Gift (Enchanted Ardor #2)

Chapter Fifteen

Dolph dropped his empty mug on the tray Vixen held out before him, ignoring her pinned stare.

“What?”

“You haven’t set foot in this house in decades.”

“And?”

Her eyes narrowed on her upturned face. “What are you up to?”

“Curiosity.” He shrugged. “Don’t see many new faces around here anymore.”

“You can’t stand humans.”

“And?” he prompted again.

“And you know as well as everyone else here that she is meant for Nick. He just needs time to adjust.”

Dolph’s laugh was abrupt. “You two are meddlesome. Neither of them look interested in your matchmaking.”

Vixen lifted a brow. “Says the cranky Alfar poking his blue nose in where it wasn’t before.” She set the tray aside, planted her hands on her hips and increased the intensity of her stare. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing. That human shouldn’t be here at all, and I want her gone already.”

“Mhmm.”

Dolph backed toward the still open door as Cupid finished his task, preparing to leave. “I will accompany you back to the tower. I’m going that way, anyway.”

Cupid appeared startled by Dolph’s announcement as he looked between him and his wife. “What’s going on?”

Vixen shrugged, finally turning away. “Maybe you can find out. And mind the Nisse. They’re still sprawled in the bushes and are a tripping hazard. Should have planted those junipers further away from the path.” She grumbled, retrieving the tea tray. “I’ll be in the forge till lunch.”

Cupid kissed her cheek on his way by. “Be sure to tell Dash we have an indefinite guest. He’ll want to make something special.”

Dolph ground his teeth as he hovered by the front door, waiting for the dwarves to finish their domestic dawdling and get on with the business of the day.

Deciding to put some distance between himself and their repulsive affectionate exchange, he resisted the urge to kick at the splayed Nisse passed out on the edge of the path.

Nuisance. Always getting into things and barely doing anything useful, despite what Nick claims.

Dolph clenched his fists.

Odin knows I hate it here. Hate everything about this place, and especially hate everyone in it.

And now there’s a fucking human. How much worse can it get? A human. Layered punishment, surely.

From the path junction, he glanced back toward the cottage where Vixen stood, watching him.

I need to be more careful. She notices too much.

Or work faster. At least her husband is more oblivious.

“Alright, Dolph, what are ye up to? You never accompanied me anywhere.” Cupid demanded, as Dolph fell instep alongside him.

“Why are you and that wife of yours so suspicious? A new face shows up and suddenly my curiosity is suspicious?”

“You didn’t make this much effort the last time anyone from outside appeared and we all know how you feel about humans.”

“I told you last night, I’m bored.”

Cupid grunted as he turned onto the tower path.

“Besides, isn’t it risky leaving the frequency open?”

“Aye, but I’ll keep my eye on things, as I always do. The crystals are set. Nothing will get in.” He spun on Dolph, eyes narrowed on him as Vixen’s had been. “The Grove will be safe. I won’t let anything in to infect it. We all know how important it is to the Balance. So you’d best be off to tend your thicket. There is much to be done, and while the Grove is important, this task is too.” Cupid waved Dolph off in the opposite direction of the fork he meant to take.

Dolph glanced up at the column of the tower rising from beyond this section of ash trees.

“Maybe someday, if you prove yourself to the Gods, we’ll all be able to move on from this place. Until then, you best get to work. And take a bath.”

Dolph bit back a retort as the dwarf turned his back on him.

He pinched his eyes against the pressure in his head. The nagging insistence to keep to the plan, invading his dreams so that he couldn’t even rest in peace.

He huffed at that. Rest in peace?

Yeah, not in over a millennium.

He drew a breath, straightening his shoulders.

Patience.