5. Adelbert

Chapter five

Adelbert

I am unsure why it surprises me that Florence would be the one to have my matching mark. The moment I saw her, I knew there was something different about her. Some would go as far as saying "special." However, that is not a thought I can entertain—neither now, nor ever. My future is set in a heavy stone that I carry on my shoulders at all times. It constantly reminds me of my father's expectations for my life and my lack of choices.

I am an Alberad. It is my responsibility to solve whatever has occurred tonight—on my family's property—and to send everyone back to their homes posthaste. It is my responsibility to not shame the Alberad name. It is my responsibility to keep everyone safe. It is my responsibility to ensure vows of secrecy are given, before we never see the women again.

I clear my throat and the room's attention turns to me. "It seems that most of us have found a tattoo partner. I am unsure as to the meaning of this, but I shall head to the library to commence research pertaining to this unique predicament and find a means to dissolve the markings that have appeared. I apologize for the inconvenience. Please help yourselves to some refreshments while the males prepare your accommodations. We shall return shortly to take you to your wing. I apologize once again, but I will do my utmost to make sure you are as comfortable as possible while we figure this out."

My eyes dart around the room, trying to reassure each person present, instead of settling on Florence, who they seem to gravitate toward.

The leader of the group, Iris, stands up and thrusts her hands on her hips. "Lovely speech, Adelbert. And not to knock the wind out of your sails, but before all the males leave, I would like to know what the captain said about us not returning. I hope he understood and is not sending out a search party or anything."

Fuck. I had already forgotten that we sent Jamie to check on the boat and that he had not yet reported on his findings. I curse myself for getting so distracted. Even though I would like to blame someone, anyone, for my lapse, I cannot.

I chance a glance at Florence, wondering if I will find judgment in her eyes, but those big blue pools are only filled with compassion. She is too nice for this world. I would ruin her. Better to stay as far away from her as possible.

Averting my gaze, I tune into the last part of Jamie's explanation. "When I went to teleport, I smashed into a barrier of some kind. It's never happened before. Usually, if I try to go too far, I have a stretching sensation before reaching my limit. But this was just like running into a solid wall. Hence the bloody nose and sore arm."

My brows furrow as I sift through options of what this "barrier" could be. Our wards are not tangible, so it must be something else. It could possibly be connected to the symbols on our bodies.

Before I have a chance to even ask, Everett—being the helpful friend that he is—stands up and walks backward toward the door. "Bertie, let me run down to the beach real quick and see if I can find the problem."

"Thank you, Everett. That would be most kind," I say, though he zooms out so fast that my words are lost to the wind. Turning back to the room, I try to come up with a plan that will appease them. "Everyone, let's remain gathered here until the return of—"

Sadie shoots out of her seat, forcing everyone's attention to her. "What the fuck?" she says with a shaky voice.

The women swarm around her and some of the males join me as I approach her too, but it's like she's caught in her own world. Her face pales and she holds a hand to her stomach as she skids forward another foot.

My palms grow clammy and my heart rate accelerates to an uncomfortable degree. The pressure from today tightens the increasingly heavy noose of responsibility around my neck. Sweat drips down my back but I keep my face impassive as I imagine explaining this in front of the other elves, or worse, my father.

I don't know what this is. I don't know how to fix it.

I sense Everett approaching and people part for him as he strides directly for Sadie with a single-minded focus.

Placing a gentle finger under her chin, Everett tilts her head up until their eyes meet. "Are you alright?" he asks earnestly. The moment between them feels intimate and intense, so much more than should be expected between two people who only met each other today.

I look away and try to give them some privacy, everyone following suit, though confusion and concern remain on their faces. Their emotions are so strong that they scrape against my mental barriers and my anxiety ratchets up, unable to keep them all out.

All my life I strive to ensure boundaries are in place, that emotions remain personal unless voluntarily shared with me. I aim to never exert force or alter others' emotions, just as I never enjoy when it's done to me. However, when chaos ensues—like today—the ability to keep everyone from infiltrating the ice wall I have raised around my mind, is nearly impossible.

Everett covers Sadie's hand where it rests on his forearm, and addresses the room. "Can everyone please take a seat? I think I've discovered something else that might complicate our situation. Actually, Jamie did earlier, but we got sidetracked."

Still suspended in shock, no one moves to take a seat.

Everett looks to Sadie and they share some kind of silent communication. "Oookay, um, seems like the fates have another surprise for us. If I'm not mistaken, we now have a limit to the distance we can be separated from our… tattoo partner."

Around the room, people drop into seats with various degrees of disbelief. Calling on my lifelong experience of masking my emotions, I keep my face neutral and lock my joints to keep my posture straight and unaffected.

Unable to help myself, I look to Florence to see how she is taking this information. She shares a soft smile with her sister but I don't miss the tremble in her hands where she fidgets with her hair.

I take up pacing in the hopes that it will center my thoughts and force some kind of explanation for today's events to magically appear. I ask Jamie and Everett so many questions, it feels like an interrogation, but it is imperative that I find a reason for all of this.

My teeth ache as I grit out questions, years of research flitting through my brain as I search for plausible explanations. Everett and Sadie had such a strong reaction to their distance limit, yet Jamie and Iris did not. Why?

I card my hands through my hair and tug on the strands. Pausing my pacing, I look to Everett, who is holding Sadie close. "Is there any reason you can think of that things would be different with you and Sadie? Something you've done?"

The room holds its breath as I voice my question, the women leaning forward in their seats, the males tilting their heads.

Everett looks to Sadie before speaking to everyone else. "I don't know if this could be it, but we have physically touched. When I grabbed her wrist back in the forest and touched her skin for the first time, it was like a jolt went through my body. She felt something too."

"Oh yeah, Iris and I haven't touched… yet." The salacious tone in Jamie's words and his ability to make jokes at a time like this irks me beyond belief.

Nevertheless, I follow the line of thought pertaining to touch, and glance at the males scattered around the room. "Has any male here made physical contact with one of the women, except for Everett and Sadie?"

Of their own accord my eyes move to Florence first, though, I redirect my gaze, knowing we have not so much as brushed clothing against each other.

One by one, the males shake their heads. I don't miss the muted desire in Edmond's eyes as he looks at Sylvia, nor the flare of Sawyer's nose as he looks at Louisa.

Jasper's eyes darken when he meets Natalie's equally as hungry gaze. He bites his lip and says, "Not yet."

The pheromones pumping through the air are suffocating and I rub at my brow in an effort to focus. "How far would you estimate this distance limit to be, Everett?"

"I'd say about a hundred yards."

I grab the back of my neck and catch the bead of sweat rolling down before folding my arms across my chest while my neutral mask remains firmly in place. Then, I unintentionally thank the elvish custom of suppressing emotions and letting logic take the lead at all times.

From what I can deduce, none of this was planned by anyone, thus leading me to believe the fates have intervened in tonight's events. I will need to search all resources we have on the estate referencing the fates so we can separate from our partners as soon as possible.

I will not fret. I will find a way to dissolve this distance limit. I will not have a stranger bound to remain within a hundred yards of me.

Voice edging on panic, Helena asks, "So what you're telling us is that we now have a hundred-yard limit from the matchy tattoo?"

I take a deep breath in through my nose and on my exhale, answer truthfully. "It would seem that we can conclude that, yes." Speaking to everyone, I say. "The fates have presumably intended for us to meet and orchestrated some of tonight's events, placing various obstacles in our way to dissuade our separation. I shall promptly start my research to find the means to sever these connections as fast as the fates would allow. Please refrain from making any physical contact with your partner unless you also wish to be in a similar predicament as Everett and Sadie. I hope to have found a resolution by morning."

Florence's hands still their motion through her wavy strands. Her hair looks so soft, I wonder what it would feel like to glide my fingers through them, or wrap them around my fist.

No! There is no time for lascivious thoughts.

There is a crisis currently unfolding and as the sole heir to Alberad, I am responsible for solving it. All thoughts of Florence—and her hair—need to be firmly locked away, never to be revisited again.

With the kindest eyes and a pale pink dusting her cheeks, Florence says, "Thank you for your hospitality. Is there anything we can do to help you with your research?"

Why does she have to be so nice? So beautiful?

I answer stiffly, "No, thank you. It would be most convenient for everyone to get settled for the evening. Ladies, please help yourself to some refreshments in the dining room before retiring to the east wing. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask one of the males, or you could approach me in the library on the second floor of the main building. Once again, please refrain from making any physical contact for the time being."

Harvey steps into my line of sight and holds up a hand. "Excuse me, Bert. If I may make a suggestion?"

I incline my head toward Harvey, signaling for him to continue and knowing the women are in good hands with his gentle, caring nature, then I silently slip out of the room and head to the library.

I don't dare to look back to see Florence's expression.