CHAPTER FOURTEEN #3
Nyssa sucked in a deep breath. Maybe it was the alcohol, or the hum in her veins from a night surrounded by friends, but …
‘It is, but … it also means I’m one step closer to returning to my old life, and …
I don’t know, I guess the thought just doesn’t fill me with as much joy as I thought it would.
’ She paused, looking up at the clear, starlit sky.
‘When I first arrived in Nighthaven, I was so sure it would be just a temporary refuge for me, but now … now I’m not sure I can see myself leaving here. ’
Or you.
The words rose in Nyssa’s throat, surprising her somewhat.
How had Elowen become such a crucial piece of the puzzle that made Nighthaven feel more like her home with each passing day?
It was a feeling that felt too new to voice, and until she could, it would stay locked up safely inside her heart.
Instead, she shook her head and let out a nervous laugh.
‘Anyway, that isn’t your problem, and right now, dealing with Morven is more important. Everything else can wait.’ She scooped up Nyx, and when Elowen still hadn’t responded, held back a disappointed sigh. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Goodnight.’
‘I’ll walk you home.’
It was so far from what Nyssa had been expecting the elf to say that for a moment she simply stared at her, her mouth slightly open.
Elowen looked … nervous. Her eyes were fixed on her boots, and her fingers tugged at the frayed hem of her coat sleeves.
If the offer itself hadn’t been a sign, her body language was.
Elowen wasn’t running away.
And even though Nyssa still wasn’t certain she’d be staying in Nighthaven, even though she should have declined Elowen’s offer and kept up the fragile boundary between them, she instead made an offer of her own.
‘I flew into town on my broom, but … Would you like to ride with me?’
The smile Elowen gave was enough to wash away any lingering doubts. In that moment, Nyssa didn’t want to think about Morven, or her trial, or anything that wasn’t Elowen’s beautiful face and the fluttering in her stomach as the elf gave her answer.
‘Yes.’
They walked side by side to where Nyssa had parked her broom in the tavern’s broom-lot.
Nyssa placed Nyx inside her basket, waited until she’d curled up into a ball, and then swung her leg over.
Elowen watched with a charming mixture of excitement and trepidation that only made the butterflies in Nyssa’s stomach flutter harder.
‘Just get behind me and hold on tight. The broom will do most of the work. Don’t worry,’ Nyssa added when Elowen still looked unsure, ‘I won’t let you fall.’
That seemed to do the trick. With a small smile that made Nyssa’s heart flip, the elf mounted the back of the broom, her slim, toned arms settling around Nyssa’s waist. And as her scent flooded Nyssa’s senses, she kicked off the ground and sent a single command to the magic enchanting her broom: Home.
A sharp gasp of surprise escaped Elowen as they soared into the sky, and her grip around Nyssa’s waist tightened almost to the point of hurting.
‘You’re all right. I’ve got you.’
Elowen’s grip started to loosen as the broom levelled out and settled into a gentle glide across the sky.
Below, Nighthaven was a blur of shadows and warmly lit windows, the main town gradually giving way to expansive countryside with dense patches of woodland.
As they neared the lake, it looked as if the sky itself had taken its place.
A small group of water pixies played on its surface, chasing the reflection of the stars.
‘I’ve never seen Nighthaven like this.’ Elowen’s breath kissed the back of Nyssa’s ear. ‘It’s always looked magical, but now … it feels like being in another world.’
Nyssa let out a low hum of agreement. This was her favourite time of the day, when the world felt still and at peace and Nyssa could just be without the weight of expectation.
It was a moment just for her that she hadn’t imagined sharing with anyone.
But having Elowen behind her, arms wrapped around her waist, felt …
right. As if something had clicked neatly into place.
‘I want to show you something.’
There was a small spot near her cottage just above the lake, where a grove of trees stood in a circle. Her grandmother had taken her there often when she was younger to perform spells, and at this time of night, it was always alight with soft golden fireflies.
Elowen let out a soft gasp as they reached it, and Nyssa commanded the broom to stop and hover. She turned to look at Elowen over her shoulder, chest suddenly too tight. ‘What do you think?’
Elowen tore her gaze away from the dancing fireflies to meet Nyssa’s stare, and she wasn’t sure the elf was talking about the grove any more as she replied, ‘Beautiful.’
This time, when Nyssa’s gaze drifted to Elowen’s lips, the elf didn’t back away. Instead, she leaned slightly forward, lips parting in anticipation, and before Nyssa knew it she was closing the space between them, and—
Screee!
The shriek pierced the night, startling Nyssa so much she almost lost her balance on the broom.
Elowen tightened her hold on her as the broom swayed dangerously in mid-air, and a spark of recognition sparked through Nyssa: it was the same large, sharp-taloned owl she’d spotted outside of The Pixie’s Grove.
And this time, it was heading straight for them.