KAEDEN
Avara is leaning against the doorframe, her expression unreadable. She isn't wearing the green silk gown from the banquet anymore. She is instead, in a thin, translucent nightgown that leaves very little to the imagination. Fenris lets out a low, predatory purr that vibrates in my chest.
"Looking for something, Kaeden?" she repeats, her voice dripping with disdain.
Before she can notice, I quickly tuck the vial in my pockets.
"You were supposed to be with Silas." A stupid statement to make, I know, but my mind is blank of any other words to use to break the ice.
"Yes, I was. Luckily, he did not have very much to tell me, unlike what you might have expected."
"Well, then, I hope you have a good night's sleep."
I make a move to leave, but she stalks into the room, closing the distance until she is standing directly in my space. The scent of her, vanilla, wild berries, and storm clouds, hits me like a physical blow.
"What are you doing here, Kaeden?"
"Why would you want to know?"
She laughs, and I realize that this is the first time I have seen her laugh. And even though it's sardonic, there's something undeniably entrancing about the way her lips curve when she laughs.
"I don't know... I mean, it could be because you're in my room, in my quarters, invading my private space for the second time since you came back barely three days ago. What is it that you want? You think I have something of yours?"
"I see no reason to respond to you." My voice comes out harsher than I intend. "I am soon to be Alpha. This mansion belongs to me." I feel tempted to tell her, but I want to confirm my suspicions so that she has good reason to believe me.
She laughs again and my breath hitches. My goodness.
"To think I felt bad for you when father embarrassed you today at the banquet. But you know what? He had good reason to say every word that came out of his mouth. You might be in your thirties, but every indication of your actions reveal you to be an irresponsible, entitled brat."
I feel my chest tighten involuntarily with anger. "You know nothing of what I am."
"Oh really? Well, then, I can't be judged for making my deductions based on your actions. I mean, you abandoned your family for 15 years and barely three days after coming back, you've already started acting like you are entitled to so many things that you never bothered to work for."
Never bothered to work for? The hundreds of scars lining up my arms and back almost begin reverberating around me. Only if she knew, only if she fucking knew just how hard I have worked over the years.
"Again, I am not obligated to respond to you."
She yawns. "If you are going to be a constant visitor every night, brother, you might as well bring a snack once in a while. And just so you know, I'm not a fool to just think that you have been coming here just to look around and touch things. I know you have an agenda. I don't know what it might be, but I know that it has something to do with your knowledge that father doesn't find you worthy of the throne and will not willingly give power to you. Well, I'm sorry to inform you, but you will find nothing to help you in this imminent war against father here. I am just a pawn in this pack."
"Only a pawn?" I almost laugh.
"Yes, so I would appreciate if..."
I notice that her bright green eyes have moved to my right pocket and I look down to realise that in my haste, I did not properly conceal the vial.
"Did you... did you take something of mine?"
Before I can react, she moves for my pockets and just before she can grab it, I catch her hand and raise it away from my pocket. She makes another attempt, this time, pressing her body against mine in an attempt to reach for it.
The contact is electric. The world tilts, just like it did when we first touched. I can feel the heat of her skin through the thin silk, the frantic beat of her heart against my ribs. Her breath hitches, and for a second, the resentment in her eyes wavers.
I gently push her away, and find that I am panting from the brief encounter.
"That is nothing of yours."
"Then what the fuck is it?" She's panting too.
"I will be leaving now, Avara. Don't try to stop me again or I am afraid that I might get violent."
"You're a piece of shit, do you know that?" Even her glare is electrifying. At this point, I have to ensure that I never encounter her alone at night like this. Or worse, touch her.
"One day, you'll thank me."
I don't wait for her reply. I vault over the balcony, disappearing into the shadows of the ancient oaks before I do something we'll both regret.
