Lisa snorted. “Knowing how closely they protect their secrets, with our luck they’ll probably try hauling her off to Elf land.”

“Not funny, Lisa.” Elora rolled her eyes at her mother’s dark sense of humor, not even realizing how honestly she came by her own pessimistic personality.

~

Syndra sat while her mate, Tamsin, King of the Light Elves, paced back and forth across their bedroom. She waited while he considered her words and the implications that came with them.

“So you are telling me, Triktapic, famous assassin and continual thorn in my side, has a Chosen and she is human?” Tamsin eyed his Chosen with raised brows.

Syndra gave a slow nod and continued to let him work through the details. She knew how her mate’s mind worked and knew that it was best to make subtle suggestions but ultimately let him come up with the decision.

“So she is essentially untouchable,” Tamsin thought out loud. “How is it that someone as dark as Trik would possibly be given one so innocent, not to mention young.”

“She is young, but not as young as you think. She has what the humans call an old soul. She has an inner strength that I don’t even think she is aware of.”

Tamsin looked over at his Chosen and wryly smiled. “What of her innocence, my lover?”

Syndra stood and walked slowly to him. She stood inches from him as she looked up into his shimmering eyes. Eyes that never ceased to draw her in and remind her of the love he held for her.

“Trik has held our people, as well as his own, in fear for centuries,” said Syndra. “He is Lorsan’s pet, but I don’t think Lorsan really has control over him, at least not any more. Something is changing; the balance is being tilted in our favor.” She brushed a loose hair out of his face and smiled encouragingly. “Whatever Lorsan has planned, it must be something especially evil—evil enough that the Forest Lords are watching. They only take note if either of our sides are doing something that affects the humans. It is my belief that they have chosen Trik to be the instrument of Lorsan’s downfall. He is not lost, not yet. His Chosen, this Cassie Tate, already holds a deep place in his heart. She will draw him from the dark.”

“And what if he draws her from the light instead?” Tamsin challenged, ever the analytical tactician.

“Then we must beg the Forest Lord’s help,” she responded. You know that our realm cannot survive without the humans. If Lorsan destroys them, he destroys us all.”

Tamsin nodded in acknowledgment. “We must also hope that he does not realize the importance of Cassie’s role. If he suspects that she represents a threat to his power, then he will kill her, regardless of whether she is Trik’s Chosen.”

Tamsin pulled Syndra into his arms pressing his forehead to hers. His love flowed into her. Even after a millennia together his desire and love for her had only grown. He wasn’t ready to end their long life ; he wasn’t ready to give upany time with his Chosen, especially not for a Dark Elf King’s selfish desires.

~

Trik sat surrounded by the darkness of Cassie’s room. He smiled as he thought about the appalled look on her face when he suggested that she let him sleep next to her…for her protection of course. Protection from what? She had asked. He had grinned his sly smile and told her protection from any who would take his place in her dreams. She had rolled her eyes at him and he had agreed to sleep on the floor. He had never needed much sleep so he had taken up a seat in the corner of her room, on the chair that had sat in front of her desk.

It had taken Cassie a while to fall asleep. She kept telling him to stop staring at her. But she didn’t understand. She didn’t understand that when Trik looked at her, he wasn’t just looking at her physical beauty. He was seeing all the beauty that she brought into his world , all the beauty that he had never known existed. Cassie held his attention as sure as the sun held the devotion of a flower, seeking out her life-giving rays. Even in the dark , he had seen the blush that had stained her beautiful skin. But eventually, exhaustion had taken over. His thoughts drifted back to the pain they had both felt when they had been separated. He had heard of such a thing happening between Chosen pairs, but never had he ever imagined it would feel like that. It made him sick to think that Cassie had endured such pain. It angered him that he could have prevented it if he had denied her request. He should have stayed and forced her to hear him out. Then again , he didn’t imagine his Chosen could be forced to do much.

Trik heard Cassie whimpering softly in her sleep. He went to her and kneeled by her bedside, putting his face level with hers. He gently brushed back the hair that fell like a veil in front of her face. As his fingers brushed her skin she leaned into his touch and she settled. Even in sleep , she knew him.

As he knelt there, captivated by his Chosen, he felt the pull of his King. Lorsan had the ability to call his elves back to him no matter the distance. For the first time in his long life, Trik ignored his Lord’s call.

~

Cassie walked next to Elora through the drab, crowded halls of their high school. Rows and rows of lockers lined the halls, crowding the students as they stopped to retrieve their personal belongings. To any new student, the school might seem interesting, with all the inspirational posters hung on the walls. The posters contained such stirring proverbs as “There is no I in team,” and Cassie’s personal favorite, “Change is inevitable and life changes as swiftly as the wind blows. It’s which direction that you let the wind blow you that matters.” Some student, bound to be indispensable to society, had crossed out the word ‘the’ and then added a ‘Y’ to the end of ‘wind.’ Cassie might not get a quality education at Northpointe High, but she would certainly learn the important lessons in life, like how to smut up an inspirational poster.