She frowned at me and tapped her delicate fingers that could kill a fae in an instant, on her knees. “I wasn’t aware that shifter’s beasts had their own consciousness.”
That’s because they fucking didn’t. I wasspecial–specially cursed. Instead, I retorted. “How many shifters do you really know?”
She blinked and her face returned to the neutral mask she wore so well. I recognized it now. It was the same look on her face when she killed those shifters in the woods. I could smell the violence on her and saw the subtle poise of her posture changing…more erect.
I groaned.Fuck don’t say erect.
She watched me with more distrust. “Alright, let’s skip the small talk, shall we.” She rose unfurling her legs to stand with a deadly grace. “You will tell me who you are before I decide to make you dead permanently this time.” The shadows swirled, hovering above us like a dark cloud.
I slowly licked my lips and my hands twitched to trace every perfect curve of her dangerous petite frame. She was short stature for a fae, my seven foot frame would tower over her, but that did not deter the burning desire she sparked inside of me. Since discovering her, I had over a century to dream up and fantasize many depraved moments between us but also I dreamed of the quiet ones. The stories she would tell me of her adventures I had only heard from others, the sound of her laughter that was reported to be the sweetest of dark melodies, her eyes full of love staring back at me that was foretold to hold the deepest loyalty and trust that any could ever wish for.
I craved it all.
Clearing my throat, I raked my hand through my hair once more, forcing myself to think with something other than my dick. “They call me Emon.”
The silent rise of her dark brows was her only response and I smiled sweetly back at her. I knew what she wanted, she wanted my full name, a sign of trust amongst the fae, but it wasn’t aboutthat. Once she knew my name the ward of protection I held would shatter and she would remember just who exactly I was. She wasn’t ready for that yet and perhaps neither was I.
“As for killing me, you most certainly can try.” I stretched my arms up to the ceiling and cracked my neck back and forth. “Although, I think you’d have a hard time doing so.” I purred with approval, feeling her eyes rake over my body.
Her careful facade cracked when her eyes rolled. “You are the second being who has said that to me tonight.” She reached behind her and I tensed. “This fact makes me want to kill you even more.” She laughed at my stillness. “You’re even preparing yourself for it. I wonder why that is?”
I leaned in and growled low. “There’s more than one thing reacting to you right now, little umbra, and I can assure you it isn’t fear.”
Her emerald eyes dipped downward and then snapped back up to mine. I couldn’t stop my rumbling chuckle at her discomfort.
Scowling, she snapped at the swirling shadows above us, and from them dropped a leather satchel. My leather satchel. She twirled it teasingly in front of me. “I believe you lost something in the woods, shifter.”
“Where did you get that?” I hissed, my heart beating faster at the sight of it. I didn’t care about the bag so much as the hidden relic inside. I spent days being tortured to ensure it stayed safe. If Jurin had somehow discovered it…
She pitched my bag straight at my head with a grin, attempting to catch me off guard. “From the weretree.”
I snatched it with one hand easily, never taking my gaze off hers, noticing a flicker of admiration in her beautiful green eyes. I smiled, I was a shifter…she’d have to find a different way than speed to get a jump on me.
Slowly, I placed my bag beside me and patted it discreetly, feeling for the contents inside. “Thank you for giving it back to me.” My body relaxed deeper into the bed and my heart steadied when I felt the knowing curve of the relic. “The weretree didn’t give you any trouble did he?”
She raised a sharp brow, insulted. “You know who I am.”
“I do. Which means I have to ask.” I smiled. “Did you go through my things?”
The cabin grew quiet while I held her steady gaze. Moments passed before a grin grew on my face. She had expected me to search my bag, revealing its contents without blemishing her sense of honor by her doing it herself. In that case, she was in for disappointment.
“Do you have a shower here?”
Her stare broke and lines furrowed on her forehead. “A what?”
“A shower?” I growled. “I fucking smell like a rotting carcass and I am covered in myownblood. I don’t relish that.”
Her arms crossed firmly over her chest. “I’m not in the business of taking in strays and providing for their mangey needs.”
I shrugged. “Now you are. You brought me here.”
Anger flashed in her emerald eyes. “What makes you think that you’re some sort of guest, shifter? That these amenities are even available to you.”
Chuckling, I stood. My hands grazed the ceiling of her small cabin while I stretched out my soreness before I slung my bag over my bare blood crusted chest. Her eyes dragged up my body and before tilting her head to scowl up at me. With curling lips, her shadows snapped threateningly in front of me.
Reaching steadily outward, I tickled them on their underside, treating them like any protective animal guarding their master. I was no threat to her. I never would be. Sensing this the shadows melted to a black puddle at our feet.
Remnant inhaled subtly, staring down at her shadows, and I could smell her shock.
