His posture tells me everything I need to know about the male. He moves like a soldier, deadly and precise, and his glower reeks of violence. A glower he directs at me.
I blink, and my mind sifts through its darkest recesses, dredging up a memory I’ve struggled to subdue since arriving. I’m taken back to a bloody scene years ago, where five feyn bodies lay dead at my feet. I suppress a shudder as my eyes open again, bringing me back to the waking world.
As subtly as I can, I shift my leg behind me, muscles in my arms coiling as I prepare to strike or defend. He stops two strides short of where I stand and tips his head, observing me. I wonder if I’ve already given too much away and will myself to relax, unwinding the tension in my body.
“I don’t know you,” he says through gritted teeth, his voice deep and commanding.
Is he telling me or asking?
When I make no move to reply he takes another step toward me, and his brow draws down.
“This is a private event. I’ll escort you off the grounds,” he grumbles and moves to grab my arm.
“Who in haliel do you think you are?” I snap, stepping out of his reach.
His legs are longer than mine and in one stride he’s closed the distance, wrapping his entire hand around my arm in a vice-like grip that threatens to bruise.
Leaning over me, he sneers, “That dress might make you look like a lady but those are the words of a low born.”
“I see that you are familiar with the tongue of your own kind,” I snark.
It’s a shot in the dark but by the look on his face it seems to find its mark on a deep wound.
“What did you just say to me?” he growls, jostling me closer, leering down at me.
I tilt my chin up and meet his glare defiantly. If he thinks he can removemefrom the grounds that are to bemyhome, he will soon find out that he is sorely mistaken.
“Niece!” Felias bellows across the lawn and I chance a glance behind the brooding male clutching my arm.
His grip slackens and after a brief hesitation, he glances over his shoulder, laying eyes on my uncle. I shouldn’t be insulted that he takes his eyes off me, he has no idea what I am, but I can’t help the thoughts that tumble through my mind. I could have him on his knees with two well-placed blows.
“I see you’ve already met the general.” Felias forces a smile as he hurries toward us.
“Niece?” the male huffs as he returns his gaze to me, looking me over more thoroughly.
“General?” I quip back, making sure to sound just as surprised by his rank as he apparently is by my family ties.
He glowers at me, and I suppose if I can’t break his hand for touching me, I’ll settle for knocking him down a peg. Though, I’d much prefer the first option.
Felias arrives out of breath, his eyes flicking between the general and myself, noting the male’s unrelenting grip on my arm.
“General Xeyvian, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to my niece, Shivaria.”
The formal introduction further loosens his grip and when he finallyrelinquishes his hold it takes every ounce of willpower I have not to snatch the arm away and break his nose with the elbow he’s just freed.
“I didn’t know you were feyn born, Felias.” The statement drips with skepticism.
The general’s eyes fall upon the cascade of ebony hair flowing down my back then land on my grey eyes, features that speak to my lineage.
“She takes after her mother, General.” Felias manages to plaster a sweet smile on his face as he looks me over, every bit the doting uncle.
The general tears his eyes away from me with a dismissive grunt and I take my uncle’s arm when he offers it.
“Are you satisfied with your sweep of the grounds?” Felias asks.
The general nods. “Thank you for allowing me access to your home, Felias. You have quite the guest list this evening.”
“It’s Shivaria’s first season and I want to make sure she has every opportunity,” he says, patting my hand affectionately.
