Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
I stall and lead the way inside. “Come and pick,” I tell him, squinting when the bright lights blind me upon entry. This place used to be a diner, and it’s retained much of the old decor, although with a new coat of paint. Four pans hang on the walls to represent the sizes of the pies, and I gesture at them with a shy smile. “Which one do you want? I suppose if you want to try cow’s milk cheese, we do need to get separate ones.”
He stalls with his eyebrows raised, already pointing at the biggest one. Going by the size of him, I should have known. “Do you not like the cheese? Is this a trick food? We have a fruit called fool’s apple. It looks great but turns rotten as soon as you bite into it. I don’t like it.” Tristan seems extremely serious about this, so whether it’s part of his shtick or not, I’d rather reassure him.
“No, I’m just vegan, which means I don’t use any animal-derived products. No meat, nor milk, or leather, or anything like that. But don’t mind me. Pick whatever,” I say encouragingly, because the last thing I want is him getting too wrapped up in trying to impress me.
The way he casually strokes my nape sends a shiver down my spine. “You’re sure? It’s not a trick?”
God. He’s adorable. “It’s not a trick.”
Tristan spends the next ten minutes discussing the options with the cashier. This has to be an act, but I am having the time of my life watching him attempt to bluff through his supposed lack of knowledge about human food. ‘Oh, no, of course he knows what pepperoni is. He just misheard the name,’ and so on.
It gives me the time to get a good long look at him in the bright light. His ears are especially intriguing. I spot no seam in the prosthetic, and while his hair must be a wig, it seems perfectly natural. Since the wings erupted out of nowhere, they might be a hologram. But then where’s the projector? And how did the ball bounce off a hologram in the first place?
I am so confused. But when he’s finally satisfied with his order, we take our beer (because why the heck not?) and sit in one of the spacious booths. It’s quite a busy evening, with many of the customers arriving in costume to grab their pizzas to go, but I’m happy enough with our little bit of privacy at the back.
“So… this might sound strange,” I start when his foot touches mine under the table. “But have we seen each other before? Because I swear I saw you in a dream last night, but this must be because I spotted you at the store, or the veterinary clinic…”
Tristan hums and takes off his gloves, which distracts me from my question. I have a thing for big manly hands, and his are just perfect. His short, well-groomed nails are painted black.
“Technically, it was your soul that encountered me last night, but I’m glad it was tangible enough to touch.”
I stall, because the pretend-play is fun, but I want an actual answer this time. “No… I am asking seriously. Have you moved into town? Are you really called Tristan?” I add with a small smile.
He sighs. “I was warned this is a conversation we will need to have. I understand that it can be hard to believe when you have lived your whole life in the sun, but what happened by the river is no joke nor trick. You are bound to a shadow wielder, and I have come to take—lead you back to the Nightmare Realm. Body, soul, and shadow. Unlike some elves in the past, I will not abduct you. You have made a pact out of your free will, and I will be your guide. We don’t even have to go tonight.”
Okay, this is getting a bit too freaky for my taste, but he goes on.
“Speaking of which… Let’s keep the fact that I’m courting you between us.”
I frown, but my heart beats faster. “You’re courting me?”
He laughs and leans back. “Well, yes. And I will be free to do so once you’re Gloombane’s Dark Companion, but it’s considered er… in bad taste to court another’s promised before the couple is officially bonded. Though I think that Gloombane lost that privilege when he sent me as his replacement, right?”
My head is spinning, and I stop him with a gesture. “We can go back to LARPing later, but I want to talk for real. Know the real you.”
Tristan lowers his voice. “I am prepared to prove my words.”
He rolls up one of his sleeves, and the veins going up his forearm make me salivate. Maybe I could just go with the flow and roleplay tonight? What’s the harm?