Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
S carlett followed Finnar as he picked his way up the narrow trail, his steps as silent and sure as the shadows themselves. She ducked under a low-hanging branch, her eyes drawn to the way his muscles rippled with each fluid movement and she found herself smiling. His presence should have terrified her—and it still did, a little—but it was the good kind of terror, the kind that sent a pleasant shiver up her spine. Like a ghost story told on a winter’s night, the flicker of fear adding a delicious spice to the warmth of the fire.
And if she were honest, she couldn’t deny the spark of attraction that ran through her whenever they touched. He was the most captivating male she’d ever seen, all raw power and barely contained ferocity.
He’s a Vultor, she reminded herself, but she no longer found the idea terrifying. Whatever his reasons, he was helping her, and she was far too intrigued to turn back now. Besides, she’d promised Grandmother she’d visit, and nothing would keep her from her promise.
“Do you make a habit of rescuing lost humans in these woods?” A smile tugged at her lips when those broad shoulders stiffened. “Or am I special?”
His steps faltered for just a moment before he continued forward without responding. The silence only sparked her curiosity further.
“I bet you’re actually quite nice under all that brooding.” She stepped over a fallen log, her red cloak catching on a thorny branch. “Like one of those prickly fruits that’s soft inside once you get past all the sharp bits.”
A low growl rumbled in his chest, but she caught the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“You know, most people would consider this conversation rather one-sided.” She hopped from one moss-covered stone to another, following in his footsteps. “Though I suppose your growls are quite expressive. That last one definitely meant ‘please continue talking, I’m thoroughly enjoying your company.’”
His head snapped around, those ice-blue eyes narrowing at her, but she met his gaze with an innocent smile. The tension in his jaw only made her want to prod him more.
“Or perhaps it meant ‘silly human, stop trying to make me laugh.’ But I saw that almost-smile earlier, so I know you’re capable of it.”
He turned back to the path, but not before she caught another slight quirk of his lips. The victory, small as it was, sent a flutter through her chest.
The path ahead twisted up through a maze of weathered boulders and gnarled roots and her legs burned from the climb, each step becoming more treacherous. She did her best to follow his sure-footed movements, but her shorter stride made it difficult.
A massive root blocked the trail, its twisted surface rising to her waist. He vaulted over it without hesitating and she sighed. She planted one foot on the rough bark as she attempted to climb over it and her boot immediately slipped on the damp surface.
Strong hands suddenly gripped her waist. Her breath caught as he lifted her effortlessly, his touch sending sparks of electricity racing through her body. He held her suspended in the air for a moment, and she found herself staring into those piercing blue eyes. He was so close she could see flecks of gold in his dark hair.
His hands stayed on her waist even after he’d set her down on the other side, and the heat of his grip burned through her dress, making her pulse race. His fingers flexed slightly against her sides before he seemed to realize what he was doing.
“Watch where you put your feet,” he said roughly as he released her. “The trail only gets worse from here.”
Without waiting for her response, he turned and continued up the path leaving her staring after him. She pressed a hand to her thundering heart, still feeling the phantom pressure of his touch, then hurried to catch up, her skin tingling where his hands had been.
He was right about the trail growing worse. Branches reached across the narrow path like grasping fingers and when she tried to duck beneath them, her boots slid on the carpet of wet leaves. The path grew steeper, winding between moss-covered rocks that seemed to multiply with each step.
Her foot caught on another root and she stumbled forward. His arm shot out, catching her around the waist. His touch sent a jolt through her body, stealing her breath. He pulled her against him, steadying her, and she felt the solid warmth of his hard body through her dress.
“You’re worse than a newborn pup,” he growled, but his arm stayed wrapped around her.
Heat flooded her cheeks as she stared up at him, hyper aware of how close they stood. His wild scent surrounded her, making her head spin. He looked down at her with an inscrutable expression, his eyes searching her face. His arm tightened around her, pulling her even closer and her tongue flicked out to lick suddenly dry lips.
His nostrils flared and he abruptly released her.
“Stay close to me,” he ordered. “There are many dangers in these woods.”
His voice was low and rough, and his eyes seemed to glow in the shadows.
The path narrowed further, forcing them to navigate between two towering boulders, and he reached out to steady her as she squeezed between the damp rocks. His touch burned through her dress, and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning into him, the heat of his body a tempting contrast to the cold rock.
He froze as if he could feel it too, his hands gripping her waist tighter. A strange look crossed his face and for a moment, she thought he might kiss her but then she was left staring at his back as he moved away.
What’s wrong with me?
She shouldn’t be contemplating kisses from a Vultor—she hadn’t even enjoyed the few clumsy attempts from some of the boys in the village. Why did she think it would be entirely different to have that hard mouth closing over hers?
Though the air grew even cooler as they climbed, warmth bloomed wherever his hands touched her. Each time he reached out to steady her or lift her over an obstacle, the contact seemed to last a heartbeat longer and he seemed to draw her a fraction closer. But his face remained hard and unreadable, those striking blue eyes giving nothing away.
She was so distracted by those touches that it took a long time for her to notice how much the forest around them had changed. The trees pressed closer than ever, their trunks ancient and gnarled. Shafts of sunlight barely penetrated the thick canopy. They’d been climbing for what felt like hours. It seemed like an awfully long way to go just to find a place to cross the river.
“How much longer?” she asked, breathless from the climb.
He turned, those ice-blue eyes fixing on her face. His lips curved into a slow smile that sent her pulse racing—not from fear, but something else entirely. That predatory look should have frightened her. Instead, heat pooled low in her stomach.
“Not long,” he growled, then spun back around and continued up the path. Despite his size, the movement was so fluid, so graceful that it took her a moment to shake herself from her daze.
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she hurried after him, her questions almost forgotten in the wake of that smile. What’s wrong with me , she wondered again. She should be worried about where he was leading her, not admiring the way his body moved or remembering the feeling of his hands on her waist.
The path finally leveled out and the dense trees gave way to an unexpected clearing. She blinked at the sudden brightness, and it took her a moment to notice a low stone cottage nestled against the base of a towering cliff. Nature had claimed the structure as its own—thick carpets of emerald moss draped across the domed roof and stubborn vines crept up the ancient stones. The whole building seemed to have sprouted from the rock itself, worn and wild and somehow beautiful.
A crumbling stone wall encircled the cottage. Behind it, a tangled mass of vegetation fought for space in what might once have been ordered garden beds. Wild flowers climbed over themselves while tall grasses swayed in the gentle breeze.
There was something magical about it. The cottage felt both abandoned and alive at the same time, as if it held secrets in its worn stones.
“What is this place?” she whispered.
“My den,” he said gruffly, but there was an oddly vulnerable note in his voice.
She moved closer, running her fingers along the rough stone wall, tracing the patterns of lichen that decorated its surface.
“It’s lovely,” she said, meaning it despite the wild abandon of the place. “But…” She turned and gave him a confused look. “Why are we here?”
The clearing fell silent. Even the birds seemed to pause their songs, and a shiver skated down her spine.
“Do you want something?” she asked, her voice small and uncertain.
His lips curled into that predatory smile that sent her pulse racing, but this time fear threatened to edge out the excitement. He stalked towards her with his usual fluid grace, closing the distance between them in a blink of an eye.
“Oh yes, little red, I want something.” His voice dropped to a silky purr that made her skin prickle. The playfulness she’d glimpsed during their journey was gone, replaced by something darker, hungrier. “And now I have it.”
She backed up until the stone wall pressed against her spine but he kept advancing, his massive frame blocking out the sunlight.
“I warned you there would be consequences if you didn’t turn back.” His eyes gleamed with triumph as he caged her against the wall. “You’re mine now.”