Roric was taken aback by her reaction. He froze for a moment, flushed with pleasure as the woman hefted the hare from his teeth. Seamlessly, a man stood where the wolf had been, unabashedly naked, sporting silvery hair and molten eyes. ”That is because fishing is a human activity. These fish know better than to get themselves caught.” He seemed disdainful almost. The man strolled over to sit beside his owner on the log. The moment she ate the heart, he smiled, eyes breathtaking as they caught the sun. Her insolence endeared her to him.
He wanted to protest as she offered to share her half, but hesitated. Who was he to stop her, were she to choose to share her meal? It was not an action he would have taken, but he respected her right to act as she pleased. But still, possession seethed just beneath his skin. These people did not belong to her, not like he did. They were beneath her notice, as far as Roric was concerned, most especially the woman with the pipe. She was obviously attached to a Dynasty by the way she was dressed.
The man assured him that he did not mean any harm. Roric bristled. ”Words,” he said in a low tone, eyes narrowed. ”I warn you. Either of you touch her and I will eat your heart as easily as she ate the hare’s.” He looked at both of them levelly, each one in the eyes before turning away, more interested in the activity of the woman beside him. Perhaps the man interested him, being willing to partake in raw meat, but the other was irrelevant, in his eyes.
Haeli inquired about the man’s arm. He turned to observe what she meant. The arm was ashen, with silvery veins all throughout. The wolf eyed it with faint interest. It was true. He’d never seen a human with an arm like that before. Perhaps it was from a fire, like Haeli’d said. Roric didn’t seem to notice the potential social faux paux in asking about whether or not he’d been burned.
”It looks strong,” he observed. ”Not necessarily burned.” He didn’t seem unkind. In fact, the animal seemed encouraged by the easygoing attitude of his companion.
He wanted to protest as she offered to share her half, but hesitated. Who was he to stop her, were she to choose to share her meal? It was not an action he would have taken, but he respected her right to act as she pleased. But still, possession seethed just beneath his skin. These people did not belong to her, not like he did. They were beneath her notice, as far as Roric was concerned, most especially the woman with the pipe. She was obviously attached to a Dynasty by the way she was dressed.
The man assured him that he did not mean any harm. Roric bristled. ”Words,” he said in a low tone, eyes narrowed. ”I warn you. Either of you touch her and I will eat your heart as easily as she ate the hare’s.” He looked at both of them levelly, each one in the eyes before turning away, more interested in the activity of the woman beside him. Perhaps the man interested him, being willing to partake in raw meat, but the other was irrelevant, in his eyes.
Haeli inquired about the man’s arm. He turned to observe what she meant. The arm was ashen, with silvery veins all throughout. The wolf eyed it with faint interest. It was true. He’d never seen a human with an arm like that before. Perhaps it was from a fire, like Haeli’d said. Roric didn’t seem to notice the potential social faux paux in asking about whether or not he’d been burned.
”It looks strong,” he observed. ”Not necessarily burned.” He didn’t seem unkind. In fact, the animal seemed encouraged by the easygoing attitude of his companion.
