“Very different from your childhood I think,” he had told her.

“What do you mean think?” She had asked him.

Trik had pushed as hard as he could in his mind to form some thought of his childhood, but no memories came.

“I don’t remember it,” he had told her, his voice flat and devoid of emotion though inside he had felt like something was beginning to weaken, some wall that had been erected was beginning to falter in its hold.

“You don’t remember anything about your childhood.” Cassie’s voice had been full of disbelief and sorrow.

“It’s been a long time, Cassie. I am ancient, remember?”

He had teased her, trying to keep her from feeling bad for him, all the while, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling growing inside of him.

Trik sat up abruptly as the unwelcome pulling sensation drew him from his memories. He knew that sensation and it was one that he was beginning to dread. Lorsan was calling to him. He wasn’t forcing him, but he was definitely summoning him.

Cassie’s bedroom door opened and Trik stood quickly, closing the distance between them.

“What’s wrong?” Cassie saw the frustration written across Trik’s handsome features as he pulled her into his arms.

“Lorsan summons me; I must go.”

“When will you be back?” She asked him calmly, pushing out any of the possibilities for which his King would be calling him.

“As soon as I can.” Trik pulled back and looked down at her. “I don’t suppose you can stay in your room until I come back for you?”

Cassie stifled her laughter into his shirt. When she looked up into his silver eyes, she saw worry there. “Trik, I can’t just stay in my room when you aren’t with me.”

“Why not?” His brow furrowed in frustration. “I can’t keep you safe when I’m not with you Cassie.”

“There is nothing you need to keep me safe from.”

“A'maelamin, I am the most feared assassin in the history of my race.”

Cassie was surprised to hear no vanity in his tone. He was just stating the facts.

“I have taken more lives than you have probably met and pissed off double that amount. Believe me, there is plenty to keep you safe from. The news that I have found my Chosen is spreading quickly. You will soon become a target to anyone who wants to get to me.”

Cassie started to speak but he cut her off with a firm kiss.

“Look, it’s Saturday,” he smoothed her hair back from her face as he looked down at her. “Just stay in your home until I get back. I won’t be gone long.”

“Fine,” she said in exasperation as she stepped away from him and flopped onto her bed. “I’ll wait for you here like a good little girl.”

Trik grinned down at her and her heart nearly stopped at his Adonis look. The elf really was too good looking for his own good.

“I shall reward you accordingly.” He leaned down over her, his hands on the mattress on either side of her head and pressed his lips to hers. Trik lingered over her, breathing in her scent and memorizing her taste.

“See you soon beautiful,” he whispered against her lips. Cassie’s eyes closed as she relished his closeness, but they opened as soon as she felt a soft breeze caress her face. She sat up and blinked as she looked around her room. Trik was gone.

She flung herself back on her bed with a groan. A whole Saturday stuck at home. “This is crap,” she muttered to herself.

Her cell phone beeped. She grabbed it from her bedside table. It was a text from Elora.

E: U up?

C: Yep. Cassie texted back.

E: Quiver boy there?

C: Nope

E: Bored?

C: Yep

E: Go out?

C: QB says it’s dangerous

E: So is breathing in the noxious fumes we call air. Point?

C: Well, when u put it that way E: Can’t argue with my logic

C: Uh, u mean can’t argue with you period?

E: That too. So-u in?

C: Bring it.

E: That’s my girl

Cassie grinned as she tossed her phone onto her bed. Elora to the rescue. It was good to have a friend who liked to stick it to the man, or to anyone for that matter.

~

“It’s been a while, Triktapic.” Lorsan waited for him in the large garden located behind the King’s palace. Trik looked around as he entered the large garden and thought that it must look much like what humans described in their enchanted tales. Lush grass carpeted the ground. Tall trees with strong trunks and long branches covered in ornate leaves shaded the garden. Flowers in every color imaginable bloomed around them, tall, short, small , and large.

Trik smirked to himself, thinking that Cassie would ask why the dark elf castle was not actually dark, at least not on the outside. Regardless of the heart that lurked in Lorsan’s chest, he still liked beautiful things and his garden was indeed beautiful.

“It’s been a week, my Liege, hardly any time at all.” Trik knelt before Lorsan knowing that it would both please and irk the King.

“A week since you have bothered to check on your duties,” Lorsan’s words were clipped and tight.

Trik continued to kneel. “Alok has it under control.”

“How would you know? You haven’t checked in with him in a week.”

After a long pause, Trik stood, tired of playing the part. “I do not answer to Alok, and if he thinks that I am not keeping an eye on what is going on, then he is not the Second in Command that I thought he was.” Trik’s head snapped around to look at Lorsan.