Eli and the guards had been following him until he led them off the track and into a dead end. Realizing she'd been played, she had bolted back to look for him, and somehow, she'd found him again, standing in middle of nowhere, lost in his thoughts.
Her original mission was to find Arlo, which was all but long forgotten by her; this stranger had caught her full attention now. He had a familiar air around him, but she couldn't see his face because all the time and even now he had his back to her.
"Why are you creeping here?"
"I should ask that question, you decided to follow me like a little ravenous rodent. What is it? Do you need something? " she got this reply which irritated her even more.
"Don't act smart! If you do not want a puncture in your back, turn around slowly." She pushed the dagger a little deeper into him. The man's response was a fascinating chuckle and he turned toward her slowly with his raised hands.
Then in a blink of a eye he moved like a flash catching her off-guard, before she could even see, he seized her wrist roughly that held the dagger and slammed her against the wall.
"Ouch!" Eli gasped as her shoulder hit the wall hard.
"You should've seen that coming," she flinched back from the cold displeasure in his voice. "Didn't anyone teach you not to drop your guard?"
The man's voice resounded much closer this time and a shudder coursed up through her spine. As the weight of the moment sank in, she realized the situation she was in. She was once again pinned between a wall and a man far larger than hers. But this time, it was different and far more dangerous.
Although she still held the dragger in her hand, but that hand was clasped tightly by him now, locking her wrist in place. The blade lingered just an inch away from her throat that she could feel its chill as he held her there.
Wincing through the pain she looked up at her assailant. As soon as their eyes met she almost gasped. The face before her wasn't merely good looking; that term was a gross understatement. He existed on an entire different realm of handsomeness, eclipsing even Callisto, whom she had until now thought the very epitome of male perfection. His raven hair were elegantly swept back from his face, framing sharp, sculpted features. He was a man simply too handsome to be real!
But what held her more than anything were his golden eyes, glinting brightly in the dim lighting. The very same eyes that had haunted her thoughts for days and had pierced through her as if they were trying to pry into her soul were presently looking into hers once again.
"Who the hell are you? " she asked again, exceptionally calmly. "Speak—before I decide you're a spy and have you locked up. Give me a reason not to call for reinforcements."
"Oh...really!" he replied in a subdued voice. The earlier harshness from him had melted away that made Eli had brief doubts if she had met another man. "Aren't you the reinforcements? Why should I answer you? You could just as easily be a spy yourself." Or not, hearing the mocking lilt still lingering in his tone Eli tried to yank her hand free, but as if she was living a Deja-vu, this man was also far too strong for her.
"Easy now, Miss. Even though you're the one holding the dagger, you do not want a permanent necklace, do you?"
"You seriously don't know me? That makes you more suspicious." she sizzled.
Hearing that, he seemed to be thinking about something before a wicked, devastating smile appeared on his glorious face. Of course, I do. He started, "No, I don't." He released her other hand to lift his now free hand. Reaching out, he lifted her chin with his cool fingers raising her face up, turning it slightly left, then to right as his golden eyes assessed her with interest.
"Hmmm..... and why should I know you? Are you someone of importance? Or are you infamous for something? You do not appear particularly remarkable to me. And those manners," he tsked "...are hardly ladylike."
Dracye tilted his head pretending to understand something. "Ah, perhaps .....don't tell me? You have not followed me all this way because of that, have you? I'm afraid," his eyes once again travelled all over her face finally returning to her eyes," but, I'm not into unattractive ladies." There was an evil glee in his tone as he said this.
Eli was obviously utterly shocked. She couldn't believe her ears. She'd had her doubts but hearing this infuriating man, left her no room for any. This was the same bastard from the masquerade ball.
Ha… I wished I could yank myself for ever thinking this sly bast*rd handsome. No, I want to jab my thumb in his eye.
She struck his hand away from her chin with her free hand. "What were you doing at the masquerade that night?" she demanded.
"Oh, was my presence unwelcomed?" He raised an eyebrow. "Where I come from, anyone can walk right in."
"Where you come from?" Eli asked back creasing her brow. "And why were you dressed like a noble that night? How did you even get this job here?"
"Ahh, so you're curious about your mystery man, huh? Did you fell for him at first sight?"
"T-that's not the case," Eli was quick to retort as her cheeks flushed from embarrassment despite herself. In a burst of anger, she grabbed the collar of his tunic and yanked him closer. The sudden movement threw them off their balance, and the dagger nicked her throat drawing a thin line of blood. She winced in pain yet she didn't break the eye contact, nor did she release her grip on him.
"So impatient!" he sneered again looking down at her hands clutching his tunic, obviously provoking her, "Is this your way of confessing a feeling?"
"Was that not it? Did you already changed your mind? How fickle!" he continued clearly amused by her seething reaction, acting a little disappointed.
She was about to say something to counter this vexing man, when she sucked in a breath and her eyes fluttered shut as the sting on her neck reminded her just how close the dagger had been moments ago.
He sighed, "Not the sort to listen, are you?" he said this with a straight face. "I daresay your family must find you quite the handful." He finally released her dragger hand from his grip and he brushed his fingers lightly against her cheek.
The moment she was free, Eli twisted the blade and aimed it straight at his neck, despite being aware of the fact that her actions would accomplish nothing, but she was too enraged by him to care. Now they were in an awkward position where her one hand fisted in the collar of his tunic, while the other pressed the dagger against his neck. Drayce only smirked wider and leaned towards her, not breaking their eye-contact.
"As an apology," he murmured in his low voice near her face, "I'll satisfy your curiosity. My family used to work for Lord Vareen. He called me in for a job, and I borrowed his son's clothes to attend the party. The bra-lord didn't want to go himself. And as for how I got his job, his house recommended me. That's how I ended up here."
"Then why were you looking at me during the lantern festival?" her emerald eyes looked into his questioningly.
"Ahh, now I remember," he offered her a subtle shake of his head accompanying his amusement. "I did saw you at the festival. You were the lady whose lantern burned half the stock, wasn't it?" Eli's eyes widened with shock.
"Tell me, does the kingdom know that bit of misfortune was your doing? If not, I'd be more than happy to spread the word for you. After all you wanted to be known by everyone."
Then he lowered his hand slowly from her cheek and his thumb grazed the thin cut along her neck, wiping away the small streak of blood that had begun to trail down. "I told you to be careful!" Eli creased her brow slightly at his touch. His enchanting face loomed closer, so close that his breadth drifted over her face, causing her to hold her breath.
The warmth of his breath against her skin sent an unexpected shiver through her, but oddest thing was that she wasn't satisfied enough with his explanations. Suspicion still burned in her eyes. Without warning, she yanked at his tunic, tearing it open. Eli was aware she was acting like a woman unhinged.
She held her breath. His chest was hard and sculpted, every line marked by strength, an unmistakable built shaped by years of battle. But no matter how distractingly flawless it was, that wasn't what she was looking for. Pushing past the sudden rush of heat to her face, her eyes searched intently over his warm and occasionally scarred skin, and found a small sigil etched cleanly over his heart. It was the mark of the Elarion soldiers.