old to embrace her Elven side after all these years not knowing about it. It didn’t dampen her curiosity to hear about my experiences, though.
“Sophisticated, charming, a supermodel—your typical Dark Elven nightmare,” I said, answering her question about Ava.
Daddy laughed. “You can’t doubt Lad’s commitment to you. I’ve seen him around you. He’s totally in love.” Taking his seat next to Mom again, he patted her thigh and gave her a quick kiss.
“I know.” I rolled my eyes at my own neurotic tendencies. “It’s stupid. I just have trust issues, I guess.”
My father’s face fell. I knew he felt partially responsible for that, though I hadn’t said it to make him feel guilty. There were reasons behind his brief affair and the months he’d spent on the road away from us—the main one was sitting right beside him wearing an identical expression of dismay. But they’d forgiven each other and seemed to be moving past it.
“I know you do, baby,” Mom said. “That’s largely my fault. But it’s never too late to change.” She glanced over at my father. “For any of us. Just try to have faith in Lad and in your love. It’s all going to work out.”
Later that night I lay in my bed in my childhood room, staring at the wide, dark window that faced the backyard and the woods beyond it. Unable to sleep, I thought about my parents’ words. Was Mom right? Could I change?
I wanted to. I wanted to be someone who could love without question, trust without fear, but the future was as boundless and impossible to see as the midnight forest and all the secrets it held.
A tiny flash of light caught my attention. One firefly, then another, then another landed on my window, illuminating my room by tiny increments. Within minutes, the entire window was covered by bright, pulsing sparks of light—a message from Lad that he was thinking of me.
In that moment, I vowed I would change, and my heart swelled with new determination.
I would let go of the past completely—let go of worry and trust in him, trust in us . He deserved that from me.
Goodnight my love , I whispered in my mind.
Goodnight sweet girl , he said back to me from somewhere deep in Altum, and finally I closed my eyes and rested in the knowledge of his love and the fact that nothing—and no one could wipe out our beautiful future together.
Chapter Eight
Lad
Our new ambassador was not at all what I’d expected. Ava was bright and funny, eager to learn, and like Ryann, full of surprises.
On the morning after her arrival, she startled me by entering the dining room of the royal residence early, smiling and appearing rested from her cross-country journey. I was usually one of the first to be up and dressed in the mornings. I typically ate breakfast alone except for the servants who moved quietly in and out of the room. It was a routine I enjoyed, allowing me time to think and prepare for the day ahead.
This day was different though. I’d be showing Ava around, answering her questions. I’d have questions for her as well—there was much I had to learn about the Dark Court and its citizens—how many of them were antagonistic toward the Light Court and opposed to our peace treaty, for instance.
“Good morning.” Her voice was a happy sing-song. She seemed so young to be an ambassador—I’d expected an authoritative older man, not a girl my own age—at least she looked about my age. She was dressed in human clothes that would probably have made Ryann drool. I’d been told Ava was a fashion model, and I supposed that came with a nice wardrobe.
I pushed my chair back and stood. “Good morning, Miss Morten.”
“Oh, call me Ava, and please have a seat. Whatever you do, don’t call me Miss Morten. That’s my mother’s name, and God forbid I remind you—or anyone—of her. Besides, I don’t
“Sophisticated, charming, a supermodel—your typical Dark Elven nightmare,” I said, answering her question about Ava.
Daddy laughed. “You can’t doubt Lad’s commitment to you. I’ve seen him around you. He’s totally in love.” Taking his seat next to Mom again, he patted her thigh and gave her a quick kiss.
“I know.” I rolled my eyes at my own neurotic tendencies. “It’s stupid. I just have trust issues, I guess.”
My father’s face fell. I knew he felt partially responsible for that, though I hadn’t said it to make him feel guilty. There were reasons behind his brief affair and the months he’d spent on the road away from us—the main one was sitting right beside him wearing an identical expression of dismay. But they’d forgiven each other and seemed to be moving past it.
“I know you do, baby,” Mom said. “That’s largely my fault. But it’s never too late to change.” She glanced over at my father. “For any of us. Just try to have faith in Lad and in your love. It’s all going to work out.”
Later that night I lay in my bed in my childhood room, staring at the wide, dark window that faced the backyard and the woods beyond it. Unable to sleep, I thought about my parents’ words. Was Mom right? Could I change?
I wanted to. I wanted to be someone who could love without question, trust without fear, but the future was as boundless and impossible to see as the midnight forest and all the secrets it held.
A tiny flash of light caught my attention. One firefly, then another, then another landed on my window, illuminating my room by tiny increments. Within minutes, the entire window was covered by bright, pulsing sparks of light—a message from Lad that he was thinking of me.
In that moment, I vowed I would change, and my heart swelled with new determination.
I would let go of the past completely—let go of worry and trust in him, trust in us . He deserved that from me.
Goodnight my love , I whispered in my mind.
Goodnight sweet girl , he said back to me from somewhere deep in Altum, and finally I closed my eyes and rested in the knowledge of his love and the fact that nothing—and no one could wipe out our beautiful future together.
Chapter Eight
Lad
Our new ambassador was not at all what I’d expected. Ava was bright and funny, eager to learn, and like Ryann, full of surprises.
On the morning after her arrival, she startled me by entering the dining room of the royal residence early, smiling and appearing rested from her cross-country journey. I was usually one of the first to be up and dressed in the mornings. I typically ate breakfast alone except for the servants who moved quietly in and out of the room. It was a routine I enjoyed, allowing me time to think and prepare for the day ahead.
This day was different though. I’d be showing Ava around, answering her questions. I’d have questions for her as well—there was much I had to learn about the Dark Court and its citizens—how many of them were antagonistic toward the Light Court and opposed to our peace treaty, for instance.
“Good morning.” Her voice was a happy sing-song. She seemed so young to be an ambassador—I’d expected an authoritative older man, not a girl my own age—at least she looked about my age. She was dressed in human clothes that would probably have made Ryann drool. I’d been told Ava was a fashion model, and I supposed that came with a nice wardrobe.
I pushed my chair back and stood. “Good morning, Miss Morten.”
“Oh, call me Ava, and please have a seat. Whatever you do, don’t call me Miss Morten. That’s my mother’s name, and God forbid I remind you—or anyone—of her. Besides, I don’t
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