Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Ezra isn’t sure who’s trying to kill him, but he has a pretty good idea. After growing up in one crime family and being forced to marry into another, his guess is his ex. He hires a bodyguard and gets a sexy elf. Yeah, he can see past the elf’s glamour, despite Alaric’s attempt to hide those elegantly pointed ears. But Alaric irks him with his stoic nature and he can’t resist poking at him.
While they’re busy clashing, a two million dollar price goes out on Ezra’s head, which brings out powerful preternaturals. Someone really wants Ezra dead, so it’s time they work together to figure out who.
Elf is a MM paranormal romance long novella with a reluctant elf, a snippy-mouthed human, and a soulmate passion that takes them both by surprise. It’s the second in the Mystic Guardians series, but can be read as a stand alone.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
Alaric
“Nice haircut,” Alaric said as he crept up behind his friend and coworker, Finn, who was kneeling behind a one-ton truck in the warehouse parking lot.
Finn shrugged one shoulder. “Needed a change.” The jinn’s shock of bright auburn hair had been shaped into a faux-hawk with low tapered sides and a small lightning bolt shaved bare just over his ear. It suited his rugged good looks perfectly.
Alaric knelt beside Finn. “I can’t believe you cut all that long hair off at all. Thought you were as attached as Bain and Xavier are to theirs.” The Seattle winter was settling in, and the nights had grown considerably cooler—a time of the year Alaric loved. Tonight, the full moon hung high in the sky, and there were just enough lights working in the lot for him to see Finn clearly, as well as their target.
“I got sick of unclogging the drain.”
Alaric snorted; he had the same problem with his thick, shoulder-length black curls. He looked at the warehouse they planned to infiltrate. “How many are inside?” He glanced around the parking lot. They were in the midst of an industrial district of Seattle—nothing but concrete and brick as far as the eye could see. Not one tree. That could be problematic, if he used too much of his magical energy.
“At least three. I followed them here from the shipyard before I called Xavier and asked for backup. I could handle three myself, but I don’t know how many more were already inside. I thought he was sending Callan.”
“Callan apparently got arrested for a bar fight. Bain’s bailing him out.”
“I’m not surprised about the bar fight, but isn’t Bain supposed to be on some kind of honeymoon?”
“He came back early to take a job. Still can’t believe that uptight little accountant of his didn’t take one look at Bain’s flashy clothes and demand a replacement on the spot.”
“The basilisk may look like a disco ball, but he’s got serious skills.” Finn looked over his shoulder at Alaric. “You ready for this? I’m going in smoke, scouting ahead, and I’ll come back and let you know what we’re up against. They were all carrying heavy, so be ready to dodge.”
“Got it.”
Alaric watched as Finn’s solid form disappeared. He wasn’t like the other shapeshifters at their company, didn’t rip up clothes or go through the actual breaking and reshaping of limbs. He just faded away until nothing was left but vapor, then reformed as whatever form he wanted, animal or human. It was impressive magic and made him invaluable in all situations. Especially since he could conjure clothes in the process. None of the others could do that. Alaric had seen more than one shifter fighting naked.
Of course, Alaric didn’t shapeshift at all. He used a glamour to blend in with humans when needed, since his eyes and ears were most definitely preternatural, but his main purpose on any fighting job was not to infiltrate but to heal. An ability that came with a price unknown to most of his coworkers.
His boss knew, though. Xavier, the most powerful sorcerer Alaric had ever met, knew fucking everything. There was no hiding anything where that one was concerned. Finn knew as well because he’d seen the toll magic took on Alaric during past jobs.
Finn came back, formed long enough to wave him in, then re-vaped and disappeared. Alaric ducked and ran toward the side door that Finn had slipped under. The parking lot only had those few working lights, so it was easy to keep to the shadows. He quietly broke open the locked door and stepped inside the warehouse.
Boxes were stacked on ceiling-high shelves on either side of the aisle he faced. He made sure to keep his steps light on the concrete floor as he hurried down to the end. More shelves with boxes met his gaze. The overhead lights were bright, which made his job more difficult, but Alaric had many years of experience sneaking. He followed the sound of voices, easily making out more than three.
This wasn’t one of Finn’s usual jobs. Xavier had made it plain that not only did he want no survivors, but he’d also like them to suffer beforehand. No one who worked for Protective Solutions could stomach human trafficking, but Xavier, who had apparently witnessed some horrific things in his long life, was particularly bloodthirsty about shutting these rings down.
Which was why he’d called Alaric. He could throw spells that made a human or preternatural’s life a living nightmare. Perfect for a situation like this when the criminals deserved the worst.
He paused behind a stack of boxes and took in the scene, eyes zeroing in on the obvious man in charge—a surprisingly good-looking, tall man in a bespoke suit. He had shockingly white hair and a cold expression that betrayed a complete lack of empathy. Knowing what this man did set Alaric’s teeth on edge, but he resisted the urge to cast his planned intense nausea spell. It wasn’t yet time. Besides two men—wizards from their auras—stood on either side of the man. That was a complication he hadn’t expected. He’d have to rethink his strategy.