Free Courting the Phoenix by Viola Grace Page B

noticed that she was staring in shock with her mouth open. “Oh, Abby, Nexus of power for our generation, this is my mother, Andora Dyanhart.”
    Abby moved over and shook Andora’s hand. “Thanks for coming to my big day.”
    Elly watched her mother pull her composure together and shake the Nexus’s hand in return. “I wish you joy.”
    “I already have it.”
    Abby gave Elly a jaunty wave and continued on, greeting her guests.
    Elly sat with her mother, and when her sister returned from the ladies room, Andora filled her in on their visitor, and Talinora was bitter that she had missed the visit.
    Elly sipped at her wine, watched the dancing and kept her eyes out for a dark pair of wings. Her pixie fluttered by and perched on her shoulder, singing along with the music and chattering softly.
    It was nice to have a tiny friend for a while, even if it did ultimately have to go home with the Nexus.
    Elly sat and waited for her dragon to show up, enjoying the entire magical community out to celebrate the Nexus and her nuptials.
    A prickle on the back of her neck made her turn her head slightly. She had felt him in the air, but the huge crowd had kept him from her vision. Now, there was no such restriction.
    “Miss Eilinora, may I have this dance?”
    She blinked when the voice she heard was not the one she was expecting.
    A handsome elf wearing the crest of one of the high families was standing next to her.
    She blinked, “I am sorry, sir, I do not think we have been introduced.”
    “I am Lord Rihadu of the Scar Clan. Would you care to dance?”
    His hair was white and there was a black lock at the front. Aside from that, he was a cookie-cutter elf, tall, fine featured and elegant.
    She slowly got to her feet and grudgingly held her hand out to Rihadu.
    He escorted her to the dance floor, and they shifted formally around and through the other couples.
    “My sister is much more attractive, sir. Why did you not ask her?”
    Rihadu leaned in and whispered, “Because she is not the phoenix potential. We have the dragon, and provided that you go with me, no harm will come to him.”
    “No.”
    The elf stiffened against her. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean no. I am not going with you. The dragon is on his own and you are one crazy bastard.” She worked up a blast of air and shoved him backward, returning to her family table as quickly as she could.
    “Wow, he was handsome.”
    Elly grimaced. “And handsy. Elves think a little too highly of themselves. If he comes again, tell him to go blow.”
    Andora looked indignant on Elly’s behalf. “I will give him a piece of my mind.”
    “Don’t do that, but do go to the guild master and make small talk. He won’t come after you then.” She picked up her clutch purse and opened her senses wide. He was close to her, but he was stressed. She was going to have to move fast.
    She was wearing a flame red gown with silver and gold trim tonight. As she strode off to the edges of the party, she sighed mentally. The dress was going to be a write-off.
    Terric was near, and with every step, her connection to him grew closer until she entered a copse of trees and found the clearing where Terric was being held.
    Overkill seemed to be the wisest course of action for them. Terric was wearing piles of chains and crystals and medallions of confinement were everywhere.
    Three elf guards were watching the woods.
    Wow. This is going to be tricky.
    Terric’s head came up, and he cast a quick glance in her direction. They may not be linked yet, but he could sense her now.
    The creepy elf had threatened him but not her family. As head of the dragons, Terric had plenty of folk who could come to his rescue, but no one knew that he was in trouble.
    Elly concentrated and sent a coil of air under one of the medallions. It quivered and slowly lifted up and away from Terric.
    She set it down behind him, checked to see if the guards had caught on and went back in for a second crystal.
    The elves