19

~Hale

I look at her over the crystal decanter I drink from, her back turned to me as she busies herself at the other end of the room with a notepad and a pen.

Glancing to my left, I see my friend admiring her with the same intent stare.

“I hate the way you look at her,” I growl.

Vaela, and all her mortality, has no conception of what powerful men like myself and Larsen are capable of doing to her. We are natural predators, existing for wicked purposes only.

It took me a long time to accept that I don’t have to lean into my true nature. That fighting it is far more rewarding.

Resisting being an Immortal Sin keeps me alive.

I see the restraint glimmering in Larsen. He wants to taunt her, play with her. Larsen is revered where he is from, but boredom plagues him as it does me.

But he will not entertain himself with Vaela. I won’t allow it.

“She’s easy to look at.” He swirls the liquid around his cup, entranced.

Vaela is beautiful. Unnervingly so, in fact.

She looks our way, but only for