Wapun Meadow leave a light on

she drew an airy, whispered breath at his words. she'd expected him to want something from her, not this — whatever this was.

bearclaw faded into a haze as her vision snapped back to his steely features. she knew men like him. words like that. they'd been her ruin before. and with a beat she was remembering times of past, of a time when she might have swooned at such a bold admission. and there lingering in the pitfall of her seaglass eyes was question she would never dare to ask.

would you ruin me too?

there was a quiet pause, and then a thoughtful approving hum. but any words she might have braved enough to speak fled from her tongue the moment she even considered them.

"uktark of grey fangs," she finally let slip, his name tasting grittier than most. "i'm nephele."