I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Nobody ever complimented my magic except Professor Blackwood. Most people heard “shadow magic” and immediately assumed I was practicing dark arts.
“It’s not that big a deal,” I mumbled, fidgeting with the mop handle. “I’m still learning.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Silver said, finally—thank the gods—pulling on a pair of black boxer briefs that hugged his muscular thighs. “Rare talents deserve recognition. I’m not sure I even fully understand shadow magic, but I know it’s a special gift. Make sure you nurture it.”
I watched as he continued dressing, pulling on jeans and a tight T-shirt that showed off his broad shoulders. Each movement was fluid and confident, like he knew exactly how good he looked and was completely comfortable in his skin.
“So, you’re on the football team?” I asked, desperate to keep the conversation going even though I should have been cleaning.
Silver nodded, running a hand through his damp white hair. “Yeah. Just got made captain, actually.”
“Congratulations,” I said, genuinely impressed. “That’s a big deal, right?”
“It is,” he agreed, a flash of something uncertain crossing his face before his easy smile returned. “Just means I have to be even more responsible now.”
“I’m sure you’ll be great at it,” I said, then immediately wanted to kick myself. Could I sound any more pathetic?
Silver laughed, the sound echoing off the tiled walls. “You don’t even know me. I could be terrible.”
“You just... seem like you’d be good at it,” I shrugged, feeling my cheeks heat up again. “You have that... leader vibe.”
“Leader vibe?” Silver raised an eyebrow, looking amused. “Is that your professional assessment, shadow witch?”
“Absolutely,” I replied, feeling a small spark of confidence. “I can see auras pretty easily. Yours screams ‘bossy.’”
I had no idea where that came from. I never bantered with attractive guys. Hell, I never even talk to them if I can avoid it. But something about Silver made me want to impress him, to keep his attention on me just a little longer.
Silver’s eyes widened in surprise before he burst out laughing. “Bossy? That’s a new one.” He shouldered his gym bag and took a step toward me. “I prefer to think of it as... assertive.” He stopped only a few inches in front of me, placing his hand on my shoulder as he leaned close. “When I want something, I do everything in my power to have it.”
I gulped audibly. He was so close. I could feel the heat of his skin, smell the sweet scent of soap rolling off him. Even this close his skin was flawless and those silver eyes seemed to see right through me.
My breath caught in my throat as his hand lingered on my shoulder, thumb grazing the edge of my collarbone. Every nerve in my body seemed to focus on that single point of contact.
“I—” I started, but words failed me. What could I possibly say to someone like him? This purple-skinned god who’d just casually implied he went after what he wanted. Was he implying that he wanted... me? No, that was ridiculous.
Silver’s eyes seemed to dance with amusement as he watched me struggle to form coherent thoughts. “You should get to your cleaning,” he said finally, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers down my spine. “But I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of each other, Ash.”
The way he said my name made it sound like something precious, something worth savoring. I nodded dumbly, unable to tear my gaze away from his face.
“See you around, shadow witch,” he said with a wink, finally stepping back and breaking the spell he’d cast over me.
I watched him walk toward the exit, my heart hammering against my ribs like it was trying to escape. At the door, he paused and looked back over his shoulder. “Oh, and Ash?”
“Y-Yeah?”
His gaze flicked down to the obvious bulge in my jeans. “Those pants look good on you.”
Then he was gone, leaving me standing there clutching my mop like an idiot, my pants uncomfortably tight and my mind racing with possibilities I had no business entertaining.
A dark elf. A football captain. A guy who looked like he’d stepped straight out of my most secret fantasies. And he’d talked to me like I was worth noticing.
I leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. “Get it together,” I muttered to myself. “He was just being nice. Guys like that don’t go for guys like you.”
Did he look at my dick? Yes. But was that probably just some strange dark elf custom that I didn’t understand? Maybe. Nobody had ever shown much interest in me before, so why would this guy? He was way too far out of my league for that.
But as I finally began my cleaning duties, I couldn’t help replaying every second of our interaction. The way his hand felt in mine. That bolt of electricity when our skin touched. The intense look in his silver eyes when he’d caught me staring at his cock.
Maybe I was reading too much into it. Maybe this was just how popular, attractive people behaved—confident and flirtatious with everyone they met. But a tiny part of me, the part that still believed in magic beyond the practical kind I studied, wondered if there might have been something more.
