Piper

"Oh-" I gasped, covering my eyes and turning around quickly.

"I didn't think you were actually serious about coming back," Evander stated. I could hear him stepping out of the water, hear every drop hitting the ground. I could even hear his fingers pushing his hair back. His heart was steady as if he didn't care I had just witnessed him naked.

My senses were in overdrive. The shock still hadn't worn off yet.

"Well, I was," I deadpanned. Meanwhile, my heart was stammering, the sound of it pulsing in my ears.

"Some timing," He muttered. I could hear him pulling on clothes behind me. I took in a long breath, calming my pulse down.

"Are you decent?" I asked, clearing my throat.

"Yes," Evander replied, and I turned around hesitantly.

His hair was in wet, loose ringlets around his face, dripping onto the fabric of his shirt. His shirt was a loose, billowy canvas shirt that barely covered his tan chest. I flicked my eyes up to him, not wanting to stare.

"So why did you want to come back? I don't think that we have much to talk about," Evander stated blandly. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I want to know everything," I told him, cutting to the chase.

"I already told you the most important parts," Evander said.

"Yes, but I want to know more," I argued. I was determined to know what he knew.

I couldn't understand why he seemed to hold so much over me. It was as if he either knew everything or was at least pretending to. He acted as if all the rest of the details were unimportant.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Why not?"

"Because everything I have to say is against your kind," He sighed, obviously fed up. He ran his hand through his dripping curls and they fell into place around his angular features.

"That is why I want to know. If my kind is doing what you say they are, then I need to know," I persisted. I was willing to beg at this point. Though I was a very proud woman who normally wouldn't, I couldn't leave without finding out everything he knew.

Evander raised an eyebrow at me. By his expression, he seemed slightly amused and surprised at least. Without saying anything, he shook his head and walked past me.

"Where do you think you're going?" I huffed, watching him as he walked the stone path I had just come from.

"Inside. Where else?" Evander replied, and I could hear the thick deviance coming from his voice. This man was cocky. I had only known this man for a day, and yet he already found ways to baffle me with his defiance and unrelenting stubbornness to talk.

I groaned, following him quickly.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me-"

"I didn't assume so," He sharply cut me off. Though he was standoffish, his tone wasn't harsh. It was simply matter-of-fact.

He walked up the short steps to his home and turned back to me. Without another word, he held the door open for me, looking me up and down quickly before he made the gesture to invite me in.

♱

"Your home is..." I trailed off, staring in wonder at the warm interior of the cottage. Candles were everywhere, surrounding books and herbs. A kettle was on the counter, surrounded by different herbal teas. A fireplace was in the center of the far wall from the entrance. The kitchen was small, as was the rest of the house, but it was a nice change from what I was used to. It was refreshing almost.

"Small, I know," Evander filled in for me. I shook my head, merely brushing my fingertips over the dried herbs and loose papers on his desk.

"Beautiful," I finished my sentence, filling in what I meant to say. Evander turned to me with a surprised look.

"I wouldn't expect someone of your stature to admire my home. It's nothing like what you must be used to," He stated.

I watched as he flicked his fingers and pointed his now glowing index finger to the tea kettle. Soon the kettle whistled. The light in his finger vanished as he grabbed the handle of the kettle and started pouring. I tried not to react with amusement, even though I hadn't much experience with magic. Yet, I couldn't lie and say I wasn't utterly intrigued.

"That is why I enjoy it," I explained with a content sigh.

He held up the kettle and looked to me as if to offer me some.

"No, thank you," I declined. Evander shrugged and put the kettle down.

"I was born and raised in this cottage. It's been my family home ever since my parents built it," he said, taking a sip of his tea and leaning against the counter.

"When were you born?" I asked, curious as to how old he was.

"I was born in 1868," Evander replied. I raised my brow at realizing he was much older than I thought. Although, that made him only nine years older than me.

"Surprised?" He questioned, noticing my reaction.

I hated to admit that the class I paid the least attention to was Mythical Studies. I used to get in trouble with my tutor whenever he noticed me dazing and not paying attention. If I had paid more attention, I might know more about how Witches and Warlocks aged. But seeming as young as he looked, I assumed they aged similar to Vampires.

"I just hadn't realized that your kind aged similar to my own. You're closer to my age than I thought, " I admitted. He shrugged once again.

"I fully matured at twenty-three and have looked this way for the past one hundred and thirty years," He explained. No wonder why he looked to be around my age.

"I'm assuming since you know everything about my kind, that you already know how we age," I remarked lightly. He chuckled at the subtle jab.

"I know you have aging periods, but that is the extent of what I know," He said, "I'm more knowledgeable of your kinds' sins."

And there goes the relaxed nature of our conversation. Once he said that, my mind started to see the rabbit hole forming. I leaned back against the wall and looked away from his blank eyes. They were judging, no matter how hard he kept it hidden. Behind the beautiful amber tones in his eyes was a vengeful fire that I could see was raging. I almost imagined a flicker in them when I looked back up to him.

I fixed my gaze on him, strong and unwavering under the obvious tension.

"Acknowledge me," I told him firmly.

I expected a quick response like the past times I had asked him to tell me what he meant by all of this. Yet, he didn't say anything right away. He crossed his arms over his chest once again and just looked at me. He tapped a finger against his brawny bicep and tugged on his bottom lip as if he was thinking of what to say. I flicked my eyes up to his in order to stop myself from staring too long.

"I know I am one of them, but I am being kept in the dark here. I doubt anyone else would ever tell me the truth if I went poking around for it," I urged him. It was true. I doubted that those of my kind would share the truth with me. And even if they did, would I find out that I was the only one who cared? What if my kind knew this was happening and... applauded it?

Evander sighed and pushed himself from the counter. I felt like taking a step back when he approached me. He was close enough to tower over me. But I kept my composure as if I wasn't feeling threatened. I had no idea what this Warlock was capable of, and I had to push back the memories of Akantha's strong power. But, I was strong, too.

"What are you doing?" I asked. My eyes kept on him, not fully trusting him to be this close. Even though his body so close to mine radiated warmth, and his smell was inviting, I was still internally shaken by his lack of cowardice whilst being so close to me. He looked unfazed, and honestly, intimidating when he looked down at me.

"I can show you everything you want to know."

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