Page 46 of Casting Butterflies

“Again, not sure what choice I had either, but I do understand what you’re saying, and I promise, I only did it to protect myself.”

“For future reference, bribery also works.”

“If you have money. In case you don’t recall, when you got arrested, I had nothing. Not even my clothes. If it weren’t for Cedric and his slick paws, I’d have been screwed.”

“No need to steal anymore now that we’re back together and I recovered our bags.” He held up his hands to show them. “Now mind letting me in the cabin?” We’d been having the conversation at the open door, not exactly discreet.

“Yeah, of course, come in.”

Misha filled the space with not only his size but his presence. He stowed our luggage and then collapsed on the bench that could fold out into a bed. “It will be nice to relax. I’ve been travelling nonstop since I was released. I take it you didn’t have any more run-ins with Valefor.”

I shook my head. “Nothing. Hopefully he’ll be too busy dealing with the butterfly I reprogrammed to bother us.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.”

The train began moving, setting us in motion toward our next destination. Russia.

“So are you ever going to tell me where we’re going?”

“It’s a⁠—”

“Secret,” I interrupted with a sigh. “Meaning if something happens to you, I’ll have no clue where to go. And before you say it can’t happen, it just did.”

“Should I become unavailable, another will venture forth from the enclave to take my place.”

Not exactly the response I wanted. “What if I don’t want someone else?”

Misha arched a brow. “Don’t be so sure you wouldn’t prefer it, seeing as it would likely be my brother Sergei and he’s much nicer than me.”

“Why were you chosen?”

“Because I’m the one with the most experience with the outside world. Unlike the others, I found living cloistered stifling so volunteered every chance I had to run errands.”

“What’s your enclave like?”

He began talking, telling me about his home, a place of stone buildings with paved roads heated underneath to prevent ice and snow from building. Of the gardens they tended inside greenhouses built before the concept even existed.

“It sounds really nice.” And then, because I couldn’t help myself, I had to ask, “Are you really one of the last elves born to your people?”

He nodded. “There are only three younger than me. Two of them siblings. My parents were unusually fertile for our kind.”

“And there’s been no more babies since you lost the spirit?”

“None. The Elders believe it’s because we’re not native to this world. We need that boost of magic from Anivivi to thrive.”

“Meaning it’s super important to get it back inside its tree lest your people die out.”

“Exactly.”

Then, with an impish grin, I had to say, “So does this mean you’re a virgin? I mean, if you can’t make babies, is there any point in bothering?”

His jaw dropped, and Cedric hopped from his spot on the opposite bench and headed for the door. “That’s my cue to go.”

Misha let him out and then leaned against the closed door. “I am not inexperienced,” he stated, his pale cheeks showing a hint of pink.

“Good to know. Do you practice often?”

Turned out his face could get even brighter. “Do you?”