Page 100 of Night Meets the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen #4)

T he moonlight shone brightly through the glass dome at the center of the ballroom. The night sky sparkled with stars, and waves of greens, blues, and purples. Ball gowns swished and soft string music played. Vines of jasmine wrapped around the white pillars lining her new throne room.

Scarlet velvet curtains draped around the tall arched windows.

A three-tiered golden fountain with red wine pouring over the sides waited off to the side.

Tif was already there sipping on something she wasn’t supposed to.

Her little brown boots stuck out from under the white tablecloth, and her unique shadow with her red hat, round belly, wild curls, and a tea-length dress was outlined against it from inside.

Valeen laughed quietly to herself and searched among the crowd of dancers, a mixture of races from every realm, shifters of all kinds, elves, demigods, even humans.

Thane and Katana danced together. Of course, her sister wore the most beautiful golden ballgown and proved she was still the loveliest of all the goddesses. Thane leaned down to her ear, and she threw her head back laughing. They were exquisite together.

Presco spun his wife Ayva in a circle and dipped her back. They’d moved Presco’s Potions to Villhara, and it was thriving just as well as it had in Ryvengaard. Several of their guests had brilliantly colorful hair.

Near the drink tables Leif was sweet-talking a half-elf, half-goddess named Vivielle. He certainly had a thing for the redheads, and hers was as deep as a crimson rose.

Piper was playing some sort of drinking game with Ronan in the corner.

They’d made House of Night their home the last seven years, but Ronan was itching for more.

For land in Ryvengaard with the dragons he believed he was entitled to but would have to fight for.

Piper pointed at him and pushed a shot glass into his hand. “You lost, drink it!”

“If you want to take advantage of me, it doesn’t require alcohol.” He winked at her and downed it.

Hel’s mother and father were in attendance tonight as well. Even though they were all cordial, Hel was still not close to them. He cared enough to let them around and invite them to parties but there was still a part of him that just couldn’t understand why they abandoned him.

It gave him some peace to know them though and know where he came from. But Zaelia was trying to make up for lost time and frequently visited. Valeen enjoyed her mother-in-law’s company. Unlike Orlandia, she was kind and wanted to help where she could, funny too.

But where is Hel ? This was his party really. He called it the Day of Reckoning. Tonight was the seventh anniversary of the day they became immortals again and defeated the council. It was a time of celebration, but it still reminded her of all the hurt and pain that came before.

Even if they were immortal now, she still woke up covered in sweat some nights, reaching for him to make sure he was there. There were moments she simply laid her head against his bare chest to listen to his heartbeat.

A wisp of cool air curled along the back of her neck, then warm hands closed around her waist. She smiled as he pulled her into the crowd of dancers. “Hello, love. How are you tonight?” He moved right into the steps with the other dancers, not missing a beat.

“I’m better now.”

“You looked lost without me.”

She traced one of the runes on his neck with her fingertip and smiled at the goosebumps that rose. “I would be lost without you.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, love. Didn’t I do everything I promised?” His blue-green eyes sparkled in the starlight. “Or is there more?”

“You kept your promises, Hel.” He always did.

He’d given her revenge, immortality, his undying love.

She peeked out the window at the beautiful garden she’d asked for.

It was Katana’s favorite place when she visited.

They danced in the castle he said he would rebuild, and of course he’d found her winged horses Starborn and Night.

Her throne wasn’t made out of bones of their enemies, but she loved the shiny onyx stone.

“Then why do you look sad tonight? I don’t like it.”

She smiled at his hand on her low back pulling her closer. “I’m not. I have everything I want. It’s just,” she blew out a slow breath, “sometimes I worry that you’ll get bored with this peace. I mean, you are the god of mischief.”

He laughed and spun her in a circle. Once he pulled her back in, he pressed her against him.

“Mischief doesn’t require war, love.” In a few quick strides he whisked her over to the twin thrones.

Once he was seated, he patted his lap, and she smiled as she sat.

One arm circled around her waist and with the other hand he rubbed her back.

“Thane is the god of war, even if he says he is happy, even if he is High Elf King, he will crave it. I heard him talking to Ronan about war on Ryvengaard between the dragons. Prince Ronan wants to be King Ronan. And the Drakonans from Adalon aren’t getting along with the Drakonans on Ryvengaard.”

“You are worrying over nothing, Val.” He smirked, revealing his dimple. “Or is it you that is bored? Do you want to go conquer a realm? We have both the immortal weapons, who would stand against us?”

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “It was agreed by the primordials that we could keep them because we vowed not to use them ever again.”

“ You vowed.” He smirked. “We don’t need them anyway. I will name these conquered lands after you.”

She giggled and ran her hand through his hair. “You are terrible, Zaurahel.”

“I am happy. I love you, and life with you is all I want. If Thane drags me into a war on Ryvengaard?—”

“He is not immortal. He can’t do the same things he did before.”

“We’re working on that.” He nodded at something across the room. “Besides, those two keep me plenty busy for now.”

She twisted out of his grasp and smiled. Aunt Evalyn held the hands of two beautiful raven-haired children. With wide blue eyes, Sadira looked around the room. Aramis was wiggling to break free from Evalyn’s hold.

“A boy and a girl, just like you wanted,” Hel whispered against her ear. “Or do you want more?”

Their twins were five already. She couldn’t believe how quickly time had passed.

Sadira had a soft voice and was well-mannered until she was upset, then her fiery temper came out.

She was showing signs of magic by making her toys float around her room, but they didn’t know her specific affinity yet.

Like her father, she had an ivory complexion, full pink lips and straight black hair that she liked to braid herself.

She also loved to remind her brother she was technically the oldest of them.

Aramis was rambunctious, always on the move and liked to torment everyone by finding toads and small critters to hide in various places.

His magic wasn’t apparent yet, but he could already read books well beyond his age, books most children didn’t read until they were in their teen years.

With a splash of freckles across his nose and bright blue-green eyes against an olive-toned complexion, he was a good mix of his parents.

His little cherub cheeks were perfectly kissable too.

“Two is perfect for me. Why, do you?”

“I’m exhausted just thinking about more.” Hel chuckled. “Aramis is too much like his mother, wild and always getting into trouble.”

Another eye roll was warranted. “You mean, he’s exactly like you.

” Next to Sadira was their cousin, Alwyn, only three months younger than the twins.

Her golden curls tumbled to her low back, and she had bright emerald-green eyes.

She held the bottom hem of her dress and twirled in place.

A dancer like her mother. “Evalyn spoils them. They’re supposed to be asleep by now. She certainly didn’t spoil me.”

“She’s older now. Let her spoil them a little. It makes her happy.” He waved for them to come.

Aramis broke free first and ran at him giggling. Sadira’s light-blue dress swished with each step. She stumbled on the hem of it, stopped, lifted it, and continued.

They quickly climbed the armrest and Sadira leaned forward and rubbed her nose against Hel’s.

It was their usual greeting and was the most precious thing she’d ever seen.

Hel looked good as a father. The day the twins were born changed him.

He joked that his black heart was now split three ways.

It was funny sometimes to see this male who could be so ruthless, who would take life without remorse, covered in tattoos with a filthy mouth, and yet be so gentle and kind to their children.

Aramis stood on the armrest next to her and jumped onto her lap. “Mama!” He touched the tip of his little pointed ears poking out of his wavy, shaggy hair then hers. “How come Alwyn doesn’t have ears like us? But Reed has ears like ours?”

“Well because she is only half elf.”

“So is Reed. That’s her brother.”

Valeen chuckled. “She just has ears like Aunty Kat and Reed has ears more like Uncle Thane.” When he first started talking, he couldn’t say “Katana” without fumbling through the syllables and had settled on “Kat.”

“But Aunt Kat is a goddess and so are you.”

“Your mother is an elf and goddess,” Hel said. “One day we will tell you the story.”

Katana scooped Alwyn into her arms and carried her over with Thane right behind them. “The little gremlins snuck out of their beds,” Katana teased.

“When is Reed going to be big enough to play sword fight?” Aramis pushed out his lower lip. “I hate playing with dolls and that’s all the girls want to do.”

“No, we play more than just dolls!” Alwyn crowed and stuck out her tongue.

“Don’t do that, it’s bad manners.” Katana tapped her nose lightly. “Reed will play swords in a couple years, sweet boy. Be patient.”

“Don’t you play swords with Darrio? He’s your age,” Thane said, folding his arms. Piper and Ronan’s son was over nearly every weekend.

Aramis folded his arms too. “He has wings, it’s not fair. Even dad has wings. I want wings.”

Hel laughed. “Maybe for your birthday.”

Sadira grinned and clapped. “If he gets wings, I want them too!”

“Me too!” Alwyn squealed.

Thane nudged Hel’s side. “You’re on flying lessons then.”

“Where’s Tiffy? I want Tiffy? She’s so squishy. I like to squeeze her.” Sadira looked about the room. And as if on command Tif wandered up the steps of the dais.

“The cupcakes are phenomenal.” Tif grinned with chocolate still smeared around her mouth. Sadira flew at her, swooped her up and squeezed her so hard Tif’s face turned bright red. “Can’t breathe.”

“For the last time, she’s not a doll,” Valeen said. “Be gentle!”

“Oh, sorry.” Sadira set her down and then patted the top of Tif’s hat.

Aunt Evalyn approached with a glass of wine.

She had more energy here and even the gray in her hair had lessened.

The undying waters of Runevale would give her a much longer life.

“Sorry, I know I was on kid duty tonight, but Aramis was practically climbing the walls because he was so eager to see the party. Thankfully Reed and Darrio fell asleep. Darrio’s nursemaid is with them. ”

“It’s fine. Thank you for watching them tonight.”

Thane took out his sword and Aramis’s eyes lit up. “Who better to play sword fight with than your Uncle Thane.”

Aramis jumped off her and took out his small wooden sword. “Yay!”

Sadira climbed onto Valeen’s lap and started braiding a lock of her mother’s hair. “Let’s dance, mama.”

“Alright, my love.” She lifted Sadira on her hip and twirled to the music. Her little giggle filled Valeen with joy. Life was perfect.

Hours later, Valeen laid her head on Hel’s chest. The crickets chirped outside the window and a cool breeze fluttered the curtains.

The castle was quiet with everyone asleep in their rooms. She traced the lily tattoo on his chest while he played with her hair.

Her skin tingled with his touch, that hadn’t changed.

She truly had everything she wanted, and it was even sweeter after how hard they had to fight to get it. “I love you, Zaurahel.”

Lightly grabbing her chin, he lifted her face to his and kissed her. “I love you.” She smiled and pulled back. With a low growl, he tugged on a lock of her hair and dragged her in. “Come back here. I want more. I will always want more.”

The End