Shame churned inside him. He’d found her in the crowds the night before and had hardly let her out of his sight since, following her in the shadows like the monster he tried so hardnot to be. Since he’d met her, it was like he was losing his grip on his hard-won control, and he loathed it.
He absolutely fucking loathed it.
He’d nearly lost it when that silver-haired prick had approached her earlier. He couldn’t quite hear what he’d said to her, even his hearing wasn’t that good, but everything about her body language had screamed her unease. She’d done a good job of hiding it, her expression carefully controlled as she’d shut him down, but he could sense the tension rolling off her from way across the clearing. It was sheer luck she’d managed to get rid of him when she did. Keeran had already been on his way over to teach him that no meant no, and that was a lesson best not taught in front of the whole fucking village. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself.
That had been the second time she’d looked at him, her green eyes boring into his soul, as if she had been as incapable of looking away as he was.
Now, watching her dancing, he was just as transfixed.
She danced with her friend, lost in the crowd, the trail of empty tankards left in the evening’s wake blurring any inhibitions they might have had. They danced freely, laughed freely, sang freely. It was like she’d become a different person from the one he’d been watching, the tension in her shoulders was gone, the hard glint in her eyes melted by the music. She seemed happy, young.
She spun around her human friend, the lanterns highlighting the softer tones in her dark hair, her dress flaring around her, revealing the curved muscles of her legs. She was striking, mesmerising, so far beyond beautiful he couldn’t even find the words.
When the male artemian he recognised from the night before elbowed his way through the crowd, Keeran stiffened, the bark digging into his shoulder.
The woman threw her arms around his neck as he appeared from among the throngs of dancers, shouting something in his ear. The man said something back, his arms squeezing her tightly before he pulled away and grinned at her with a familiarity that had Keeran clenching his fists so hard his knuckles popped.
The man was an artemian, and Keeran would put good money on him being an apex predator of some kind. That meant he wasn’t with the human woman. Relationships between artemians and humans were illegal, and there would be more than enough people in a village like this who’d be keen to see them hang if they were ever caught.
No, he wouldn’t be with the human, so did that mean he was with the dark-haired woman? She clearly wasn’t human, the black ring around her eyes marking her as carrying magic, so they could very well be a couple.
Suddenly, watching her dance wasn’t mesmerising. It was torture.
The creature who shared his mind threw itself against the leash he kept it on, rage and jealousy sweeping over him as he watched her dance with the man. He gritted his teeth so hard he was at real risk of them breaking, fighting for control as the darkness in him snapped and snarled.
The three of them exchanged a few shouted words over the pounding music, and the woman grinned before turning on her heel and elbowing her way through the gyrating crowds to leave the dancefloor and disappear between the trees. Keeran’s shoulders dropped from around his ears as he released a slow breath.
At least he didn’t have to watch them dancing anymore.
The urge to follow her was overwhelming, but he stomped down on it. Enough was enough. He’d had his fun stalking her through the woods last night when she snuck out to hunt, tellinghimself he just wanted to make sure she was safe. Though she’d shot those rabbits with enough precision that he should have been more worried for himself than for her. If she’d spotted him, she could have done him some real damage. Probably ruin his last good shirt too.
From the darkened periphery of the clearing, a group of five men broke away from where the rhythmically challenged and the elderly stood drinking. Keeran’s expression darkened as he recognised the silver-haired man from earlier, heading in the same direction the woman had gone.
His decision was made for him. Keeran shrugged off the tree, a smile pulling at his lips as he rolled his shoulders. With all the dark, twisted thoughts he was battling, pounding into that smug prick and his little pack of bumpkin badasses was just the outlet he needed for his pent-up rage. All he wanted was for them to give him an excuse.
He waited until they disappeared into the night, giving them enough of a head start that they were hidden amongst the denser foliage that sprang up just past the village centre.
Slowly, as if he had all the time in the world, he stalked after them.
He left the lights behind, the music becoming a dull thud in the background. His senses were fixed on the group he was steadily gaining on, on the scent they left in their wake, mixing with hers. It didn’t take long for them to catch up with her, and he settled into the shadows and waited, just within earshot.
“Shiva.” The surprise in her voice betrayed her fear, and it made the darkness in him rattle the bars of its cage, its anger sudden and devastating.
“Where are you sneaking off to, Aelia?” The silver-haired Shiva sauntered closer to her, his friend’s fanning out around him.
Aelia. Her name was Aelia. Keeran mouthed it silently, tasting the way it felt on his tongue.
She crossed her arms, looking pointedly at the four men standing behind Shiva.
“I’m flattered that you felt the need for so much backup,” she said, arching a brow. “Although, after getting your arse handed to you by a one-armed man, I suppose it was wise not to take your chances.”
Shiva’s face darkened, the smug smile disappearing as he took a step closer to her. Keeran tensed, the muscles in his legs coiled and ready to spring.
“There’s more than one way to hurt someone, Aelia. Just because you can’t think past your temper doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t stop to work things through.” Shiva tilted his head, exposing his canines with every sneered word.
Aelia rolled her eyes and turned to go. “Give it your best shot, Shiva.”
He grabbed her arm and yanked her back, and Keeran’s eyes narrowed, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he reined himself in. Not yet. Not quite.
