Chapter 12: Sorta First Encounter

“Aren’t you going back?”
Vanya grimaced, but quickly sought to hide her expression. Ignoring the question, she looked up at the dark sky, which was lit up by stars that looked like snowflakes. She inhaled, feeling the wind whip her hair into a tangle.
Perhaps it was the atmosphere in the forest. They had been patrolling for more than 4 hours, but Rowan's presence had kept her from focusing on tracking down the elusive rogue. She was only here tonight because she had a gut feeling the rogue would show up again, and she suspected Killian would have appeared hours ago if it hadn't been for Rowan, who had practically begged her on his knees, insisting Lachlan and Ares would have his head if he didn't follow her.
So there she was, with Rowan, anxiously attempting to track down Killian on the sly. She had to admit, however, that something didn't feel right that night. A sense of foreboding had settled heavily in her gut the instant she'd entered the Hollows Forest with Rowan—a feeling she only felt when danger or the dark was nearby.
Could Killian be lurking nearby?
A stronger tremor rocked her frame, and she clinched her teeth, unwilling to recall her encounters with the mysterious rogue, and how she had become defenseless in his presence.
She looked around, but there was no trace of him.
“Vanya?” Unfortunately, Rowan’s voice immediately reminded her that she was not alone. She sighed and turned to face the hunter.His unmistakable golden curls framed his face, nearly completely hiding it.
“No, Rowan. I'm not going back home just yet.”
The hunter had been following her around, and his presence that had started off as merely bothersome had grown tiresome and unwelcome for Vanya.
“But I believe we've covered enough ground tonight. I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary.”
Vanya slid her glance toward him, barely disguising a frustrated grunt. “Rowan, I think I'd rather patrol by myself right now. You can go head back without me. Don’t worry.”
Rowan's mouth twisted into a wicked grin, which she found to be a toothy grimace. “No matter how much I wish to annoy your sister by showering her with words of devotion rather than babysit you, you know I can't leave you alone.”
SShe didn't bother concealing her scowl this time. “Rowan, go home. Please, I beg of you. Please give me this time to－”
“But—”
“The lady asked you to leave,” a new voice came in, deeper and very familiar to Vanya. A shudder rushed through her that had nothing to do with the cold wind. “So leave.”
Rowan was about to argue, but when he turned to face the intruder, his mouth clamped shut and he was gone before Vanya could take another breath. Vanya turned slowly toward her rescuer, her pulse racing
Her eyes was drawn to Cassian's face right away. She couldn't stop the rush of desire that surged through her as her gaze was drawn to his lips, full and asking her to—she snapped her eyes shut. No. She wasn't some hormonal adolescent, she was a hunter!
She forced a calm breath, followed by another, until her pulse wasn't a jackhammer against her hot skin. Only until she was certain she had managed her reaction did she open her eyes to find a set of amber eyes burning into her. But she refused to give in to her impulses and gritted her teeth until the fire beneath her skin was reduced to a mere itch.
“Thank you so much. But I could have dealt with him myself,” she muttered.
The knight in front of her shrugged, drawing her attention to the muscular line of his shoulders. He was as tall as Ares, so she had to glance up, only to be greeted by his eyes once more. “I didn’t seem like it. I mean, you've been trying to get rid of him for hours. I couldn't stand the thought of having to wait another hour.”
Vanya furrowed her brow. “What? Have you been...?”
Cassian smirked.
She shook her head and attempted a neutral expression on her face. There was no reason to be paranoid and ridiculous. This was the same man who took her to her room when she fainted.
“Well, Clara told me what you did...when I...passed out. And I-ah, I haven't properly shown my gratitude for what you've done. So...thank you.” She held out her hand. “And I’m Vanya.”
Before he momentarily looked at her open palm, the knight held her eyes with a such intensity that rattled every aspect of her. “Cassian,” he murmured and kept her gaze a beat too long.
Vanya yanked her hand back, battling the embarrassment she felt at his refusal to shake her hand. “I see you're one of those pricks from The Capitol.”
Cassian gave a predatory grin rather than a welcoming one. “One of those pricks from The Capitol?”
"You know exactly what I mean."
“I'm afraid I don't.”
“Well, I'm not in the mood to clarify what I meant by what I said.”
“You're a sassy one.”
“And you're quite rude.”
“Some might say I am,” Cassian freely confessed. His lips quirked into a deadly smirk, causing Vanya's heart to pound and her hackles to rise. “And I apologize if you find my unwillingness to shake your hand rude.”
“I find it rude, yes, but I’m not offended. Trust me.”
“If you say so.” He smiled once more.
They stood silently in front of each other for a few moments until Vanya asked, "Aren't you going back to the manor?"
“Why would I go back there? I went out and came here for you.”
The warning in the pit of her stomach was growing every second she spent with him,but Vanya couldn't stop the curiosity that roiled just as fiercely.
Why had he come to the forest in search of her?
Cassian took a half-step closer, and Vanya's heart skipped a beat. She tried to take a deep breath, but he was too near now, and all she could smell was mint and something darker, which made her legs shaky and her heart race. She stifled the sensations, the unwelcome desire he elicited. She needed to get away from him. Immediately.
“I really should get back to patrolling—”
“I've been hoping to be alone with you. Your scent…”
“Why are you saying that?” Vanya’s mouth hung open a moment too long. “What do you want from me?”
“You intrigue me, Vanya.” His amber eyes glistened as he looked down at her.
“Why would I intrigue you? You know what? Stop it. Stop whatever this game you’re playing, or Lord Alaric will hear about this.”
“Are you going to tell on me?” His tone was sarcastic, and his eyes had darkened to a deep cognac.
But Vanya felt something was deeply familiar with the knight and despite the unease tangled up in her gut, she knew she wouldn’t alert the Lord Alaric. No, she would handle this on her own.
“Wait. Did my sister put you up to this?”
“Your sister? Why would she－”he paused. “Look, I think that woman is obsessed with me. So why would she tell me to get to you?” he asked, smiling smugly.His expression changed from darkly intriguing to boyish and light.
Before Vanya could think about it any further, his hand was at her waist, searing through her leather outfit and sliding over her back. Cassian's fingertips quickly stroked across the bare base of her neck, and she had to bite her tongue to hold in a moan he provoked.
For a spil second, she panicked and held her breath. S She couldn't figure out what was going on or how her body had become so welcoming to the knight. Then she remembered to how to breathe.
“What are you doing?” she asked softly, then gulped when her lips were inches from Cassian.
Cassian drew her closer, his lips touching her hair as he murmured, "*I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I had a taste of what's mine.*"
The second she heard those words, every rational part of Vanya screamed and she instantly tore away herself from him. Wait a minute, what did you just say?”
Cassian’s eyes flickered between amber and cognac for a long moment before he said, “It’s getting late, Vanya. I think you need to rest.”
“N-no! That’s not it! You said something else. What did you say?”
“I said what I said. Now, allow me to walk you back to the manor, or do you rather that I carry you?”