I Can't Get the Vampire Rogue to Romance Me

Chapter 98 - And Now She Actually Tells the Story

"He was an elf boy," Harrowheart started, after taking a deep drink from her beer. "Devil-may-care type. Knew how to pretend to be a good, stoic elf when he needed to, but it wasn't his true nature. No, that came out when no one was looking." She sighed as her gaze went long, seeing him in her memory. That memory made her smile and her eyes shine. Not for the first time, Evangeline noted how beautiful Harrowheart's eyes were in what wouldn't typically be considered a beautiful face, with the tusks and grayish skin and all.

"So I guess, how did you meet then?" Evangeline asked, shifting herself in her seat so she faced the same outward direction Harrowheart was. It may not have been elegant for the setting, but it did make it easier to observe the room. Plus it wasn't like First Lady Enrichetta's servants expected any better from them.

Harrowheart sighed again. "He came with a druidic delegation, back when druid's knew how to behave themselves. They were all elves, but he wasn't. His parents both were, and they were attending some sort of even the druids were having at the same time. I hadn't had my forge up for a month at that point, and I wasn't paying much attention to it all, because when do druids want something forged."

Hagor had joined Valerian at the fire, sitting in an armchair next to him, but leaning forward, his fingers steepled as he spoke. All Evangeline could make out was, "Little wolf." After a few exchanges, Valerian passed him the letter from Reverie.

Should he really be looking at that? Evangeline thought, but dismissed it when Harrowheart kept talking. "So you can imagine my surprise when one of them walked in. Gods, he was a handsome one. They aren't a very tall species usually, but he had some height to him. Looked me right in the eye when he came in, grinning like he had just heard a good joke. Never did find out if there was one."

"What did he want?" Evangeline asked.

"To ask me out for a drink," Harrowheart.

"Really? What did you say?"

Harrowheart giggled. "Climb up a tree and die." She glanced at Evangeline, merriment bright in her eyes. "I didn't want to be some elf boy's thrill or dare. I mean, I may not be a beauty but I am an experience. But I don't hand that experience out like candy. Though candy doesn't sound like the right analogy either, because I don't hand that out either." She then pointedly popped one of the mini cakes, a small white thing with a half a candied cherry on top, into her mouth. She closed her eyes in delight and smiled as she chewed, giving a very satisfying "Mmmm."

"I wish I enjoyed everything in life as fully as you do, Harrow," Evangeline said, picking up a tiny chocolate layered cake, popping that in her mouth to discover the inner most layer was a gorgeous raspberry mousse.

"I'd say you get your kicks well enough," she said, waggling suggestively with her eyebrows. Then she looked to the side, leading Evangeline's gaze to Valerian. He still sat by the fireplace, and he was passing the letter from Hagor to Sigismund to look at. Hagor had a thoughtful look on his face, his gaze going long into the fire.

"Ehhh?" Harrowheart prompted.

Evangeline ignored the implication, sensing she was about to ask a question about Valerian that she was pretty sure she didn't want, nor could actually answer. "So what happened with that elf guy?" she asked, getting the conversation back on track.

Harrowheart shrugged. "We ran into each other at the local tavern. Got to hang out a lot and by the time I caught feelings for him, it was time for them to leave."

"You didn't tell him how you felt?"

The orcess shook her head. "No, I couldn't bring myself to do it. With all the pressure he was under, and all the expectations of his parents that he wasn't ready to throw off... It wasn't what was best for him and I cared about him enough to know that."

"How can you be sure that was what is best for him?" Evangeline asked.

Harrowheart stiffened and Evangeline immediately regretted saying it. Why do I always go one step too far?

A tug prevented the conversation from going any further, or for Evangeline to apologize. The tug happened again, and everyone of them except Harrowheart moved in sync to it. Without saying any further words, the party all stood and moved toward the door. Just before they exited, a footman stepped in front of them at the doorway.

"Apologies, but her ladyship would like you to stay here," he said.

"Well, our Lordship would like to come down the stairs," Valerian said, slipping his hands under his armpits as he took a pompous stance, countering the footman's upright posture. "So if you would get out of our way, we can need to move with him."

The footman clearly did not know what to think about that. Finally, one of the maids came up behind the footman and whispered in his ear. After that, he relented and let the party through. They met up with Artmond at the staircase.

HIs expression was stoic and distant, so counter to everything about him. Evangeline missed the goofy sweet Artmond from only a few days ago.

"Everything okay?" Sigismund asked, her voice soft and sweeter than her usual harshness.

He nodded, glancing up the way he came as he leaned a hand against the rail. "We have been given permission to continue on to the Green to seek out the blacksmith with the magical chisel. She would like us to be able to separate and come back before our engagement ball in two days time."

"Oh," Evangeline said, totally stunned. "Okay." Meeting her party's own surprised expressions, they all nodded together in agreement. "Yeah, that works. Let's go to the Green."