Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
S carlett’s heart thudded against her ribs so rapidly she felt sick as she stared at those luminescent blue eyes. Then they blinked and a figure emerged from the shadows beneath the ancient trees. He was tall—inhumanly tall—with sharp, angular features. Silvery grey skin covered a big, powerful body, his shoulders broad enough to block out the forest behind him.
He was wearing nothing but a pair of dark pants, leaving an intimidating amount of muscular chest on display. He prowled towards her with an easy, casual grace, but he was looming over her before she could blink.
Vultor.
Her fascination with them seemed incredibly foolish now. Those icy blue eyes raked over her with predatory intensity, and his face twisted into a smile that was both menacing and oddly alluring.
“Lost your way, little red?” he asked, his deep voice mocking.
Her legs trembled, but she lifted her chin. This close, she could see the golden highlights in the wild tangle of dark hair. And those eyes… they glowed, even in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.
“I… I’m not lost. I’m going to visit my g-grandmother.” She stumbled over the words, cursing the slight tremor in her voice.
“Your grandmother?” His gaze slid past her to the narrow trail. “This way?”
When he stepped closer, she instinctively took a step back and he laughed, the sound low and dangerous, as he matched her step, closing the distance between them.
“Didn’t anyone warn you to stay out of my woods?”
She swallowed hard, fighting to keep her voice steady.
“These aren’t your woods.”
His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as he bent towards her.
“What did you say?”
His scent surrounded her—pine and smoke with something wild beneath it—and she had the foolish impulse to lean closer, to breathe it in. Instead she stood her ground and did her best to return that intimidating stare.
“You heard me. These woods don’t belong to anyone.”
“Naive little human.” He circled her, his movements fluid and predatory. “You have no idea what lurks in these shadows.”
She turned with him, unwilling to let him out of her sight, even though her head barely reached his chest. His massive arms looked as if they were hewn from stone, and she could easily imagine him ripping a tree from the ground with his bare hands. He came to a halt again directly in front of her and she tilted her head back to meet his gaze, her heart pounding even faster when he smiled down at her.
There was no amusement on his face, and her gaze snagged on the gleaming white fangs revealed by that sardonic smile, but she refused to cower.
“Yes, I do. I grew up here. I’ve played in these woods since I could walk. If anyone’s a stranger here, it’s you.”
Something flickered across his face—surprise, perhaps even a hint of respect—before the mockery returned.
“Bold words for someone so…” His gaze swept over her dismissively, “small.”
“Size isn’t everything.” She lifted her chin higher, even as her heart thundered in her chest. “And intimidation only works on people who are willing to be intimidated.”
“Such a brave little female. But I know the truth.” His voice dropped to a low growl. “You’re terrified.”
Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips before she could stop it and his eyes followed the movement. Her heart gave an odd little skip, but his attention was already focused back on her face.
“Aren’t you?” he demanded.
“Of course I am. I’m not stupid.” Her words came out breathless, and she cursed herself silently. “But that doesn’t change anything.”
“It should. Turn back now. Before it’s too late.”
A chill crept down her spine at his words, but she refused to let him see her unease. The path ahead beckoned through the trees—sunlit and familiar.
“No. I’m going to visit my grandmother, and I’m already halfway there.”
His features twisted, a flash of raw pain crossing his face before it vanished behind a mask of contempt.
“Must be nice.” The words dripped with bitterness. “Having a family to visit.”
The bitterness in his voice couldn’t quite disguise the underlying pain and she felt a pang of unwilling sympathy. Who had he lost?
Before she could ask, his lips curled into a predatory smile that emphasized those gleaming white fangs. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she stared up at him. She should be afraid—and she was—but there was something exhilarating about their encounter.
Those icy blue eyes suddenly focused on something behind her, and then his massive form rushed towards her with impossible speed. She stumbled backwards, her basket falling from nerveless fingers as her back hit rough bark.
His arm shot towards her, claws extended, and she was too terrified to even scream.
But death didn’t come. Instead, he withdrew his arm and showed her the serpent dangling from his long, black claws—its scaled body still twitching. She recognized the markings. Poisonous.
It must have been right behind her. If he hadn’t moved when he did…
She opened her mouth to thank him but he gave her a mocking look as he flicked the serpent into the undergrowth.
“It appears you don’t know these woods as well as you think. That siskar could have killed you before you even noticed it.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She’d traveled these woods dozens of times without incident but this arrogant male acted as if she was some helpless child who needed saving.
“I’ve managed just fine until now?—”
“Clearly not.” He scowled at her. “I will tell you one more time to turn back.”
“No.”
Something she couldn’t read flickered across his face at her refusal.
“Then since I’m not in the mood to find your corpse in my territory later, I’ll escort you to wherever you’re going. The sooner you’re out of these woods, the better.”
“That’s not necessary?—”
“Turn back or start walking,” he ordered.
Who did he think he was? She opened her mouth to tell him exactly where he could stick his unwanted protection, but the dangerous glint in those ice-blue eyes made her pause.
Instead she snatched up her fallen basket and glared at him.
“Fine. If you want to waste your day accompanying me, that’s your choice.” Her chin lifted as she met his gaze. “But I won’t be intimidated by you.”
“Little red, you have no idea what true terror feels like. At least, not yet. But you’re tempting the gods to find out.”
With that, he spun on his heel and stalked off down the path, moving with a predatory grace that made her breath catch, muscles rippling beneath that silvery grey skin. Should she turn back?
No.
For all his threatening talk, he hadn’t hurt her. He’d even saved her from the serpent. Apparently his bark was worse than his bite. The thought of a bite from those gleaming white fangs sent a shiver down her spine, but it wasn’t entirely from fear.
Hoping she wouldn’t regret her decision, she hurried to catch up with him. Those piercing blue eyes focused on her for a second and for some reason heat flooded her cheeks. She cleared her throat and gave him a determined smile.
“So, do you spend all your time lurking in these woods waiting to rescue helpless travelers?”
A grunt was her only response.
“I suppose I should thank you for taking care of the serpent. Even if you’re being rather dramatic about the whole escorting business.”
Another grunt, and her trepidation was suddenly replaced by amusement.
“Do you actually speak, or is growling your primary form of communication?”
His jaw tightened. “Finnar.”
“What?”
“My name. Since you seem determined to chatter endlessly, you might as well use it.”
“Finnar,” she tested the name. “I’m Scarlett.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Well, now you know anyway.” She stepped over a fallen branch. “So, Finnar, how long have you lived in these woods?”
He shot her an irritated glance but remained silent.
“The trees are beautiful here. I especially love how the sunlight filters through the leaves. Though I suppose you prefer the darker parts of the forest, being a Vultor and all…”
His only response was a low rumble in his chest.
She bit back a smile. His obvious annoyance at her attempts at conversation only made her want to prod him more. There was something oddly entertaining about trying to crack that stoic facade. This trip was turning out to be far more interesting than she’d anticipated.