Neverwinter Forest song-murder and the aspen

the lack of knowledge that he was being skillfully stalked — a spell startled and shattering with the unfortunate snap of a twig and the explicit word falling from her lips — burns in ingram's chest. that he hadn't known manifests with embarrassment of his own that roils beneath the surface, bubbling up his throat and lingering like a melody of spices upon his tongue as he turns quick, preparing to spew venom —

words are stolen from him and a ragged breath is drawn in ...immediately mistaking her for the shadow upon first, too-quick glimpse.

it is only as seaglass gaze rakes over her hungrily and a ghost of a step is taken that he realizes everything about her is all ...wrong. not the shadow. no mis-matched eyes, the dark pelage broken by browns and cinnamons that did not besmirch the shadow's pelt.

ingram's posture shifts again, every flick of emotion that might've crossed his face then shutting off; turning stony and ice-cold.

his lips twist into a scowl then, a low warning growl rumbling in his chest; his annoyance making itself known without any effort of tempering on his part. what do you want? he snaps; surly as ever.