Moon of Claiming

“Welcome back, Accalia,” he murmured, his voice just as husky as I remembered it to be. I said nothing as he continued talking. “I’m glad you’re back after being away for so long. I hope that everything is as you remember it to be.”
This time, I smiled, but it was a bitter smile full of hurt, anger, and annoyance. “No, Niall; my home in Scottsdale was far more pleasant than my home here.”
His brow furrowed. “How so?” Niall demanded.
“You weren’t there!” I hissed viciously, though the words came out forcefully. Truth be told, I’d missed Niall, the old Niall that I used to know like the back of my hand. I watched, my breath coming out in angry puffs as a muscle ticked in Niall’s jaw.
“Watch your step, Accalia,” he warned quietly, his voice edged in steel.
“Make me!” I shot back at him, my body vibrating in rage, and in fear. Despite everything we’d been through, I’d already admitted to myself many times that I was scared of him. I’d seen him kill others in the past, and I’d been hurt by him, too; both physically and emotionally. He was once my best friend, and now my greatest fear.