A Deal with the Elf King (Married to Magic, #1)

by Elise Kova

“Luella has agreed to marry me.”

Uhhh no she didn't 🤨

There’s no one more perfect out there for you than me.”

I don't like him 🙄

He rolls the dark, glassy beads of the necklace he gave me over my flesh. “And as long as you wear this.”

Hmmm I wonder if this hides her magic?

“Luke. It was a gift from Luke.”

HAH she ratted him out no hesitation 😌

“How dare you,” Luke seethes at me. His face is ugly, horrible. It is the face of hatred. The eyes I’d dreamed about—eyes that, hours ago, looked at me with admiration as he declared he would marry me—I now can’t recognize. “I loved you, I wanted to protect you and now you’d condemn me?”

Yes bitch go eat a dick 🖕

“What would I call you if I was your friend?” My question gives him pause; his face relaxes into something I’d almost say is vulnerable. “I don’t have friends,” he says faintly. Others may interpret the tone as cool indifference. But I hear a hurt I don’t yet understand drifting through his words.

Aww lonely lil babe 🥺

Eldas has decreed that you will have full access to the royal purse strings to order anything that will make your stay here more comfortable.”

Sugar daddyyyy 🤑

I’m a beached whale, heaving, and begging for life.

😂😂

His eyes darken in a way that I’d dare say is…protective? Surely, it must be my imagination. “What did he do?”

hehehe 🤭

“He can Fadewalk because he is of the Fade—a creature caught in the rift when worlds were severed.” “He’s a good boy, that’s what he is,” I coo to the wolf. “Fine. It is now my choice to allow this beast to stay as long as it pleases.” I don’t know if he’s saying that to me, the wolf, or himself. “Of course it is your choice.”

He’s just jealous she’s not calling him a good boy 😂

“The Elf King is who and what I am. There is nothing else.”

☹️☹️

“You are perhaps the one thing in Midscape I find terrifying.”

As he should 😌

Hook nudges my lower back. Wasn’t he curled up in the corner a moment ago? I was already too off balance. I stumble forward. My drink spills down Eldas’s luxe tunic only for me to land against the damp spot now covering his chest. His hands catch me. But he doesn’t push me away as I would’ve expected. He stares down at me, red faced in a way that makes me dizzy.

Hook you meddling good boy

“Apologize to the drink. Because rather than being on your tongue it’s now merely on my clothes—a sorry demotion.”

My good sir 🥵

“We… I…” He breathes heavily. Then, without warning, Eldas steps away. There’s panic in his eyes and fear in his movements. “You’re leaving.” “I’m right here.” I reach for him; all better judgment has left me. “No, you’re leaving Midscape. Leaving me. We… I can’t.” The truth sobers us both. “I must go.” “Eldas—”

Noooooo

Ignoring it is the best, healthiest, most mature response, right? Right.

Yeah totally

“How dare you speak to my wife that way!”

Get her King!

“He was worried about the city across the Fade not having its healer after you left, or that’s what Grandmother told me. It seems a bit odd, if you ask me. I’ve never heard of a king sending aid to your side.”

HE SENT HER TO CAPTON TO ACT FOR LUELLA 😍😍

He snorts. “I do find I prefer the company of people who treat me like shit.”

Bud ☹️

Soundlessly, I slip into the main room. There, on my richly upholstered settee, is a cramped-looking Eldas. His long legs are tucked against one end, knees hanging over the edge. A thin blanket I found in the back of my closet and had out as a complement to the lush velvet of the furniture is draped over him. It’s comically small, almost like the lanky man is using a napkin to keep warm.

Awww he slept on the couch bc he was worried

“You look like a goddess,” Eldas amends. “I would not change a single thing about you, Luella.”

Swooooons

“Of course, she doesn’t know you intend to be gone by then.” Eldas turns and the broad back I was just admiring now has become like an icy wall that I will never be able to scale.

☹️☹️☹️

“You are my priority,” he says, almost like it’s a decree. I fight a blush.

🤭🤭🤭

“I don’t think Harrow’s—” I don’t get to finish before Eldas keeps speaking.

Bruh your gonna irk me greatly if you just brush off her concerns

My attention drifts toward his lips. I can think of several things I’d like for him to do to “help” me.

She HORNYYYYYYY

“There’s only one bed.”

YESSSSSSS

“Don’t worry, I’ll be sleeping downstairs.”

NOOOOOOO

“So there’s never been a child of an Elf King and a Human Queen?”

Did no one think maybe a child of both would fix the problem ?

That’s all you are, mother of my child, light of my world, goddess among women—merely another box that I had to check.” Drestin jests back

He seems smart lmao

“Stay here, hide, and stay safe with Hook. If something happens to you I’ll be forced to rip apart every fae with my bare hands.”

🥵🥵🥵

“It’s for the best,” he murmurs. “What is?” Eldas turns and his expression is unrecognizable. I haven’t seen those frigid eyes since our wedding. “That you’ll be leaving soon.” “Do you mean that?” I whisper. “Of course I do. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it? You have an idea and based on what I’ve read of that journal, you’re not far off.” Eldas stares down at me. “You’ll no longer be needed here and you can go—be free of me. No king will ever have to suffer with a Human Queen again.”

Boy stop talking rn before you fuck up too much

“Tell me now or I will wash my hands of you for good.” How can I make him understand? “Eldas, I⁠—” “Yes or no, do you love me?” His voice raises a fraction. I watch as he shatters under my silence and hesitation. “No. Of course not. Who could?” He chuckles sadly and shakes his head. “I already suspected you didn’t, given the secrets you chose to keep.”

Noooooo

“Then I will grant you passage through the Fade,” he says slowly, “and hope that you never return.”

Bruhhh

“Now, my queen, my wife, I will take you to bed.”

Yeeeeeeeeah baby

“Good gods, she’s hugging me,” I hear Harrow murmur. But he’s relaxed in my arms. A hand even pats my shoulder lightly.

They have sibling behavior down already