He rose slowly. The scent was too close to be coming from the human village which meant that she was on the mountainside. In his territory.
Why was she here? The mountains belonged to the Vultor and the valleys to the humans. Ignoring those restrictions had led to enough bloodshed over the years that both groups of colonists tended to honor them. This was his mountain, his land, and he didn’t tolerate trespassers. While he hadn’t resorted to violence, he’d driven off three prospectors two years ago and a hunting party last spring.
The fact that another human had intruded on his territory should have irritated him. But instead of annoyance, he felt… curious.
No.No doubt she has simply ventured too far and would return to her people on her own. Since a single female presented no threat he should turn away and climb back up the mountain to his den and his solitude and his carefully maintained isolation.
The breeze shifted again, and her scent, closer now, washed over him in a wave of sweetness.
His beast growled, urging him forward, not as predator but as a male. He fought the urge, forcing himself to remain still as he listened, letting the instincts that had kept him alive for five years take over. He heard the soft whisper of cloth against skin, the faint crackle of leaves underfoot. She was close now, moving towards the silverleaf grove, her steps quiet but determined.
I should leave.
Instead he melted into the trees on the far side of the grove where the shadows were deepest, watching as she emerged into the clearing. She was small and wiry, dark hair pulled back from a pretty, delicate face. Her simple attire—sturdy trousers tucked into worn boots, a loose tunic, and a canvas satchel slung over one shoulder—wasn’t designed for mountain travel. The boots were better suited for village streets than rough terrain, and she didn’t carry a pack or a water skin or any visible supplies. Either she was foolish or desperate.
Or both.
She scanned the area, her expression a mixture of hope and fear, and he realized she was looking for something. But what?
He watched as she approached the fallen log, her eyes fixed on a patch of vines growing in the partial shade behind it. The corkscrewing vines were covered with small, star-shaped flowers of an impossible blue. She ran a section of the vine through her fingers, then gently pulled the fibers apart before sighing in disappointment.
She slumped down on the fallen log, looking totally defeated. An unexpected urge to comfort her swept over him but he quickly pushed it away. No human wanted comfort from a Vultor. He should leave. He should retreat back up the mountain and forget he’d seen her.
His beast disagreed.
The pull was stronger now, insistent in a way that made his claws want to extend. He could smell her more clearly this close—that sweet warmth he’d caught before, but also herbs and wool and woodsmoke. And beneath it all, something that made every instinct sit up and pay attention.
“What am I going to do?” she muttered, frustration in every syllable. “I can’t search the whole mountain and I hate leaving Dani and I probably shouldn’t even be here?—”
As she spoke the last words she shivered and looked around. She scanned the grove with wide hazel eyes that held intelligence and wariness in equal measure.
He went absolutely still. He was downwind of her, concealed by the trunk of a silverleaf tree and the shadows of the branches overhead. She couldn’t possibly see him.
Her gaze swept past his position, continuing around the grove, then returned, looking directly at him.
His breath caught. Impossible. She was human with human senses. There was no way?—
“I know someone’s there.” Her voice was steadier than he’d expected, though he could smell the spike of adrenaline that accompanied fear. “I’m not trespassing. I’m just looking for a plant. I’ll leave once I find it.”
She couldn’t actually see him. She was guessing, calling out to the shadows. Except her eyes hadn’t moved, still locked on his position with uncanny precision.
“I’m armed,” she added, which was an obvious lie given that he couldn’t see any weapons.
A bird called overhead. A gust of wind whispered through the trees. The mountain held its breath.
He had two choices. He could retreat deeper into the forest and let her think she’d imagined his presence. Or he could reveal himself and deal with the consequences.
His beast made the decision for him.
He stepped out from behind the trunk.
CHAPTER 3
Jessa’s breath caught in her throat as the shadow detached itself from the trees and became a man.
No. Not a man. A Vultor.
She’d been sure there was someone in the shadows, even though she hadn’t been able to actually see anyone. Given the fact that she was in Vultor territory, it was logical to assume it was a Vultor. But a logical deduction and reality were two entirely different things.
