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“Do you mind?” I snapped back at him, clutching my clothes closely. I’d hoped that maybe,maybehe would have some kind of decency to give me privacy.
“No.”
I growled in frustration, the sound ripping from my throat. The fucking audacity this. . . this stupid, loathsome male had. Glaring at him as I turned to find a place to dress.
“Fine.”
My tone was harsh yes, but he was aggravating. Slipping into the shadows of the trees and dressing quickly his voice carried to me. “What were you thinking, Serra? What did I tell you?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I was thinking about how much I really wanted to bathe. To have a moment ofpeace, before running into your annoying ass again.” The sarcasm had laced itself into my words before I could stop it.
“Excuse me?”
Once I was dressed again, I stepped back out to see him staring at the water, calculating and scrutinizing it. If he was going to be an ass, I could be one too.
“You heard me.”
His eyes found mine, “It wasn’t as if I got a moment's peace either. Anyone or anything could have heard that scream and come running. You’re lucky it was I who got here first. I did warn you, you are not safe here.”
“Oh. . . Oh! I’msorryto be such a bother to you.”
His growl reached my ears, the sound of it making me pause. The sound of it caused my body to react in a way I never would have thought. My fingers twitched as I stared at him. As his eyes bore back into mine.
Slowly, so slowly he stepped forward. His steps were careful as he approached. His fingers reached up to brush away the hair that had fallen into my face. Without thinking- without realizing- I’d leaned into his touch. His fingers were warm on my face as his thumb ran along the bottom of my jaw. The hot trail they left in their wake, tracing along the column of my neck. His fingers gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. I hadn’t realized I’d closed my eyes until his gaze bore into me. The intensity of it made me shrink back.
“You do not know what that thing could have done to you. Do you understand that? I don’t like to repeat myself so I will only say this once more, you’re not safe here. I don’t know what more I can do to make you understand that. Do not test my patience or the willingness I have to save you.” As he spoke, his grip on my chin tightened.
I winced, but I couldn't look away from his piercing gaze. I could see the concern and frustration etched on his face, and for a moment, I was taken aback. I had never seen him like this before. His voice was commanding, but it was also laced with a tinge of fear.
Fear for me.
I pulled away from his grip, my own anger simmering beneath the surface. “You don't have to save me,” I spat back at him. “I never asked for your help.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, his jaw clenching tightly. “You might not have asked for it, but that doesn't mean you don't need it. You're reckless and foolish, Serra. You don't understand the dangers that lurk in this world.”
I scoffed at his words, rolling my eyes. “Oh please, spare me the lecture. I know how to take care of myself.”
He let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “That doesn't mean you're immune to danger. You may have been lucky so far, doesn't mean that luck will last forever.”
I bristled at his words, my own frustration boiling over. “I don't need you to lecture me, I need you to leave me alone. I don't want your help.”
He took a step closer to me, his eyes flashing with anger. “You don't understand,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “The creatures that inhabit this world are not like anything you've ever encountered before. They're cunning, they're deadly, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. And right now, what they want is you.”
“And what makes you any different from them?”
He glared at me, “You don't know anything about me,” his jaw tightened as he spoke through gritted teeth. “I am not like them. I may be a fae, but I have a conscience. I have morals.”
I snorted, unconvinced. “And yet, you seem to be the most dangerous of them all.”
His eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and hurt but he didn’t deny it. Instead, he leaned in close to me, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t know the half of it.”
I instinctively stepped back, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't deny the effect he had on me. Even when he was angry, he was still so damn attractive. But I pushed that thought aside, I swallowed before I said, “My life is not your responsibility.”
His lip peaked as he glared at me, his tone was harsh as he said, “You’re so stubborn. You're vulnerable to all sorts of dangers that you can't even begin to comprehend.”
I glared back at him, my own anger flaring up to match his once again. “I can take care of myself.”
He stepped even closer, “And what happens when you can’t? What happens when you're faced with something that you can’t handle? Will you just let yourself get hurt or worse?”
