Her Troll Defender (Beastly Falls)

Chapter 6

Loth

“L oth? Are you okay?” I must be dreaming. Her voice is like a balm to my soul. After hours of trying to get Her to speak to me, to hear Jasmine’s voice in my dreams is a relief. The wind brings her scent to me, and I breathe deeply. Not a dream then. Opening my eyes, the goddess Jasmine stands before me, her glossy hair loose around her shoulders, a moss green jumpsuit highlights her curves. Orla’s work, I’m sure.

“Please, sit.” I cough to clear my throat. It hurts to swallow. Hopefully Rook’s special tea blend will help. I got here early to explain what I needed without Jasmine hearing.

Rook brings my tea and scone out, and smiles widely at Jasmine in a way that makes me uncomfortable. “Ah, Jasmine. Such a sweet smell for a sweet woman.” He breathes in deeply as he takes her hand. “I’m Rook Mullein. Welcome to Midnight Brew. What kind of tea would you like?”

Jasmine smiles, all grace, and says, “Nice to meet you. Surprise me. And something rich and chocolatey to go with it, please.”

“Right away. And here you are, Loth. Enjoy.” The tea smells herbaceous and sweet. The first hot sip scorches on the way down, but it seems to help my throat immediately.

“What happened to your voice?” Jasmine asks with concern once Rook has left.

I shrug it off. “It’s nothing, really.” The look she gives me definitely says she doesn’t believe my bullshit. I sigh. “I thought maybe I could speak to the town myself. Never tried before. Have you spoken to her yet?”

Jasmine looks surprised. “No. It hadn’t occurred to me to speak to the town as I might a person. A god? Do I need to pray?” She wrinkles her nose at the thought.

“I don’t think so. I met Asa, the gargoyle, and Sapphire, his mate. She told me the town spoke with her and gave her a week to decide. So I went to the forest to attempt to speak with her.”

“Did it work?” Her eyes are round in wonder. I shake my head.

“No. In fact, I ruined my vocal chords.” Embarrassed, I take a bite of my scone to avoid speaking any more. It still hurts to swallow, though less than before.

“How are my mums?” Rook asks as he returns with a tray with Jasmine’s tea and decadent brownie. She claps her hands together in delight as Rook sets the plate in front of her.

“The mums are for you?” Jasmine asks Rook. “They look good. He just repotted them this morning. Will you put them on either side of the door? I think that will look lovely. Have you ever thought of a creeping vine going up the wall of the café? I think that would look darling, a bit old fashioned. Yeah?”

Both Rook and I stare at her. She pinches her lips between her teeth, rolling them in, hiding. She did that last night after a rush of words spilled out of her. I want to hear more of her thoughts. And rub her lips with my thumb, keep them away from her teeth.

“That’s a good idea. I’ll bring you some photos you can see. Even ivy would be a nice addition,” I say, happy to work with something other than chrysanthemums. Rook nods as he thinks. I can tell he likes the thought, too.

“I’ll leave you to your food.” He wanders off to speak to Anya, the library director. I bet she’s getting catnip tea.

Listening and watching Jasmine eat her brownie, eyes rolling back in her head with each bite, a slight moan as the flavors hit her tongue, set me on fire inside. I’d like to make her sound like that. I try to find the same enjoyment in my scone, but our pastries are not even on the same planet, let alone the same scale.

“Once your debt is paid, what will you do? What are your dreams?” I ask once she’s settled into her tea and is done making me want to have my way with her here on the table.

“Well, I was studying history at Salem State University before Mom got sick. I really loved it. But now, after caretaking Mom for so long, I don’t know. I’m not ready to go back to the classroom and into more debt.” She rolls her eyes, then takes a sip of tea.

“That makes sense. You certainly have an eye for plants.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. To me, it is.

“That’s just childhood training coming out. Mom always talked through her ideas with me. What about you? Once you’re not trapped here, what would you do?” Her one-dimpled cheek smile is captivating.

“Good question. I’d get rid of Grimm Axe Lumber Company. Their methods are not sustainable. Then maybe back to conserving rare species around the world.” Neither of us speaks of love or families or a future together. What does that mean?

When we’re done, I get up to pay, then stand outside to stare at the wall where Jasmine suggested the vine could go. She’s got a good eye.

“So, do you enjoy being the town’s gardener?” There’s a slight smile on her lips.

“It’s fine. Keeps me in dirt.” I laugh at my own joke. She groans but chuckles, too.

“I think it’s great. I can see you put a lot of thought into these containers. And the path we walked, it was simple and beautiful. My mom loved to put little details into projects like that.” She looks up at me, her brown eyes so sweet, so full of sadness. It makes my heart ache.

We walk back to Red’s B&B. I’m sad to leave her, but I don’t know what else to do. She has to make up her own mind. The town trapped her, but she alone decides the rest of her destiny.

“Sylvia made it sound like several other woman have come to town recently. I was thinking I would try to find them and ask them, you know, about life here.” Jasmine twists her fingers together as she speaks. The streetlight shines its golden light on her. I want to hold her hands in mine, comfort her from whatever nervousness she’s feeling. Protect her , each heartbeat thumps in my chest.

“What are you afraid of?” I ask. She stops walking. Stops twisting her fingers. Stares at me.

“That’s a good question. The unknown, I guess. I knew the path I was on: work as desperately as possible until I pay back the loans or something awful happens to me. There weren’t any other choices. Now though, I have you. Or, I could have you. And a life. And community. And love.” Her eyes sparkle as they fill with tears. “All that possibility. All that hope. It’s a little overwhelming.”

I pull her into me, soaking in the feel of her body warm against mine. “I’d like to say you have nothing but time. But the town has her own ideas. Look at me.” I pull away enough and tilt her chin up to look at me. “You take the lead, I’ll follow.”

Using every pound of self-control within myself, I gently kiss her plump lips. We hover millimeters from each other—I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I’m trying very hard not to throw her over my shoulder and take her home and show her what a good mate I’ll be to her.

The heavens explode in celebration when she leans into me and kisses me back. Slow but thorough. She breaks away and I feel the whole universe pull away from me.

“Goodnight, Loth. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I walk home in the dark, happy. Never have I ever yearned for the sun to rise more than right now.