"Oh. Right. The protocols." He cleared his throat, his composure reasserting itself like armor sliding back into place. "It's really not major. You'll be following the same training regimen as everyone else, except obviously not the shifter-specific techniques."
"I'd like to learn how to fight against a panther, if that's acceptable." The words came out more boldly than she'dintended, but she pressed on. "If I'm going to be working and patrolling in this territory for a while, I should know how to handle both human and panther attackers."
Something flickered in his eyes—worry mixed with what looked like admiration. "That's... brave of you. And smart. I'll mention it to Talia and Brenn tomorrow. They'll incorporate full defensive protocols into your training."
She nodded, then voiced the question that had been nagging at her since their meeting in his office. "How long am I expected to be here? I didn't really tell anyone I was leaving, and my students deserve an update soon."
Again, that look of confusion crossed his features, as if the question had blindsided him. "I'm... not sure of the timeline. At least a few weeks, maybe more."
A few weeks.
The timeframe should have been reassuring—not too long, manageable, temporary just like she'd expected. Instead, something deep in her chest twisted with what felt suspiciously like disappointment. The reaction made no sense. She'd known this was temporary from the beginning. So why did the thought of leaving Nova Aurora, of leaving him, create such an unexpected ache?
Because you just got here,she told herself firmly.You haven't experienced everything yet. Stop overthinking and just enjoy the opportunity.
They finished the meal in relative quiet, the silence comfortable but charged with unspoken tension. When Raikar suggested they move to the couch by the fireplace to continue their conversation, Jade found herself agreeing despite every instinct that warned her she was entering dangerous territory.
The seating area was as elegantly appointed as the rest of the house, with deep leather furniture arranged before a stone fireplace that crackled with warmth. Raikar settled beside her onthe couch—not close enough to touch, but near enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his powerful frame.
"How are you enjoying Nova Aurora so far?" he asked, his voice pitched low and intimate in the firelight.
"It's a beautiful place. Brenn has been very friendly and helpful, and Talia is slowly warming up to me. And I think the training is going well." She paused, then added with complete honesty, "You were efficient during the session today."
"You were more efficient," he countered, his blue eyes intense in the dancing light. "Your form, your adaptability—impressive doesn't begin to cover it."
Heat bloomed in her chest at the praise. "So, why did you come by when you said you were too busy?"
For a moment, he looked like a man searching for a plausible lie. "My schedule had freed up. And I wanted to make sure your first training session went smoothly. But when I saw Brenn teaching that technique incorrectly, I needed to demonstrate the proper form."
"So why did you trick me during that demonstration then?" she pressed. "If you were just showing proper technique, why catch me off-guard like that?"
He paused for a long moment as if searching for an answer that wouldn't reveal too much. "I wanted to test you."
"Well, I failed miserably."
"You didn't fail." His voice was rougher now, edged with something that caused her pulse to race. "You weren't expecting me to do that. You were thrown off."
"I should have been able to read you better, but I can't seem to figure you out. That's why I missed your approach entirely."
"You'll learn to read me soon enough."
The cryptic statement hung in the air, loaded with implications she didn't fully understand. But she felt the truth of it in her bones.
The space between them seemed to be shrinking without either of them consciously moving, drawn by the magnetic pull that had been tormenting her since their first handshake. The firelight played across his sharp features, highlighting the strong line of his jaw and the intensity in his blue eyes.
"I don't want to be too forward," she heard herself say, her voice barely a whisper.
"Go ahead." His response was immediate, rough with barely leashed desire. "Be forward."
"I don't know why you're giving me extra attention. And I don't know why this feels like more of a date than a work meeting."
The words hit their target. She watched his carefully constructed composure crack, saw the flash of something raw and vulnerable in his expression before he could hide it behind his usual control.
"Maybe because I really wanted this to be a date," he said finally, the admission rough and honest. "Maybe I wanted to get you alone because I can't stop thinking about you."
The confession hung between them, crackling with electricity and possibility. Jade's heart hammered as she stared into his blue eyes, seeing her own desperate attraction reflected there.
"I can't stop thinking about you either," she whispered.
