Krytotz looked up from his phone and narrowed his eyes at the woman before him. The room became so heavy with his magic a mortal could suffocate in it.

Meg looked up at him with an infuriating twinkle in her green eyes as a laugh escaped her lips.

“Who would have thought a thousand year old deity would be so bad at text-pool,”

Krytotz huffed an irritated sigh, “it’s because of this infernal device. It’s nothing compared to the real thing.” He turned off the device and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back in his seat. He could beat her in real pool given the opportunity. Not some stupid phone version of it.

Meg smiled broadly. “Sore loser, Kry?” She leaned forward and made a show of waving her hands towards her face and sniffing the air. “I can practically smell your jealousy of my text-pool skills oozing off of you.”

Krytotz’s eyes widened and he instantly drew his magic back. Meg noticed right away and raised a well-groomed brow.

“Evil woman. Let me try your hand at the real thing. Then we’ll see who’s oozing jealousy.” He grinned. She has no chance. He spent plenty enough time in solitude watching and waiting. Learned enough skills from others.

Meg stood up and put her phone in her back pocket. “It’s a date,”

Krytotz didn’t miss the way her eyes widened slightly before she steeled her features back to a small smile.

Kry narrowed his eyes as she started to bite her lip. “Date?” He stood up and took a step towards her. It was moments like these he wished he could wipe the wolf from existence. She didn’t mean to say date. He knew that. But he couldn’t help but wonder why things like that slipped out if she truly loved Maesen.

Meg’s smile dropped. “As friends Kry. Next time I can get away.” She shoved her hands into her pocket and rocked back on her heels.

Deities this sucks. Next time she can get away? He forced a sly smile on his lips and took a few more steps towards her. Close enough that he could almost feel her shallow breaths brush his face. “And why not now? A short walk to the portal room and we could be wherever you want in an instant.”

Meg scrunched her nose but didn’t move to take a step back. “You know why. It’s disrespectful.”

Krytotz leaned forward. He expected her to move back or turn away but she didn’t. This woman.

“I can’t decide what’s more disrespectful. Gong now with him knowing or going later with him not.”

He took a moment to look her up and down, trying not to linger on her assets on display. His gaze stopped on her sage green eyes. Deities help him she was beautiful. He felt the aura shift to something dark and hungry. He wasn’t quite sure which one of them caused it. He leaned down until he was a breadth of an inch from her lips.

“Or the fact that you’ve caused the room to start oozing with desire,” he played on her words from earlier, “and dare I say sex?”

Meg’s breath hitched in the slightest. Most wouldn’t have even noticed. But most weren’t like him.

“Kry,” her voice took on a low sultry tone, “the only thing I’m sensing is your massive ego.”

He shook his head. “Then why all of the secrecy? Why not invite wolfie along?”

This time Meg stepped back and furrowed her brows. “Stop trying to butt into my personal life.”

He rolled his eyes. “So it’s not a valid question? And it’s not like I haven’t been there before.”

Meg made a move to leave but with half a thought he appeared in front of her blocking the door. She sent him a look that shot daggers.

“Maesen was there for me at a time no one else was. A time that you caused actually. We share a connection—“

“—that you have with no one else, he helped put you back together, etc. etc. I was there too Meg.” He pointed at her head. “That doesn’t explain why you still feel the need to run around and hide.”

She made to move past him but he stood like a stone wall. “Get out of my way.” Like hell.

“Just answer me this.”

“What?” She spat.

“Do you love him?”

“I—“ her eyes moved to spot above his shoulder. “—yes.”