Did you like Crown and Crumpets ?” It had been my turn to select the book for our group, and I had gone with my absolute favorite classic.

“Chef’s kiss,” she told me, gesturing in tandem, then let out an “eek” when, from the other room, I heard the sound of her father’s voice.

“Must escape,” she said, then snapped her fingers, suddenly turning translucent.

“I can still see you with my pixie vision.” Which was true, even if it was a vague shimmering outline.

“Good thing halflings don’t have that,” she said with a grin.

“If my father asks, you never saw me.”

And with that Emmalyn disappeared down a side hallway and out of sight.

I chuckled and turned back.

When I did, my breath caught in my chest.

Beside the elder was a hulking man I had never met before.

His rugged dress with an open-necked tunic, kilt, and fur-trimmed leather vest gave him away at once as an outsider, but it was the firewolf at his side that confirmed who he was—Rune elf.

“Friends, friends,” Elder Thornberry called, gesturing to everyone.

“May I introduce Bjorn Runeson, Master of Horse for King Ramr of Frostfjord. He came from the far frozen reaches to see our unicorns. Let us give him a welcome!”

At that, the elders clapped politely.

Reminding myself to breathe, I also gave a polite clap.

Bjorn, who looked entirely uncomfortable, set his hand on his waist and gave the room a very practiced formal bow.

When he rose, his eyes scanned the room, pausing when he saw me.

He met my gaze for a moment.

Taken by surprise, my wings fluttered, sending a glimmer of sparkles around me.

I gave the stranger a soft smile and inclined my head to him.

He blinked, rubbed his forearm, then gave me a brief smile before looking away.

My cheeks burning, I turned and began filling the cups on my tray as my mind began spooling out romantic visions of myself and the Rune elf.

Taken so off guard by my thoughts, I was surprised to find my hands shaking.

I spilled the tea onto the saucers.

Oh, burnt ends!

Concentrate, girl.

I cleaned up the mess then sent the serving tray around the room, floating on a cloud of glimmering blue light.

I then prepared another tray.

When I had it ready, I turned to send it off but pitched to an awkward stop when I found myself face to face with a firewolf.

The giant canine wagged his tail, the fiery plume spewing magical embers.

I fluttered my wings quickly working to right myself as the teacups nearly went careening toward the floor.

Then, someone stepped forward, grabbing the other side of the tray to prevent a near disaster.

As I leaned, I heard the tell-tale clack of porcelain hitting too hard…

a sound that told me I’d definitely chipped or broken something.

“Oh no,” I muttered.

Righting myself, I looked up to find a hulking figure holding my tray in place.

The Rune elf.

“Oh, thank you! I…” My cheeks burned redder than a Midsummer fire.

Oh my gods, what is wrong with me?

“Thank you. I nearly lost the whole tray,” I said with a laugh, setting in on a nearby table.

“My apologies. Smoke has the uncanny ability to detect the person most likely to feed him.”

“Well, I’m the baker, so his instincts are perfect,” I said then set the tray aside.

“I’m Rosalyn, by the way,” I said, extending my hand.

“You are very welcome in Moonshine Hollow, Mister Runeson.”

“Just Bjorn,” he replied, smiling softly as he took my hand and placed a genteel kiss thereon.

I’m going to die.

Right here.

In the middle of breakfast.

I am going to literally implode into a cloud of glitter.

I laughed nervously.

Desperate to not make a fool out of myself, I turned back to the firewolf.

“Smoke, is it? Well, you must be a very smart boy to know who has cookies for dogs.” Sticking my hand into my apron pocket, I produced three small dog cookies.

I turned to Bjorn.

“Okay, before you judge a lady for carrying dog cookies in her pocket, there is a pega-poodle that lives on the corner before the elder’s house. I always bring a cookie or two for him when I come this way. Do you mind?” I asked, meeting the Rune elf’s gaze.

His eyes were colored cool gray flecked with shades of blue like a dark sea in a storm.

Bjorn nodded, then rubbed his forearm once more.

Smiling, I turned back to Smoke.

“Wily boy,” I said, handing the wolf the treats, which he took politely.

I clapped off my hands and turned to Bjorn again.

“And what can I get for you? Pink blossom tea? Maybe Midsummer blend? It’s my specialty brew,” I said, gesturing to the tray.

“Midsummer pairs very nicely with my orange-and-thyme scones,” I said, then reached for a teacup.

Then, I saw my favorite cup, the one with pretty pink butterflies painted on the side.

Its handle was broken.

“Oh, burnt ends,” I whispered, frowning.

Sadly, I set it aside and reached for another, topping it off with Midsummer tea, which I handed to Bjorn.

When I gave the cup to the Rune elf, our fingers brushed as the cup passed between us.

When they did so, Bjorn gasped lightly.

For the flicker of a second, I saw a sparkle of blue illuminate on his forearm.

Confused, I merely smiled.

“Is my pixie magic working on you already?”

Bjorn looked at me, a mix of confusion and horror on his face, then set the cup down and turned and walked away.

Puzzled, my wings fluttered with annoyance.

Smoke whined, pawing gently at me.

“Was it something I said?” I asked.

The firewolf wagged his tail, came in for a head pat, then trotted off behind his master.

Confused, I pushed the odd encounter aside and then made my way around the room, passing out drinks and using my magic to keep the teapots pouring.

The elders snacked on my confections, and everyone laughed and joked, warmed by Primrose’s magic and the enchantments in my scones.

I eyed the Rune elf, who stood politely beside Elder Thornberry.

When a small mob of the elders surrounded him, peppering him with questions, I could see the struggle behind his eyes.

He wanted to escape.

While his physical mannerisms were kept in check—perfect posture, respectful nods, and polite smile—his eyes told a different tale.

I paused a moment to study him.

I had taken his abrupt departure as rudeness, but was that really it?

Maybe I had just overwhelmed him.

Had he gotten overstimulated?

This whole scene was a lot, and he was from another culture, another city.

Primrose, who had been busy working the room, finally joined me.

“It’s going well, I think,” she said.

I nodded.

“Yes, the elders seem very happy.”

“Yes, they do. Thank goodness,” she said, then followed my gaze.

“I see you didn’t miss that tall mug of ale.”

“I never thought it was possible to spontaneously combust in response to someone’s sex appeal, but I think I was dangerously close.”

Primrose chuckled.

“I’ve already envisioned him charging in on a white horse to whisk me away to some romantic cabin where all the ravishing will occur.”

“Of course.”

“Unfortunately, my imaginings must have reached my eyes, and I’m pretty sure I scared him off.”

“How so?”

“Well, he kind of…ran away from me,” I said, then laughed.

“Oh my gods, Primrose, he literally turned around and walked away from me mid-conversation,” I said, feeling my stomach drop.

“I’m doomed. Cursed. Forsaken by the gods. Maybe my mother’s right. Maybe I should return to Spring Haven and settle down with a nice pixie man. First Grakkar, and now this? The first truly interesting man to step into Moonshine Hollow and… Maybe I had hearts floating around my head. Do I seem desperate? I feel desperate.”

Primrose gave me a sympathetic smile.

“I’m sure that wasn’t it.”

I studied Bjorn once more.

He leaned down and spoke to Elder Thornberry in a low tone.

“Right, right,” the elder said.

“Friends, I must see Bjorn to the unicorns now.”

Bjorn smiled with what looked like relief.

“The rest of you, enjoy the breakfast. Delicious as always, Rosalyn! And very beautiful, Primrose,” the elder called, garnering our attention.

I gave the elder a polite smile.

When I looked toward Bjorn, he was already headed out the door.

Smoke, however, paused and looked back at me.

I waved to the wolf, who wagged his tail, and then I sighed heavily.

“Well, at least the wolf liked you,” Primrose said with a laugh.

I gave her a mock scowl.

“Not funny.”

Feeling frustrated with myself, I made my way around the room, refilling cups once more.

By the time the elders were done and moved back to the meeting room, all the scones had been devoured, the tea finished, and nothing was left but dirty cups and crumbles.

Primrose and I got to work packing up our goods, and the elder’s helpers carried our supplies to a wagon waiting out front.

I was packing up the last of the teacups when I discovered something off.

The teacup with the broken handle sat where I’d left it, but now, the cup was intact.

Confused, I lifted it carefully and inspected the cup.

There was no sign of a crack.

In fact, it looked as if it had never been damaged.

My brow furrowed.

“Ready?” Primrose asked.

“I… Yes. I think so,” I said, setting the pink cup into the wicker basket.

Primrose nodded, turned to my trunk, and whispered quietly as she waved her hand over the cups.

A warm pink glow enveloped them.

“That should keep them comfy for the ride home. After all that excitement, I need a drink. You?”

“I’ve been dreaming of a lemon smash.”

Primrose grinned.

“The Surly Dragon it is. Another event complete, a sack of coins in my pocket, and it’s sing-along night. Let’s go.”

As we exited the elder’s house, I craned my neck to look toward the stables.

No sign of Bjorn.

Primrose chuckled.

“Don’t worry. If it’s true love, you’ll see him again. Next time, however, try not to undress him with your eyes.”

“But it’s just so hard not to, and I have a very good imagination.”

Primrose laughed.

And with that, we made our way into town, my heart beating a little harder every time I thought about that Rune elf, my mind playing dangerously with what-ifs.

Prim was right.

If it was meant to be, I’d bump into him again.

And if not, I’d have to toss him on the heap with Grakkar and all my other false hopes.

One day, my Lord Thornwick would arrive.

One day…