I regretted the last beer. I had wanted a break from whisky, but the crappy lager was one drink too many to keep me at my normal level. My head was clear enough in theory, but I was slow and tired. I wanted to be on my best game. For the first time in years something other than my job had my attention.

I hurried after the brunette beauty. She was special. I knew it the moment I saw her, yet why I had no clue. She worked at a yogurt store. That alone was odd, but her haunting blue eyes pulled at me in a way eyes never did. They reminded me of something. Someone maybe, but I couldn’t place it. She was the first girl to turn my head in longer than I could remember.

“Was it something I said?” Rejection was something I had experienced before, but not in a bar like this. Minutes before I had been the one peeling a girl off my arm.

She ignored me and hurried down the dark street. Her arms were wrapped around her chest. She was cold, and something inside me wasn’t okay with that. I wished I had a jacket to offer her.

She slowed down and looked back over her shoulder. “Please don’t kill me. I have no money, so…”

“I mean you no harm…” I quickly reassured her.

“Ugh.” She stopped. “Ok, are you in on this too?”

“In on what?” Was I more inebriated than I thought? Was I missing something obvious?

“You mean me no harm? The other guy said that too.” She wrung her hands.

“What other guy?” I repeated. I felt defensive in a way I had no real right to, but I did anyway. “Is someone bothering you?”

“Yes. Two guys are. And you are one of them.”

“What did I do?” I put a hand to my chest. “I asked you a question. Does that qualify as being a bother?”

She frowned. “No, but following me does.”

“You seem upset, and it is dark out. If I remember correctly this is not the best place to be at night.” To be fair, I would have continued trying to talk with her even if it were the middle of the day, but the dark evening made it even more urgent.

“If you remember correctly?” She stuffed her hands in her pockets. She was not actually afraid of me if she was putting her hands in a defenseless spot. That was a start.

“I used to live here in Charleston, but a few years have passed since then.” A few years that felt like ages. So much had changed.

“At least they didn’t give you Elven ears.” She stepped closer. “That would have pushed it over the top. I guess you are the Aragorn of the bunch then? The human one. I guess the other guy had the right hair for Legolas.”

“What are you talking about?” The names she was spouting vaguely reminded me of a movie maybe, but what did she mean by human of the bunch?

“Joke’s over. Are there cameras out here too?” she sighed. “Forget it. I’m going to get the rest of my stuff and lock up.”

She turned and headed down an alley.

"Are you in the habit of walking down dark alleys alone at night?" I called after. She was a strange girl, but I was strange too. There was absolutely nothing wrong with being different.

"No. Only when actors torture me."

I caught up with her. "Wait, you think I am an actor?" That was a new one.

"Yes. I'm not an idiot." She frowned again. Even her frown was cute.

"I never doubted your intelligence, but an actor I am not."

She hurried ahead. "Whatever."

I followed out of interest, worry, and a need to set the record straight. “I am not, nor have I ever been, an actor. I have been accused of many things before, but that is a new one.”

She did not turn around, but she slowed down. I caught up with her.

“Please, leave,” she said so lightly I nearly missed it.

“I am not in the habit of leaving beautiful women alone in dark alleys.”

“What about non-beautiful women?”

“All women are beautiful in their own way.”

She snorted. “Oh wow. You really said that.”

“Not all men are liars.” Although evidently she had been hurt by a man before. That much was obvious, and I found I was angry at the mystery man.

“I never said they were.” She sighed again.

“You did in not so many words.”

“No I didn’t.” She gritted her teeth.

“Do you want to stand and argue all night, or was there somewhere you were going?” I tried to lighten the situation and put her at ease. Leaving her alone in the dark was out of the question, and somehow I knew pulling her into my arms would not go over well even if the thought of touching her had my heart racing and my body aching.

She huffed.

I bit back my smile. There was something about her. It was something that called to me and was impossible to ignore. Truthfully I would have followed any girl to make sure she arrived at her destination safely, but this went far beyond safety. It had everything to do with a need to be close, to know more about her. We had only just met, but something about her was so familiar I couldn’t dismiss the feeling.

She turned down another street and went right up to the glass door of a storefront. A street light lit up the front window, and I saw the wording matched her shirt.

“There really is a place called ‘Yogurt Love,’ huh,” I thought out loud.

“You thought I was lying?” She turned and the light fell across her face, creating an ethereal glow. Beautiful was not strong enough of a word to describe her.

“No. But the concept seems funny. And didn’t there used to be an ice cream place here?” Now that was good stuff.

“Frozen yogurt is a healthier alternative. And it’s popular.” She started to push open the door to the darkened store, but I blocked her entrance with my arm.

“I will go first.”

“No you won’t.” She scowled.

“Yes I will.” I understood she wanted to show her bravery, but that did not mean I would let her walk into a dangerous situation.

I slowly pushed open the door.

In a blur a figure lunged at me, knocking me down to the concrete floor. My head hurt from the contact, but I was relieved I had insisted on stepping in first.

I pushed the figure off and jumped to my feet, ready for what he brought next.

Light flooded the room. “Ok, that’s enough. If you guys break anything, you pay for it.”

I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the brighter room.

“James!” My opponent exclaimed.

“Uh, who the hell are you?” I tried to slow my breathing. Once again I regretted the beer. That should not have even been a contest.

“I was not expecting you. I did not think you met until later,” he mumbled.

“You know my name?” I studied the man and realized instantly he was who Ainsley referred to. His ears were a dead giveaway.

“Yes.” The Elf shrugged. “Maybe I should have pretended not to, but I would prefer to stop wasting time. I will pay for each second we waste.”

“Pretended not to know it?” I narrowed my eyes. “Who are you, and why are you here?” This night was getting stranger by the second. What were the chances I met a beauty in a bar, followed her, and ran into an Elf who knew me? None of this was random. That was for sure.

“Yes. Please tell us that.” The girl put a hand on her hip. She was standing by the light switch looking from the Elf, back to me, and back to the Elf again. She seemed dazed, but she was still there, which was a surprise. She had been so skittish earlier I expected her to run at her earliest chance.

“I am glad you came back, Ainsley.” He smiled at her as if finally noticing her as well.

Ainsley. The name fit. Perfectly.

“I came back for one reason. I need to keep this job. It’s about time I lock up, which means you have to get out.” She pointed to the door. “I appreciate that you didn’t trash this place while I was gone, but It’s time to go. Cameras or not, I’m done with the game.”

“Cameras?” I started up at the ceiling but saw nothing. “Am I missing something?”

“I think I’m the one missing something.” She wrapped her arms over her chest again.

“I cannot leave. We need to talk. I am here to help you.” The Elf smoothed down his tunic. “Maybe you are ready to listen now?”

“Help her?” I asked. “Help her how?”

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” Ainsley looked between us. “I thought most actors had stunt-doubles do that kind of stuff.”

“For the last time, I am not an actor.” I did not want to snap at her, but I was tired of being called something I was not.

“Whatever. I’m too tired for this.” She walked back around the counter.

I wanted to follow after, but I needed to figure out who the Elf was. “Who are you?”

“Elron. Son of Adaline and Malton.”

“I do not care who your parents are.”

“You should,” Elron chided. “But that is of no matter. Right now I need your assistance.”

“My assistance with what?” I eyed the counter. Where had Ainsley gone? I hoped there was no other way out of the store.

“Getting Ainsley to come with me.”

“Yeah, not happening.” This Elf was crazy.

“Are you not a little bit curious how I know who you are?”

“Everyone knows who I am.” And generally it was not in a good way.

“Because you are a Guardian?” Elron glanced at the counter as well, and I assumed he was worried the same as I was.

That was a first. “Usually because of my father, but I prefer to be known for my Guardian status.”

“I know what it is like to have a father you wish to distance yourself from.”

“I doubt your father is like mine.”

“He was not corrupted by evil in the same way, but given the chance he might have been. Not all Elves are pure of heart.”

“And you admit that.” I was surprised yet refreshed by his honesty. “Interesting.”

“Will you help?” He headed toward the counter.

“You think I will have better luck persuading her? I still have no idea what kind of help you seek to offer.”

“You were the one who brought her to Energo last time. I assumed it would work again.”

“Last time?” I let his words sink in. “I hope you are not referring to the Essence. That was another time.” I had been the one to bring Charlotte to Energo, but in the end it had been the right thing to do. I was a different man back then, and I was done apologizing.

“This was another time too, but I mean Ainsley. I have traveled time to get back to you.”

“There are few Elves that can do that.” I had thought it was a lost art. Maybe nothing was lost. My father had brought back a darkness like no other after all.

“As I told you I am the son of Adaline.”

“I vaguely know the name.” I downplayed my knowledge.

“Has the reputation of her power truly faded in Belgard?” he headed behind the counter.

I followed. “Not completely, but that does not matter. You claim I brought Ainsley to Energo in another time? What time?” I was unsure of what to make of his time travel claim, but I would hear him out.

“A few days from now.”

“Then why not get her from Energo?”

“I needed to get her before you poisoned her.” We stepped into a back room.

The room was completely empty. “I would never poison her.” I would never hurt a hair on her head. I opened a few other doors. One led to a bathroom, and another a freezer. There was a third door that was locked.

“You never intended to.”

I turned a corner and found an exterior door. I pushed it open, finding an empty alleyway. “Where is she?” I stepped outside.

“We will find her.”

“We need to find her now!” Fear, anger, and confusion swirled through me. “Whatever you think you know about me, you are wrong. I would never hurt her.” I cared for her in a way that made no sense. Why was I having such a visceral reaction to his words? I had been accused of many things in my life, and usually I could shrug them off, but not this time. My anger at the accusation, mixed with my worry over Ainsley’s safety, was making me feel out of control.

Elron stepped outside, letting the door close behind him. “It was not intentional. It was your father.”

“My father is dead.” Rage flowed through me. The one relief I had was the knowledge that the man who had cursed my life was no longer among the living. He had been my only family for much of my life, but hearing of his death had been a relief. He could never hurt anyone else. I would have a chance to make up for the mistakes I made while following his lead.

“He is—but not his soul. We have no time for this conversation.” He hurried into the alley.

“You cannot accuse me of poisoning an innocent girl, blame it on my father, and expect me to drop the conversation.” I hurried along with him, torn between demanding answers and putting all of my concern into finding her. Was anything Elron said true? Could I be a danger to Ainsley? If so, then maybe finding her would be a mistake.

He stopped and turned to me. “Do you want to find her, or not?”

“Of course I want to find her.” I needed to find her. That reality came like a slap to a face. Even if I wanted to stay away I couldn’t.

“I know how you feel about her. I can see that now. It is good for me to see this. To see how you view her before your father’s influence. I will not interfere with fate.” He spoke with a regal air, and I finally made a connection between the names he spoke earlier. He was royal. He was the heir of the North Loriet Elven line. That knowledge did nothing to change my desire to find Ainsley.

“Stop all this gibberish and tell me where to find her.”

“She is likely on her way home right now.”

“And you know where her home is?” I barely knew anything about her, but at least I had her name. That was one good thing I got from the Elf.

“She is staying in a home you know well.”

“In this world?” There weren’t many places I knew well in Charleston anymore.

He nodded. “Yes.”

“There are only a few houses here that I have even been in.”

“Exactly.”

“Her eyes. There is something familiar…” I pictured those eyes a darker shade of blue.

“I will cut to the chase. She is a Winthrop.”

“But I know all the Winthrops.” I knew Charlotte and Kevin, their mother, and their uncles.

Elron clasped his hands together. “Monty never even met his daughter. At least from as far as I can tell.”

“She is Monty’s daughter?” Shock flooded through me. “Was that even possible?”

“Yes. And that is why your father was able to use Ainsley to help himself. She is of Winthrop blood.”

“My father is dead.” I refused to believe he could somehow still be alive. That possibility terrified me as did the thought I could one day hurt the girl—hurt Ainsley.

“Let us find Ainsley. We will have to explain everything to her, and maybe you will believe it when you hear it for the second time.”

“I will never believe it.” My father was dead, and he could never come back.