Taken by the Dark Elf King : Monstrous Mates Book One (Monstrous Mates Series 1)

“DID YOU HEAR ME?” THE young dark elf asks again. “You aren’t supposed to be out here.”

“You’re out here,” I counter, rising to my feet and brushing the grass from my hands. In my new body I am just slightly shorter than him. But still tall enough to look at him in those ruby red eyes. He did not use a mask to camouflage himself so he must not be participating in the Night.

“The rules don’t apply to me,” he says, crossing his arms. “Besides, you’ll miss out on all the mingling if you stay lying on the ground like this. That’s what this ridiculous night is about after all, isn’t it?” He raises two dark eyebrows at me, daring him to challenge him on this.

How interesting.

“What do you care if I miss my chance? Besides, I’m sure your mother is looking for you.” I make no move to return inside. I start down the stone path that leads towards a dark garden. The night is so calm and Wylan only warned about going into the forest

My evening friend bristles and narrows his eyes at me.

“Believe me, elf, I am much older than I look. I am probably a lot older than even you.” I huff at that and continue my walk.

“I am not much in the mood for mindless mingling. So you have two choices: to leave me on my evening stroll or to engage me in more interesting conversation.”

He hesitates for a moment and something passes over his features. Seeming to realize I’ve asked him a question, he falls in step beside me.

“If you have no interest in fraternizing then why did you participate the Night of a Hundred Faces?”

I hesitate, almost saying that it was my royal duty to attend. But in this body I can be anyone. My troubles as Princess Elveena do not trouble the vessel I currently inhabit.

“My father made me.” It’s not a total lie.

We continue down the stone path to the garden. An archway made of gray stones is up ahead. It is coated in wisteria that is growing up its sides like veins. Even at this distance from the entrance, I can already smell the fresh blossoms that are housed there. What type of plants grow in Myrkorvin? Surely some wild and unpredictable things.

My companion has grown silent next to me. That simply will not do. If I am to travel in silence then I will travel alone.

“I saw you before Wylan began his speech. Sneaking into the throne room like an assassin.” I cut him a glance and he raises a dark brow at me. “Why did you not put on a mask if you are as old as you claim?”

He laughs but it holds no humor.

“I think my natural face would be enough to dissuade my fated mate should she be lurking here tonight.”

That draws me up short and I stop under the garden arches and turn to face him. Noticing my expression, he stops next to me.

“Do not speak about yourself that way.” There is a sadness to my companion. One I should have noted earlier. His shoulders curve inward, as if he is trying to shrink his already slim form. What has caused him to believe this about himself? Sure he is young and frail, but there is a gentleness to his face. It strikes me as odd that my kind regards his as beasts, when he is no more than a skittish cub. In truth his face is quite appealing and whoever has caused him to feel otherwise about it should be disgusted with themselves.

“You are quite handsome, my nameless companion.”

He gives me an incredulous look as we pass into the garden.

“Besides, who else would show me night blooming blossoms? Albeit unknowingly. And you have intrigued me, which makes you more interesting than half the people I’ve ever met.”

I leave him standing there with raised eyebrows, the night wind blowing his tunic softly.

The garden is magnificent. As light elves, our magic is used for protection and healing. My specialty is with plants. The sheer number of plants here that I’ve only read about makes me gasp in awe. The night-blooming lotus of the eastern plains with its purple petals and white centers. The darksky rose that comes from the base of the Brokenbone Mountains with its magenta petals.

I could spend hours here. It would take me that long just to see all of the wonders this garden holds.

I stroke the black petal of a deadman’s rose and watch it curve around my finger. My power tingles and with some concentration I will it into the plant. Watching as it shivers and shimmers until its petals become engorged and double.

My companion has come up behind me and regards me and the deadman’s rose with raised brows.

“How did you do that?”

“It’s my power. Healing, but mainly with plants. I can feel their energy and they can feel mine. What about your magic?”

“Nothing like that, I assure you.” I turn away from the plant and he follows me deeper into the garden. “Why don’t you want to go back to the party and be with the others again?”

“In truth, my mysterious friend, royal functions bore me.”

We walk deeper into the garden. A stream is there, slow-moving water that is as dark as the night sky above.

“What about you and royal functions? Or is this your first one?”

He looks down at the stream and tucks his hands into his pockets.

“Unfortunately, this is not my first one. They’re always just like this though.”

“Dreadfully dull? Have you ever met the king?”

“King Arkain?”

“Yes,” I say. “I hear he is quite the formidable figure. I should like to see him at least, but the incessant chatter of a royal party holds very little appeal to me.”

“The king is very private. Many in Myrkorvin were shocked that he ordered this.”

“Do you think he’ll pick a bride?”

My companion regards me closely as if deep in thought. Something lights in his ruby eyes.

“Perhaps, if the Night goes according to plan,” he answers

“If the free magic deems it, you mean?”

“Something like that.” He looks over his shoulder and sighs. “I want to show you something.”

“Oh?”

“Since we’re already breaking the rules by being in here, you can’t leave without seeing the best part.” His slender hand wraps around my upper arm as he leads me deeper into the garden. I do not fear my companion. There is an honest quality about him that has made me lower my guard. I have to admit his hand on my arm is a pleasant feeling. His touch is gentle but firm as he guides me down the rows of flowers and hedges.

My slippers snag on the roots below but my companion stops me after a few minutes. We’ve entered a secluded clearing near the back of the garden. It is no wonder this place is so far removed from the others. In the middle sits the most marvelous willow I have ever seen. Ancient roots have grown all through the grass. Branches covered in glowing petals drape down.

A dawn’s willow. My breath is stolen as I take in its imposing form. They were supposed to be extinct yet here one sits. Proud and basking in the moonlight overhead.

“My mother used to bring me here when I was younger.” I turn to face my companion. “This was her favorite part, and with the way your face lit up at the deadman’s rose I knew you would like this too.”

I am at a loss for words.

“This is…wonderful. Thank you—” I stop myself and cover my mouth. “Oh gods, I do not even know your name.”

My companion chuckles as we walk closer to the willow. The glowing branches cast his gray skin in a lovely hue. Monstrous? No. He is just like me. Two beings appreciating the natural wonders the gods gave us.

“You can call me Ari.”

“Ari,” I smile as I test the name on my tongue. “Call me El.”

He smiles, blunt fangs glinting. Looking into his eyes I feel hypnotized by them. By the kindness he has shown me by sharing this part of himself with me.

We stay beside the willow. Ari picks some of the wildflowers at its base while I stroke a finger up and down the hanging branches. I can hear the willow singing to me with every pass. Obviously the king or the royal gardener has been neglecting her. If I were to stay here I would not make the same mistakes.

Staying here. There’s that thought again.

That perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to remain. To be chosen and live out my days here in this garden, tending to the plants that are clearly in need of a kind hand. And if the dark elves are more like Ari than the monsters we have been told, Myrkorvin wouldn’t be so bad then.

I stop my touching and look at my companion. The gentleness I saw in him earlier has only solidified as I see him with the flowers in his hands. That gentleness causes my stomach to feel funny. I was not lying before, he is quite handsome. Even more so now after showing me the willow.

His head snaps up and he looks back towards the castle.

It is then that I hear it. Music carried on the wind. It is faint but I can just make out the notes of a slow dance. Ari turns back to collecting his flowers but not before I see it. The look on his face. Loneliness. And longing. That is what has me moving towards him.

Ari is the only being I have come into contact with tonight that is not hiding behind a mask. That even with his self-doubts he would rather be his true self than hide behind an enchanted mask. That warms my heart towards him even more.

“Have you ever danced at a ball, Ari?” I ask.

His dark head snaps towards me, a few flowers dropping from his hands.

“No, I tried once but…” He pauses. “Let’s just say it didn’t go as smoothly as one may have hoped.”

“But you know how to dance?” I ask. He nods his head and the skin on his cheeks darkens slightly. He is blushing. How adorable.

I hold out my hand and he looks at it like it’s a snake ready to strike. Without giving him a chance to back away, I snatch his hand and pull him close to me. His body is pressed close to mine and the last flowers in his hands float to the ground.

“Then you’ll have no problem leading me in this dance then?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, think of it as my way of saying thank you for showing me the willow.”

He nods, and as if reluctantly, his hand comes up to rest on my waist. His fingers curve slightly and my heart beats faster. He grips my hand tighter and then we are moving. Even with the clear uncertainty on his face, his steps are precise as he guides me through the dance. We twist and spin in time with the faint music from the castle.

My skirt catches on the grass which is surely leaving behind stains. His hand grips my waist tighter and our bodies fit closer together. Looking up into his eyes they have lost that guarded quality. Rubies shine down on me and I smile at him in return.

We dance around the willow, being carried on an invisible wind. As the song comes to an end, so do we, laughing and breathing heavily at the base of the magnificent tree once more.

“That was—” I begin.

“Amazing,” Ari cuts me off. His chest moves up and down with his deep breathing. “Thank you for that. Truly.”

I smile at that and wink.

“Don’t mention it.” I pause. “But we aren’t done yet.”

His brow furrows. “What do you mean?”

“This was just a test to make sure you knew how to dance properly at a royal ball.” I laugh. The sky above is turning pink. How long have Ari and I been out here? “You still need to actually dance at the ball.”

His features are skewed up in confusion and then it dawns on him.

“Oh, no. You can’t be serious,” he says.

“I’m afraid I am. Deadly serious.” Snatching his hand back, I drag him away from the glowing of the willow and towards the roar of the castle.