Chapter 4

Elowen's POV

Oh shit, Juno perked up, suddenly very awake. This is different.

"Cassian—" I started.

"You're nervous," he observed. Another step. Now he was close. Too close. The corridor lights seemed to dim around us, shadows pooling at his feet. "Why?"

"I'm not." My voice cracked. Betrayed me.

His head tilted. Predatory. "Liar."

The word hung between us. My heart hammered. I should move. Push past him. Walk away. But my feet wouldn't cooperate.

"What do you want?" I managed.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. Cold. Beautiful. Terrifying. "The truth."

"What truth?"

"Did you let him touch you?" His voice dropped lower. Softer. More dangerous. "My brother. Did you let Casper inside you?"

My face burned. "That's none of your—"

He moved. One fluid motion. Suddenly his hand was on the wall beside my head, caging me in. His scent hit me—cold ore and rose, something dark and intoxicating that made my knees weak.

"Answer me, Elowen."

My hands came up instinctively, pressed against his chest. Trying to create distance. He was solid. Warm despite the ice in his eyes. I pushed. He didn't budge.

"No," I said through gritted teeth. "I didn't. Now back off."

But he didn't. His free hand slid down, fingertips ghosting along my arm. Leaving trails of fire. Or ice. I couldn't tell anymore.

"You're wearing his scent," he murmured. Leaned in. His breath was cool against my ear. "All over you. Pine. Smoke. Casper."

Holy fuck, Juno practically purred. Those silver studs in his ear. I want to bite them. Bite him.

"Quiet," I hissed aloud. Mortified.

Cassian heard. Something flickered in his eyes. Amusement. Hunger. Both.

"Your wolf likes me," he said. Not a question. A statement.

"My wolf is insane." I tried to push him again. Harder this time. My palms flat against his chest. He caught my wrists. Gentle but firm. Held them between us.

"Stop," I demanded. Tried to twist free. He held fast.

"Why?" His thumb traced circles on my pulse point. Slow. Deliberate. "Your heart is racing. Your scent—" He inhaled deeply. "—tells me you don't really want me to stop."

"You're wrong." I jerked my hands. He tightened his grip. Not painful. Just... unyielding.

"Am I?"

His other hand dropped lower. Found my thigh through the silk dress. My breath hitched. I tried to step sideways. Nowhere to go. Wall on one side. Cassian on the other.

"Let go," I said. My voice shook. From anger. From something else I didn't want to name.

"Make me." His fingers slid higher. Just barely. Teasing. Testing.

I shoved at him with my shoulder. Tried to duck under his arm. He released my wrists only to cage me in completely, both hands on the wall now, boxing me in.

"Cassian, this isn't—" My words cut off as his hand found my thigh again. Warmer this time. More insistent. Fingertips skating the lace edge of my panties.

Cold. Always so cold. Even his touch burned with frost.

I jolted. Grabbed his wrist. Tried to pull it away. "Stop it."

"You're not pushing very hard, little wolf." His voice was a growl now. Low. Vibrating through my bones. "If you really wanted me to stop, you could. You're stronger than you pretend."

He's right, Juno whispered. We could shift. Could fight. But do we want to?

"Shut up," I snapped at her. At him. At both of them.

Cassian's lips curved. He leaned closer. His mouth right at my ear. Breath cool against my heated skin.

"I want to be inside you, Elowen." The words were barely a whisper. Deadly soft. "Little freckle."

My whole body went rigid. I shoved at him—really shoved this time, using my strength. He stepped back. Just one step. Gave me an inch of breathing room.

But his eyes never left mine. Ice-blue. Burning cold.

"You—" I couldn't find words. My hands were shaking. From anger. From fear. From the traitorous heat pooling low in my belly that I refused to acknowledge.

"I'm patient," he said quietly. Straightened his shirt. Casual. As if he hadn't just cornered me. Touched me. Said those things. "But not forever, Elowen. Remember that."

He turned. Walked away. Disappeared around the corner.

I stayed frozen against the wall. Heart pounding. Legs trembling. Juno howled in my head—frustrated, aroused, confused.

What the hell just happened?

And why did part of me—the part I desperately wanted to ignore—wish he hadn't stopped?