Chapter Seven

Magnetic Pull

Saxa

Kissing Gran’s cheek, I grabbed my jacket and keys, heading for the door.

Loud.

That was the only thing I could think of as I stepped into the party; people were milling all over the lawn, laughing, shouting, music thumping through the house like a heartbeat.

Am I supposed to knock?

Oh, fuck it.

Walking in, my eyes immediately find Eirik. I take a few hesitant steps forward but quickly broke our eye contact, scanning the room for any sign of Ingrid among the crowd. As I weaved through the throng of people, the music pulsed around me, making it hard to focus. Finally, I spotted Ingrid near the back sliding glass doors, laughing with a group of people. 

Relief settled over me as I made my ways towards her, hoping to blend in and catch up. I had only made it a few steps when a hand suddenly wrapped around my arm, pulling me back into his chest.

Instantly, I knew it was him. My heart skipped a beat as my head whipped around, locking eyes with his. Wondering what he could possibly want from me now. His grip was firm, but not harsh. His eyes held a mix of surprise and something deeper, something I couldn’t quite place.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, voice barely audible over the music.

“You invited me?” I replied, raising an eyebrow. “Or did you just forget about me already?”

Those deep green eyes locked on mine, searching. Heat rose in my chest as his grip tightened just enough to remind me of his presence—a mix of nerves and excitement coursing through me. His touch was electric, sending shivers down my spine.

“You okay, princess?” he bent close, whispering in my ear. His warm breath sent another shiver down my neck, and I nodded, trying to steady my racing heart. Just the thought of his breath against my skin made me break out in a cold sweat. I’d never felt this way before. 

Jesus Christ, I have to get it together. 

But the longer I stare into his eyes, the stronger the pull becomes. It was like being drawn in by some unseen force, unable to resist the magnetic connection between us.

I take a deep breath, feeling the intensity all crashing down on me at once. “What are you doing to me?” I whisper, barely audible.

“You can’t imagine the thing I’m going to do to you sweet girl.”

His words made my body go limp, the silence between us crackling with electricity. My mind racing, struggling to process the flood of emotions. His gaze burned into mine, making it impossible to think straight. The longer I stare into those eyes the more I realize that they have little flecks of brown in them. I wanted nothing more than to stare into them forever.

“Tell me,” I choked out, voice trembling with need. “What exactly are you going to do to me?”

 A slow, confident smile spread across his face as he pressed his body tightly to mine, lips brushing against my ear.

“Oh, min lille ulv,” he whispers. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

His words sent a thrill through me, straight to my pants leaving me breathless and eager. “I can smell how much you want me, pretty gi—”

“SAXA!! Where have you been?” Ingrid yelled, wrapping her arms around my middle section.

I stumbled back, nearly losing my footing as Ingrid’s sudden embrace disorients me.

“Ingrid,” I yell over the noise, eyes darting back to where Eirik had just been seconds ago—but he was gone..

Mhm, disappointing.

“Come one! Let’s get you a drink,” she says, pulling me towards the makeshift bar in the kitchen.

Everyone around had a good buzz going, and Jesus, were there a lot of people here. I thought Gran said this was a small town?

I grab a cold beer from the bucket and scanned the room again. My eyes landed on Eirik, surrounded by a crowd hanging off his every word, especially the girl draped over the side of his chair. White-hot rage flared from deep inside me seeing her carelessly caress his arm.

He’s mine.

Mine?

Where the hell did that come from?

Eirik wasn’t mine by any stretch—I barely knew him, yet my body ached for him like he owned it.

I took another drink, trying to drown out the noise in my head, but my heart raced even faster. That feeling of possessiveness flickered again, unwelcome and insistent. I try to shake it off, this is ridiculous. We didn’t even know each other 24 hours ago. And yet every instinct in my body is screaming at me.

I push my hair behind my ear and force a smile as Ingrid tries to loop me into the conversation, someone handing me a cup filled with something red and sweet. “Drink it, you need something to calm your nerves.”

“Thanks,” I murmur, taking a sip. The cold liquid burns all the way down, doing nothing to ease the tension building in my shoulders, but I appreciate the gesture.

Around me, the party rages on. People dancing, shouting over the music, and spilling drinks in sloppy, careless ways. But all I could focus on was Eirik—the way his laugh sounded as it reached my ears, the way his eyes flicked toward me every now and then, even when he was surrounded by other people. That magnetic pull tightened again, as if some invisible thread was pulling me closer and closer to him.

I wonder if he feels it too?

Before I could dwell on it anymore, Ingrid grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet. “Let’s go outside for a bit, too much noise in here.”

The cool air hit my skin as we stepped onto the back porch. The music was muffled out here, but the night felt calmer, more serene.

Ingrid looks at me, her eyes soft but knowing. “You’re thinking about my brother, aren’t you?”

I shrugged, suddenly embarrassed. “You’re some kind of wizard aren’t you?”

She giggles and grabs my arm, “it happens.”

We stood there for a moment, the night air wrapping around us. I glanced back toward the house, wondering how long I could hold out before I had to face whatever this was between Eirik and I. It definitely wouldn’t be tonight.