ELYSE'S POV
After a few hours of sitting on the floor, Groden asks if I want to grab lunch. Engulfed in the report I was typing, I declined. The leather-clad blonde stood up and stretched his arms above his head. I didn't miss his shirt rising up, revealing a beautiful set of abs and tons of scars. I can only wonder how he got them, maybe one day I'll ask.
Groden looks down at me, I blink and look away. I've known this man for two days and I already can't think straight around him. I hope he has no idea how clueless I seem around him. Between the recent nightmares and the aimless flirting, I feel like I am going to go crazy. The gorgeous creature in front of me leans down with one hand on the back of my chair, the other grabbing the phone off of my desk. He makes a call to the cafe down the street and places an order for two tuna subs, a platter of desserts, and two sodas. He gives the cashier his credit card number and office address as I attempt to pull out my wallet. There is no way I am going to let him pay for all of that food. Groden insists that I put my money away. Apparently, he has a company card that he can use to pay for his necessities.
My curiosity gets the better of me, and I ask him what company he works for and what he actually does for a living. The look on his face puts me off. After a few minutes, I get the feeling that he isn't going to answer my question. Groden has his back to me, stretching his arms behind him. He turns to look at me and something in his eyes tells me that I am not going to like the next words to come out of his mouth.
" Elyse, I told you I am a soldier. Like an actual General of an army. I work for the King of my... my region. I am part of the Royal Guard, here on a mission."
"Okay. Are you allowed to tell me about this mission? It seems important." I'm not sure if I really want an answer to this question, now.
"Um... Yeah, I can talk about it."
I roll my desk chair away from the desk and lay my hands on my lap, waiting patiently for him to continue. I knew he had to be military with the scars and size of his muscles. He interrupts my train of thought when he looks at me with pity in his big blue eyes.
"I'm here to retrieve something, well, someone. Elyse Summers, born twenty-one years ago this week. My King, King Dentorri, wants to meet you."
I don't think I heard him right. I laugh. "Wait, what? Your King. Wants to meet me? Why?" There is nothing special about me, why would a King want to meet me?
"I'm sorry, I don't know why. He gave me a task; I didn't ask many questions. Not until I got here and met you."
"I'm so confused, Groden. I have so many questions."
I'm looking down at my hands when he kneels in front of me, his large hands covering my smaller ones. I catch a faint scent, one that I have only ever smelled on myself before and I swear I saw his blue eyes shift to a darker color.
"Elyse, there is so much more to it. You wouldn't understand any of it, either."
I decide to be brave. Nothing in my life has ever happened the way I expected it to anyway. I am a huge believer in Fate and Destiny. If the man that is kneeling in front of me, is somehow a part of mine, then so be it. I mean, he has literally been in my dreams for days. Even before I fell into his arms outside of the coffee shop.
Groden shifts in front of me and I feel his warm hands slide up to my elbows.
"Hey, everything is going to be alright. If you do not want to go, then I will not take you. Your world is a huge place, I'll tell King Dentorri that I could not find you."
Did he just say, my world? What does that even mean? Anaheim is not that big of a place. I'm surprised he found me here but still. My world. King. Royal Guard. Maybe he's from a different country. That would explain the panty-dropping accent and the manners.
"My world? Groden, what do you mean? Where are you from?"
"It's so hard to explain. If I tell you the truth, you will not believe me. If I lie, you will be pissed off at me." He stands up and runs his hand through his hair, ruffling the soft blonde strands. He seems to make up his mind as he turns around.
"Burbarri is not a town or country you will be able to find on your map. It does not technically exist here. It's ancient and beautiful. There is a huge castle, outposts, markets, and villages. It's all modernized, now but centuries ago it was candle-lit and cobblestone." The smile on his face shows his love for his country and I smile too.
"To some, it would seem like a tale that your mother would use to scare you into good behavior. The sky is not blue, there are not any clouds. We have a dark red sky, Elyse. With creatures of all sorts flying through it. Bats, mostly. Large ones. They typically do not bother us, seeing as they have plenty to eat. The villagers are magical. Literally. They use magic. King Dentorri is probably the most relentless king we have ever had. He's a good guy, but he does not take his title lightly." Groden kneels in front of me again, taking my face in his hand. My mind takes me back to the nightmare I had a few nights ago. You know, the one where we almost kissed. Of course, I would be thinking of kissing the guy when he's telling me all sorts of weird stuff. It's only logical, right? Ha!
It all somehow makes sense to me now. Groden isn't from my world. The dreams I have been waking up from. The orange and blue streaks in my dream were magic. The drop-dead gorgeous male that is touching my face, right now. He isn't from my world because he has his own.
I laugh. Out loud. Groden rocks back on his heels and looks at me like he was expecting a different reaction. I stand up from my seat and walk toward the large window overlooking the city.
"Groden. I studied mythological realms in college. I know what Burbarri is. I know that Burbarri is the Demon Realm. But, I'm confused. Why are you here? Why do I need to go back with you?"
Groden looks taken aback. I guess he wasn't expecting me to actually believe him. Maybe I'm in shock, I don't know.
He slowly walks over to me, his hands outstretched for me to grab. I'm not sure what comes over me, but I take them without hesitation.
"Elyse, I think you are from Burbarri, too."