Twins for the Dark Elf

TWINS FOR THE DARK ELF CELESTE KING PROTHEKA PUBLISHING Copyright © 2023 by Celeste King All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Sigh up for my newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.com/celesteking Join my Facebook group here! DEDICATION This book is dedicated to Kaylee, Emily, Taylor, Jordon, Melanie, Jamie, Jennifer, Hannah, Donna and the whole “Project Protheka” family. Thanks for believing in the world. CONTENTS Books in The World of Protheka The World of Protheka 1. Charmaine 2. Imris 3. Imris 4. Charmaine 5. Imris 6. Charmaine 7. Imris 8. Charmaine 9. Imris 10. Charmaine 11. Imris 12. Imris 13. Charmaine 14. Imris 15. Charmaine 16. Imris 17. Charmaine 18. Imris 19. Charmaine 20. Imris 21. Charmaine 22. Imris 23. Charmaine 24. Imris 25. Charmaine 26. Charmaine 27. Imris 28. Charmaine 29. Imris 30. Charmaine 31. Miothro Preview of Mated to the Dark Elf 32. Amelie 33. Kral Ishiraya 34. Amelie 35. Kral Ishiraya BOOKS IN THE WORLD OF PROTHEKA Orc Warriors of Protheka Series Mates of the Burning Sun Clan Series Dark Elves of Protheka Series Thoruk’s Prize: A Monster Romance Naga’s of Protheka Series Minotaur’s of Protheka Series Demon’s of Protheka Series Vampires of Protheka Gargoyles of Protheka THE WORLD OF PROTHEKA 1 CHARMAINE The air is crisp this afternoon, and the sun dips behind the tall buildings of the city’s center, keeping the gleam out of my eyes. I smile brightly as I rearrange the table sporting the shop’s wares as dark elf eyes sweep over my inventory. I love working in the market. Not that working inside the shop isn’t great. I know that I am treated well – especially for a human. But the open air market is different. It’s nice in Vhoig almost year round so I enjoy spending my afternoons once a week taking in the sunshine and the other people. At the shop, I see the same ones every day. Our regular shoppers send the same zagfer to buy from us every time. So, this is a nice change of pace. And it’s an honor. It’s rare that a human is allowed unsupervised out into the city, especially with their master’s inventory. I am not foolish enough to think Master Miothro isn’t watching me somehow, but it’s still nice to be able to do this. For three weeks now, I’ve taken over the responsibility alone, and I love the semblance of freedom. It’s especially hard to earn in just a few years, like I have. But I’ve impressed Master Miothro since I’ve come to his shop despite how short of my life I’ve truly been there. Turning around, I start to assess what little I have left to sell. My master will be pleased by how much is gone, but I have nearly an hour left. I hope to cut what remains in half by then. “Excuse me?” I plaster a bright smile on my face, not nearly as fake as most human women have to force, and stand. My brain registers the voice just as I turn, and my stomach is already flipping when my eyes land on him. “Can I help you?” My voice sounds breathless. The smile on my face has stretched wider, and it is genuine now. I can’t help the way that I grin whenever this elf is around. Imris. All elves are pretty. They are meant to be, or at least that’s what I’ve heard. The Thirteen created them to draw you in, to hide their rotten personalities and malicious intents. They are like a poisonous flower – something to look at but never get too close. Not Imris, though. “That depends.” He takes a few steps closer, stealing my breath with every inch of space. His eyes are on the table, and my heart is about to beat out of my chest as he touches the piece of tiphe wood between us. “Do I get a discount?” At that moment, his violet eyes flick up to mine and he smiles. It’s a breathtaking grin, teasing and gorgeous and I have to grab onto the edge of the table just to stay upright. I know that I am a human and he’s a dark elf, even if he is from a lower caste. Only k’sheng and zagfer come to the market, the other castes sending their servants to shop for their masters. Still, even the lowest elf will always be above me, and I shouldn’t read too deeply into his teasing. Though I’ve been telling myself that for years… “For what?” I breathe. His eyes flash, and I fear that my attraction to him is becoming too obvious. But if he has picked up on it, he isn’t deterred. In fact, he leans closer to me, his voice deepening as he murmurs, “For being your favorite customer.” I finally remember to inhale as a small laugh escapes me, and his grin curls up his face as he straightens. I don’t deny it. Imris has to know by now that he is my favorite person – human or dark elf – to see. I met him only a few weeks after I came to work for Master Miothro. I was surprised that as a k’sheng, he’d bother coming in to buy his own parchment, but from the moment we met, I knew he was different. He was charming and lighthearted, never making me feel less than. And over the last few years, I’ve had these stolen moments with him that I will think about for days afterwards, always waiting and wishing to see him again. I never knew when I would. Until the market. Now, for three weeks, I’ve seen Imris regularly. He seemed surprised when he stumbled across me alone the first week, but in the second week he sought me out.