Chapter 2 #3
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he said, his tone softer now, but the hunger in it was unmistakable.
She lifted her brows, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He gave a crooked, hungry smile. “I think it’s one of the best I’ve ever had.”
He turned, crossing the shop in long, measured strides. The bell above the door chimed as he left, but the echo of her presence clung to him, sharp and sweet as the promise of a storm.
Outside, the cold night air bit at his skin, but he barely felt it.
He crossed the street, senses still filled with Lisa, her scent, the heat of her body, the stubborn tilt of her jaw.
Everything else blurred at the edges, insignificant compared to the memory of her pulse, the taste of her defiance.
As he walked, the quiet hum of human life dimmed behind him. But with each step, a heaviness crept through his limbs—a familiar, unwelcome pull. The light around him seemed to thin, his breath shortening, his magic draining as though the very air were leeching it away.
He stopped under the weak glow of a streetlamp, gripping the post until the dizziness eased. Beneath the surface of his skin, something darker stirred. Something ancient and waiting. He could almost hear it whisper, like an echo from a place long sealed away.
He looked back at Enigma, the windows glowing gold against the dark. He could just make out her silhouette, moving behind the glass, utterly unaware that she had lit a fire inside him that would not easily be extinguished.
The darkness inside him shifted again, hungry, curious.
And for the first time, Rezer didn’t push it back.
The bell over the door gave its final chime as Rezer disappeared into the night. Lisa stood frozen for several seconds, staring at the empty space where he’d been, trying to decide whether to scream, laugh, or maybe just close up shop and pretend today had never happened.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered, dragging a hand down her face. “Absolutely unbelievable. Apparently I’ve managed to intrigue a tall, brooding elf with boundary issues. Great.”
She turned the sign on the door to Closed and began flipping off lights, the soft click of switches echoing in the quiet. For one blissful moment, she thought she might actually make it to the back room and collapse into her chair in peace.
“Rough day, darling?”
Lisa froze mid-step. “Syndra,” she sighed. “I don’t think I have the energy for your brand of crazy right now.”
The air shimmered, and there she was—the former Light Elf queen, radiant and amused, leaning casually against a shelf of crystal pendants. Her silvery hair glowed faintly in the dim shop light, her eyes full of far too much mischief for Lisa’s current level of patience.
“I’m not kidding,” Lisa said dryly. “I’m exhausted from dealing with two males who might have a pissing match over me.”
Syndra grinned, entirely unrepentant. “That’s both interesting and gross at the same time.”
Lisa crossed her arms, one eyebrow arching. “You are so disturbed. Is it the age thing? Does living so long just eventually make you crazy and weird?”
Syndra drifted closer, studying her with unnerving precision. “You’re flushed. And I can practically taste the tension in the air. Did our elusive dark elf rock your peaceful world?”
Lisa blinked at her. “You really don’t waste time, do you?”
She waved a hand while making an annoyed sound. “Time is irrelevant when you live for so many lifetimes, and it makes a person crazy, as you pointed out. I’m just impatient. Now, details. Don’t make me guess.”
Lisa groaned, pressing her palms to the counter.
“Fine. Quick summary, because I’m officially done for the day.
Bachelor number one—the human and former dark elf employed, showed up, as he usually does on a Thursday afternoon.
His usually flirty grin in place and scones in hand.
Bachelor number two, the dark elf with a questionable background and too much confidence—sat in my sitting area all.
Damn. Day. And then proceeded to goad Tony as much as possible until I finally asked one of them to leave. ”
Syndra’s eyes lit up. “You asked only one? The plot thickens.”
Lisa gave her a flat look. “It’s not a plot, Syndra. It’s two headaches with egos too big for my small shop.”
The elf queen tilted her head, smiling faintly. “And yet you’re blushing.”
“I’m overheated,” Lisa said firmly. “From stress. And from standing too close to six feet of bad decisions wrapped in dark leather.”
Syndra laughed, the sound light and musical. “Oh, Lisa. You do know how to pick them.”
“I didn’t pick him,” Lisa shot back. “He just . . . appeared. Like a magical fungus. One that smirks too much.”
Syndra made a show of examining her nails. “And according to him, he’s coming back tomorrow?”
Lisa hesitated, then groaned again. “Apparently. Because why not? The saga of my life continues tomorrow, same time, same place. Bachelor number two, the mysterious dark elf, will return for another round of emotional torment. I’m sure it’ll be riveting.”
Syndra’s grin widened. “Oh, I’m certain it will be. And I’ll be here for all of it. Don’t worry, I’ll bring popcorn.”
Lisa pointed at her. “Don’t you dare. It leaves behind an after smell that doesn’t go away for days and doesn’t blend well with my herbs.”
The elf merely winked, utterly unbothered. “Sleep well, dear heart. Tomorrow promises to be . . . illuminating.”
Before Lisa could reply, the air shimmered again, and Syndra vanished, leaving only the faint scent of jasmine and amusement behind.
Lisa stared at the empty space for a long moment, then as she turned off the final light and locked the door, muttered, “I need new friends.”