Author note: Hello guys! I just sent the next chapter to my beta so you will be getting it soon!

Lots of kisses to my delightful beta AnimeSiren

CHAPTER 11

Edward

The sun was shining outside, some rare afternoon rays pushing through the window curtains to land on the bed and our entwined forms. I could feel his heartbeat like an unforgettable rhythm in my head. His warm arm was around my waist and his right leg was thrown on top of mine. I couldn't get out of bed if I tried. It was quite amusing. And no risk of my arm falling asleep with his head pillowed on it, vampire muscles did have their advantages.

He grunted in his sleep and his hand fisted my shirt. I stroked his back and he soon settled down. How could everything be so easy with him? Last week we were perfect strangers and now...now...well I was hard pressed to define what we were now...we weren't friends per se. We barely knew each other. But it was like I had known him for years. His temper tantrum was the only thing that had felt strange to me.

What was I going to do now? I wouldn't stand another Bella. But somehow I could feel it would be different. I knew for a fact he could take care of himself and I could trust him with his own safety. An elf. How in the name of all that is holy did I find myself infatuated with an elf? I didn't even know they existed before I met him. It felt so unreal...and yet...

What if he was really my mate? I couldn't even continue that idea. What then? My heart suddenly felt very full and I sighed in his hair, his addictive scent filling my nostrils as I inhaled again. A wave of guilt overpowered me as I realized I was close to feeling happy when my mate was dead. Bella was dead. Only the lowest person could feel that way when...

"Why are you closing up on me again?"

I opened eyes I hadn't realized I had closed as I heard his deep, sleepy voice directly in my ear. I couldn't fathom how simple things like that made shivers run down my spine. When I didn't answer, he took my head between his hands and scrutinized me. His half opened emerald eyes stared directly into mine and my mind went blank. I could only see him, feel him. My deepest secrets were on the tip of my tongue and he seemed to be able to read them without even trying to. I was saved from another soul stripping session by a very obvious stomach growling. Harry colored.

"Uh... I think I'm hungry..."

I sighed in relief and he frowned.

"My mother is heating up something for you as we speak." I said as I heard Esme thinking about what Harry could possibly eat and what to put in a third plate. Harry laid down on me again, buried his face into my neck and bit. A surge of lust shot through me and I would have ravaged him on the spot had Esme not chosen that exact moment to knock on the door. Talk about bad timing.

Harry shot from the bed as he smelt the food and rushed to the door, opening it to reveal a surprised Esme with a hand in midair on the way to another knock. His eyes zeroed on the food and he kissed Esme on the cheek as he took the plates (three of them) from her hand and thanked her. Behind her, Lemani was holding the last plate with an amused smile. He was looking very refreshed.

"Good morning, Harry."

"Hi Lemani." My fierce, sexy elf seemed unsure all of a sudden.

He put the plates on the bed and sat down Indian style. I sat down next to him, my back leaning on the headboard. If Lemani didn't want me there he would just say so. The food, all of it, was gone in record time and Harry sighed contentedly before I felt a hand reaching for mine. I wondered what Harry thought Lemani wanted to talk about. He did seem tense now. I squeezed his hand and he looked down at our entwined hands in surprise. Our eyes locked and he looked confused. I distantly caught an 'I took his hand?' I looked up as I heard a small laugh escape Lemani. He was looking at Harry; eyes alight with amusement and a small smile on his lips.

"That only confirms my suspicions," he said.

Harry looked up at him sharply.

"What suspicions?"

"Let's start at the beginning shall we?" Lemani answered instead.

"I know we don't know each other very well yet but you'll have to trust me on this, young one."

"I'm not as young as I look." 'I'm 78 dammit, why doesn't anyone take me seriously?' I suppressed a surprised grunt as I heard his thought as clearly as if he had said it aloud.

"I know how old you are. But I'm 623 so I think I can call you that."

Harry stared, I smiled. If elves could live that old, I was blessed. I was looking forward to spending my life with someone I hardly knew, and I couldn't understand it myself but strangely, I didn't find it strange or scary. I pulled him to me and he came readily, changing his position so he was between my legs with his back against my torso. I buried my nose into his hair and inhaled that distinctive addictive scent of his. Mmhh. I just couldn't get enough.

"Harry, do you know why you still look young after all those years? Why you heal so fast? Why your hearing and smell are so fine?"

I just knew Harry was frowning and I entwined our hands on his stomach.

"Well because I'm an elf, am I not?"

Lemani was speechless for a bit and I chuckled. Apparently my elf was more knowing then we thought.

Harry

I had though he was going to go on a monologue on why his family had to leave but Lemani surprised me by talking about...well...me. I had deduced I was an elf a little while ago after one of Mat's constant comments on how he was my brother, made me think. I told Lemani so and he looked surprised.

I settled back against Ed's chest and made myself comfortable. He was just the perfect (if a little hard) pillow. Cool and soft and molding around me in all the right places. And he moved to accommodate my movements. I put my head just so, the top of my head supported by his cheek.

"So you already know." he chuckled. "That will make the rest of it a lot easier."

Rest? What rest?

"Do you know anything about needing the wild?"

I gently shook my head no. I knew about it a little but it was easier to play ignorant. Explaining all my research would have been boring anyway. Lemani looked around the room then glided to the chair next to the bed and sat down. I colored as I realized I hadn't offered him a seat.

"When an elf turns 80, his body starts to change and look more... elf like."

"But I'm 78."

"Indeed. But the process can come faster than predicted for several reasons, and you show all the signs."

"Signs?"

"The way you suddenly become angry or sad or... ( he turned his head and looked sideways at Edward) excited. As well as the fact that you eat twice as much as you're used to. The itching in your ears."

"I'm sorry but how did you know about that?"

"I know now. It was just an educated guess. "

I shared a look with Edward.

"Why is it so important? Elves don't look that different from humans. "

He laughed. He laughed! Burn him! But then I could only stare because his face started to change into something else. It just seemed to CHANGE. Just like Tonks. His cheeks got thinner, his eyes took a more almond like shape, and his pupils seemed to expand until his whole eye was that strange green color. And his ears! They were like the ears of a Tolkien elf. Edward licked the top of my ear. Apparently he found long pointy ears sexy.

Lemani at the end didn't look human at all. Would I really change that much? He smiled and I saw sharp teeth shining at me. At least I would look hot. Would I be able to change back like he did? Too many questions were bringing me a horrible migraine. Strong agile hands started to massage my head and I sighed.

"He is obviously your mate."

"What does that mean?"

"You will need him in more ways than one during your change."

"But you said the change could happen without having found my mate so why will I need him?"

"You won't need him but things will go smoother that way. You will need to have sex before your change though."

I choked and Edward kissed my neck and caressed my stomach lightly. For some reason I was hard instantly. How embarrassing. My vampire laughed.

"How do you know he's my mate? Do elves mate for life? I really just wanted an uncomplicated relationship you know. Why do I attract these kind of situations?"

Edward was tense against my back now and I instantly regretted saying that. It was not that I didn't want him as a mate, it was just too serious too soon, and I didn't even know him! He relaxed and I frowned. I had a strong suspicion he had been reading my mind just now. His arms tightened around me. Bastard! And the asshole laughed!

Lemani

I watched the silent exchange between Harry and the vampire and I couldn't keep my smile to myself. They obviously liked each other a lot and the complicity was already there. I let them settle down again and then spoke.

"We elves have ways to check that and I already checked. You two are mates," their surprised faces were priceless. Then Harry snorted and I thought I heard a "fucking overprotective elves". Edward just smiled and kissed my charge's neck.

"Will I be a metamorphmagus too?" he asked after a little while.

'A what?' I frowned. I had never heard that word before. Maybe it was a witch thing.

"You know, change my face like you just did."

Oh. "Of course."

"So needing the wild only means I'm gonna' change?"

"Yes."

Edward unburied his face from Harry's neck and looked at me.

"Is it going to be painful?"

"Yes." Elves don't lie.

"But as you will see your presence is going to help a lot."

"How so?"

"When an elf hurts, he usually just lies down with his mate. The contact calms the pain. You will need to be with him constantly during the change. It can take from one hour to two days."

'Lemani.' I heard my rose blossom whisper seductively in my head. Time to leave those two it seemed.

"Do you have other questions?"

"When?"

"I don't know probably in a few days."

When no other questions came my way, I went to the bed and kissed my charge on the shoulder like is our custom and said my goodbyes. I was asked why I was going so abruptly and I smiled secretly saying someone needed me right now. I rather enjoyed the blush I got in return.

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