“Wow. That’s quite unexpected.”
“Is that so?” I challenged, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
“Well yes. Coral is a very sweet and charming young woman. But she’s such a quiet homebody, I would have expected a man like you to be more into wilder and stronger women, with a fierce appetite for all the thrills life has to offer,” she said resting her palm on top of the table as she leaned slightly forward, giving me a better glimpse of her chest.
To her dismay, I didn’t glance down at her cleavage, but kept my eyes locked with hers.
“First, being quiet and finding fulfillment in a home you love does not make one boring or weak. Ever heard of quiet strength? You don’t have to be loud to be powerful. In fact, it’s the quiet ones you should always beware of. You never know what secrets they keep and just how great their hand is until they finallychoose to lay down their cards. Do not underestimate my woman.”
She huffed. “While I agree with your statement in principle, you may not know that I shared an apartment with Coral for a year. She’s a sweet girl, predictable, and a completely open book. There is no powerful secret. We would know…”
“You can be married to someone for twenty years only to realize you actually never really knew them. Do not presume to know Coral,” I replied dismissively. “Which leads me to the second point. We’ve only just met, and yet you think you know what kind of man I am. What would that be, exactly?”
The way she perked up at that question indicated she’d been looking for that very opening to launch her attack.
“I do not need to know you for long to understand that you are an apex alpha,” Angelique said in a purring tone. “You are strong, a leader of men. Your mere presence commands attention. That impressive body of yours screams of discipline and dedication. One doesn’t get this lean and muscular without having a healthy and steady routine. The way you present yourself from your clothes, your hair, the subtle yet alluring aroma of your cologne speaks of elegance, refinement, and impeccable taste. And beneath that delicious package, a lion prowls, ready to devour its prey. And I can assure you, any prey you set your sights on would be a willing sacrifice.”
She added that last sentence leaning forward, her lips parted as if inviting me to kiss her.
I stared at her for a second, letting the tension build in tandem with her ridiculous expectations. Then I snorted and shook my head while looking at her with disbelief. She stiffened, shocked and offended by my response.
“That’s a very interesting take. I want to believe that people would indeed consider me a leader, not that I particularly care or seek anyone’s approval. As for my body, I’m actually what one would call a slacker when it comes to fitness training. I justhappened to have an exceptional metabolism. And regarding my fashion sense, you should congratulate my woman instead as all of these were chosen by her for me,” I said as I tauntingly waved at my body. “Her taste in everything is always impeccable.”
“Oh, stop playing coy,” she snapped, sounding a little irritated. “Why settle when you can have so much more? A man like you could have anything, andanyone.”
This time, my gaze hardened. “I’m not playing coy. And frankly, your words would be flattering if you weren’t being so disrespectful to my woman right now.”
“Stop calling heryourwoman!” she hissed. “You deserve much more than that mousey little girl. Let me help you see reason.”
To my shock, she waved her hand and whispered an incantation in such a low voice that most humans wouldn’t have heard it, or it would have sounded like nothing more than a sigh. But the wretched female had cast a love spell on me. Confident in my inability to resist, Angie leaned forwards as she caressed my biceps left exposed by the short-sleeved shirt I was wearing. She clearly intended to press her chest against mine and maybe even embrace me, but the foolish female was messing with the wrong one.
With a single thought, I ignited my fire beneath the skin of my upper arm. The lightning-shaped fiery tendrils flared at one of the intense heat levels I normally used for defense in combat. Angie immediately yelped and yanked her hand away from me as she stumbled a couple of steps back. Holding the wrist of her wounded hand, she stared at the latter in horror. An angry red welt was already swelling in the middle of her palm. Angie glanced back at me, shock, confusion, and a hint of fear flashing in quick succession on her face.
“Please, you foolish woman. Your pathetic lust spells do not work on the likes of me. Shame on you for trying to steal the partner of someone you claim to be your friend. And evengreater shame on you for trying to coerce someone into nonconsensual frolic. I doubt the Council of Witches would approve.”
She paled and took a step back while holding her injured hand against her chest.
“What are you?” she whispered, fear and confusion audible in her voice.
I stared at her quietly for a moment, then put down the glass I had initially picked up without bothering to fill it, then started walking away. She immediately recited an incantation. It represented no threat to me. But it also meant the gig was up.
“Oh, my God! You’re a Liderc!” she exclaimed.
A few people peered at us. They hadn’t understood what she had said thanks to the ambient music providing a semblance of privacy, and the fact that everyone had conveniently stayed out of hearing range as soon as their dear hostess had cornered me. A single vicious glare from Angie sufficed for them to avert their eyes.
I stopped and turned back to face her. She stared at me in disbelief, her mind struggling to reconcile this impossible reality.
“How in the world did Coral of all people manage to get…?”
Angelique’s voice trailed off as her brain finally put two and two together. At that moment, I realized that she had truly forgotten that she left my egg lying around, discarded in her old apartment.
“Oh, my God! You’re mine! That bitch stole you from me!” she hissed, anger twisting her features in a rather unattractive fashion.
“Careful how you address my woman,” I warned, taking a menacing step forward. “Coral stole nothing from you.”
“You came frommyegg,” she snarled, slapping her chest with her good hand. “I paid a fortune to acquire you!”
“And then you discarded the egg. You abandoned it in your former apartment, and it would have been trashed if not for my woman retrieving it. Therefore, you have no claim. Owning anegg means nothing. It is the one who hatches it who holds every right.”
