Born in the Flame

Chapter Eleven

    "Shit." I said, my eyes widened as I looked into those familiar red eyes. Behind him sat his wayward coven, three women sat with them from the looks of it. Slowly and as discreetly as I possibly could, I grabbed the steak knife from the side of my plate.

    I didn't think he would hurt me, but still, he grabbed me after I had told him no. If he's willing to do that, I'm not willing to take chances.

    "Elwin, what are you doing here?" He said, taking a step closer.

    "I'm on my way to Nadraria for business." I said simply. I wasn't going to actually tell him what I was doing. How could I think that there wasn't a chance I'd see him? Our journeys were only separated by a couple days.

    "Can I sit with you?" He asked softly. His face seemed sincere, but something in his eyes was telling me to run.

    "Fine." I said shortly.

    "Listen, I'm sorry for the way I acted back in Forge City. I was pushy." He admitted, sitting down in front of me. It must have been the look I gave when I first saw him that told him I wasn't at all happy. I guess I could appreciate the apology, though.

    "It's fine. I just don't like being touched." I said, going back to eating my food. My father taught me that even if someone rattled you, you make sure not to show it.

    "I'm happy that we ran into each other." He said, his eyes didn't leave me for a second. It felt like I had an audience the way he watched me eat.

    "It's good to see you're well." My eyes roved back over to where he sat, "So who are the girls at the table?"

    I could see his face shift a bit. That question was meant to shake him up a bit.

    "My men brought them over." He replied with a slight shrug.

    "That's not a real answer." I said in between bites of food.

    "I thought you weren't interested in me like that?" A small slithered to the corners of his lips. My eyes, again, narrowed on him.

    "I'm not. I'm interested in why you're pursuing other women when you were asking for me to wait for you." I sighed, "There's nothing between us. We can have a professional relationship, but that's it. I told you that I wait for no one."

    "You did. You made it clear, so aren't you happy that I am pursuing other women?"

    "Very. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow." I said, starting to get up from my seat.

    "Wait, where are you staying? I can walk you back..."

    "Nope. I'm fine." I insisted.

    "It gets dangerous at night." He pushed.

    "Have a good night, Salim." I said shortly. My eyes narrowed in warning.

    "I can't let you leave this late. You're drunk." he said. I wonder if he had seen me before I had seen him. I wasn't drunk. Eating food and seeing him sobered me up real fast. That must mean that he saw me drinking before eating. He might have waited to approach me when I had ordered food so that I would be more likely to stay here with him. The idea that he calculated that like I was prey made me sick to my stomach.

    "I am not. Will you stop?" My voice escalated to draw more attention to us.

    "Elwin, there you are!" A voice called from behind me. Birch strode into the tavern and came up behind me. Those cold jade green eyes landed on Salim and sized up the giant deidae. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"