3. Florence

Chapter three

Florence

I gasp as beings I thought were only fictional come through the foliage behind us. My hand flies to my mouth and my eyes round, not wanting to look away from the different species entering the clearing.

My eyes register horns, wings, tails, and fur, but my mind can't make sense of any of it.

"Oh, fuck. Shit just got interesting, don't you think, sparkles?" the man called Everett says to Dede. He smirks, and a hint of a fang pokes out.

I step closer to the man with the pointy ears and platinum-blond hair. I think he said his name is Adelbert. The stress radiating from him is almost palpable and my hands ache to comfort him. He doesn't look like the type to easily accept hugs from strangers though, so I'll just lend him some silent support.

The men—magical creatures?—don't scare me. They have a boisterous kindness to them that is evident in how quickly they stop when they notice all of us.

The two groups pause and watch each other—human women on one side, magical creatures on the other—no one daring to make a move.

Just when I think the tension might snap someone in half, Everett says loudly, "Now it looks like a party."

Taking the lead, Adelbert steps into the middle with his hands raised in a nonthreatening gesture. I can't help but notice his long, elegant fingers and an unbidden lustful thought enters my brain when I think about how they would feel on my body.

I'm not an inexperienced woman, but never before have I felt such an instant, visceral attraction to someone. I blink the thought away just as Adelbert starts to speak.

"I apologize for the abrupt appearance of my brethren. Please do not fret. Though their monstrous appearance may startle you at first glance, I can assure you they mean you no harm. I can attest to the sound character of each."

My heart twists at how sincere he is, but the formal speech is not going to calm anyone. I want to step up and help but speaking in front of so many people is not something I am able to do.

"Ladies," Everett drawls in a voice I'm sure has got Dede swooning. I look over at my sister, and I see verifiable hearts in her eyes.

Everett proceeds to translate Adelbert's words into a more palatable manner that the women seem slightly more receptive to.

A muscle ticks in Adelbert's jaw but he nods stiffly at Everett to continue, most probably acknowledging that Everett might have a smoother way of convincing the ladies to trust them.

My eyes sweep over the many interesting features on the different species, but for some reason, my gaze keeps drifting back to Adelbert. His body is so rigid I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself. I have this weird urge to either hold his hand and tell him it's going to be okay, or nibble on his ear until he giggles.

One by one, the men head off to the manor, giving the women some breathing room to hear Adelbert and Everett out who remain behind with us. They try their best to explain that none of the men pose any threat to the safety of the women. They just want to get to the bottom of why we were able to get on the island.

After some serious deliberation, the women cautiously decide to follow them, making Adelbert's shoulders visibly sag in relief.

His silver eyes catch mine. A sensation I can't place wells up in my chest and spreads outward to the tips of my fingers and toes. Blissfully unaware of the effect he is having on me, he gestures for me to walk in front of him.

"Thank you." My voice comes out more timid than I'd like. I gather the skirt of my dress so I don't trip on it in the dim light, then clear my throat. "I'm Florence."

I glance over my shoulder to see Adelbert inclining his head. "Adelbert."

"I guess you don't meet many women like this?" I try to joke. Despite my shyness, I have this awkward sense of humor that always makes an appearance when I'm nervous.

"Never," Adelbert answers seriously. "You are the first to have crossed the wards. No human has ever set foot on this island. Until now."

"Oh." I'm not sure how to follow that, and we lapse into silence.

I can't make out what Dede and Everett are saying, but they are chatting nonstop, chemistry almost popping between them. I hope she gets his number and that they can stay in touch.

I chew on my lip, trying to think what I can say to ease the tension between me and Adelbert when a good idea springs to mind.

"Adelbert, what do you call a cow that plays the guitar?"

"Cows do not play guitar," he scoffs.

"I know, silly goose. Just play along." I shrug, then try again. "What do you call a cow that plays the guitar?"

"I don't know," Adelbert says flatly.

"A moooo-sician," I draw out the word then giggle at my own joke, but Adelbert's brows only furrow deeper.

Okay, not a fan of corny jokes. Or maybe it's not the right time.

"Do you live here?" I ask, hoping a plain question is simpler to answer.

"No. I live in Germany. Everett lives in Las Vegas. The others are spread out around the world. We came together for our reunion this weekend."

"What kind of reunion is it?" I prod, trying to find the question that'll ignite conversation. There's something about him that makes me curious, like I want to know more about him—everything about him.

Adelbert lets out a long sigh and my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I roll my lips between my teeth to keep myself from speaking until he asks me something instead.

Surprising me, Adelbert explains, "We attended Alberad School for the Supernatural in Germany. It has been ten years since all of us have been together in one place. We would have met there, however, some preferred a tropical vacation. This island has been specially warded with extra magic to keep humans from stumbling upon it. Now, it is my duty to figure out how and why you were able to make landfall."

Before I ask another question, I let all that information seep into my brain so I can sort through it. He introduced himself as "Adelbert Alberad" and if the school is "Alberad School for the Supernatural" then he is most probably like school royalty. Before Adelbert arrived, Everett told us that the Alberad family owns this island too. That must put a lot of pressure on him. I hope the others can help him figure it all out.

"I'm sorry," I offer weakly, my feet slowing automatically with the apology. Even though I know I didn't crash their party on purpose, I feel bad for ruining what was probably a lot of fun.

Adelbert accepts my apology with a nod and matches my pace. "You do not seem to possess any magic of your own, so you would not have been able to undo the wards. I am certain there is an explanation for this. We are approaching another ward now. Please tell me if you experience any odd sensations."

I ignore the joke about "sensations" that is on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I focus on the placement of my feet on the footpath.

Not being able to help my curiosity, I venture to ask, "Could you tell me how the wards work? How we would've been able to pass through them?"

A line forms between Adelbert's brows and I almost reach up to smooth it away but catch myself in time.

"There is a repulsion charm around the entire island, meant to keep people from wanting to step foot on it. Then, there is a sound ward that extends to where we met. The strongest wards are placed around the manor to keep it shielded from view. The combination of these wards make the island look uninhabited."

I swallow and then offer Adelbert a small smile. "I seriously had no idea. Sadie and I only met the other women earlier tonight when we got on the boat. We sailed around before stopping for a picnic on the beach."

"You are oddly calm for someone who is on an island full of monsters," Adelbert says and gives me a strange look. I'd like to say I detect concern in his gaze but it might only be curiosity.

"Before I got on the boat tonight, I said it was time I step out of my comfort zone," I explain. In a quieter voice, I add, "Also, I can't explain why, I know it doesn't make sense, but I feel safe around you."

Adelbert tilts his head and looks at me with a sudden intensity, making a single butterfly take flight in my stomach. "Do you always trust this easily?"

I give that some thought, watching my feet as we weave deeper into the jungle, steadily climbing toward the center. Despite my meek nature, I am not a pushover nor am I naive.

I shake my head. "Nope. Guess you're special," I say brightly and shrug one shoulder.