Chapter 2

Two

Moon

“ F ull name, and realm of origin?” the petite Elven woman asks in a bored tone, not even bothering to look up from the stack of papers in front of her as she flips through them. You know when you can just tell that someone hates their job? Yeah, that’s this lady.

“Uh, full-full name?” I ask, already cringing. My full name is probably the most embarrassing thing about me. It’s a mouthful, and I cannot fathom why my Grams thought it was a good idea to make it so long. Or so ridiculous. Normally, giving the Fae or Elves your name is a big no-no. But for the purposes of something like this, signing up for the games, it’s at least mildly safe. The only contract it obligates you to is participation. My intuition tells me this woman isn’t a threat, just really bored.

“That is what I said,” she grumbles, rolling her eyes, but still not looking at me. She mumbles something under her breath about dense Witches, before letting out a heavy sigh.

“Hurry up!” the woman behind me snaps. Or rather, the woman on the shoulders of the Giant behind me. Okay, that’s one way to get around. Certainly keeps others from causing you harm when they can’t even reach you. I’m both impressed and terrified.

“Aphrodite Moonlight Blossom Hart…” I rush to say, trying to keep my voice low. There’s a pause as her eyebrows go up, and she finally looks at me. She snorts and starts to sift through her papers once more. Wow, rude.

“You’re already in the Games, Aphrod?—"

“Please don’t say it, I go by just my middle name,” I interrupt her, not wanting to hear her say my given name. It’s a damn crime. I love you Grams, but honestly, not cool.

“Moonlight,” a man says, as he steps up behind the Elven woman. A handsome man, that I quickly look away from. “Hmm,” he looks down at the papers, and the small woman jumps to her feet with a yelp, bowing low.

“Champion Crow!” Her voice is shrill and startled. I’m still in a bit of shock after her sudden movement and the fact that I didn’t see this guy before his sudden appearance behind her. How I missed him is beyond me. He’s a force as he stands there in all black, hidden by shadows, but I can see his striking brown eyes trained right on me every time I glance up.

“There must be a mistake, I haven’t signed up yet.” I’m ignoring the fact that the woman is still bowing to the Champion. He’s the Elf who won ten years ago. I’m suddenly glad that I can’t see his face because, from what I remember, he’s seriously hot and super scary.

“You’re in the Games, Moonlight. It matters not if you signed yourself up or if someone else did it for you,” Crow answers me, rather than the woman. Looking up, the sight of him steals my breath completely as he lowers his hood. Fucking hell. All the Elves are attractive, but damn, he’s even hotter in person. Same blond hair I remember, but it’s longer now, hanging midway down his back. Dark brown eyes and chiseled cheekbones. He looks like a marble statue. It’s been ten years, which means he’s thirty now, but he doesn’t look like he’s aged a single day.

“Oh.” I can’t say I have any idea what’s going on, but I just nod. I won’t argue myself out of this one. I wanted in, and now here I am. How I got in does not matter to me. That’s a problem for future Moon.

“Next!” the Elven woman snaps, and it’s clear I’m being dismissed as Crow walks away keeping his eyes on me.

I hustle to the second table, trying not to stare at the Elf, even though I can still feel his eyes on my body. Telling the woman my formal name for the sake of the Games is okay, but giving your name to the Elves or Fae can be a mistake you can’t take back. If they already know your name, though, that’s okay, right? I didn’t tell Crow my name, he read it. And he didn’t have to tell me his, I just knew it.

I should have worn a nicer outfit. Ripped jeans and a baggy, black t-shirt aren’t unattractive, but when you pair them with raggedy sneakers and a messy head of purple hair? I’m not exactly a catch in this form.

Not that I have time for a relationship. I’m also not trying to attract the attention of the Elven man, but I would probably feel less self-conscious if I were dressed a bit better. I feel like everyone looking at me is thinking, ‘What’s this chick even doing here? She’s got no hope of winning.’

I pinch my arm and scold myself for the negative thoughts. I’m a delicious snack! It doesn’t matter what I’m wearing. Heck, I look good even in a paper sack. Plus, if they all think I’m no threat, I won’t be a target.

“You are sexy and deadly,” I whisper, giving myself a firm nod, hoping that by saying the words out loud, I might believe them.

“Well, I don’t think I’ve had a woman compliment my ability to kill, but I’ll take it from you, gorgeous.” The man that turns around is dressed in black from head to toe. That doesn’t manage to hide the effervescent glow coming off him in waves, though. He’s an Elf, for sure, but he’s not like the others. He feels more… royal? Black hair, bright eyes, tan skin. Nope, not talking to this guy, especially because his words make all his buddies turn and look me up and down.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” I grumble, looking away from him and crossing my arms over my chest. I’m embarrassed he overheard my pep talk, but I’m not about to admit I was talking to myself, even if it is obvious.

“No? Talking to yourself, then?” he asks, leaning into me, as a strange tug on my magic tries to make me confess. I narrow my eyes at him and step into his space. Back straight, chin up.

“Keep using your coercion magic on me, and I’ll break your fucking nose,” I hiss, as his bright magenta eyes go wide, and he stands there in shock for a moment. I wonder if maybe his magic usually works. I’m stronger than I look, though. Or maybe he wasn’t really trying. This close, I notice a scar on his eyebrow, which might be his only imperfection.

“How did you…” he trails off, as the woman at the table calls for the next in line, and I step around him, so I can claim my formal game invite.

“Welcome to the Elven Tournament of Blood.” The woman nods, and as I grab the envelope, I tip my head.

“Thank you,” I murmur before I dash off. I don’t bother looking back as I hustle to the portal that brought me here.

I’ll worry about that encounter when I’m forced to kick his ass in the Games. Or maybe, if I’m lucky, he’ll be eliminated before then.