Page 42 of Curse of Immortality
“Ah, come now, a stunning woman like you must be used to male attention. There’s no need to look so shocked,” he said with another charming smile that revealed his perfect teeth.
“You find me stunning?” Despite Althea’s fear of humans, she found herself leaning a bit closer to him.
Their eyes were locked, and it was as if she knew that hugging this man would feel as safe as hugging an old tree.
There was a small narrowing of his eyebrows, as her surprise at his compliment was unexpected. Angling his head, he watched her for a second trying to decide if her question was genuinely as sincere as it had sounded.
“Hasn’t anyone told you how beautiful you are?”
The innocent widening of her eyes told him no. For a long second, he stood fascinated with this fairy-like creature whose freckles danced across her cute nose and whose multi-colored eyes contrasted with her thick, flaming red hair.
Althea didn’t answer his question, but he was unwilling to let the conversion die, so he was quick to open his mouth again and introduce himself. “I’m Damon.”
She looked at his right hand that he held up. She had seen this greeting ritual between men and women, but it still felt forbidden when she placed her hand in his.
With an extended gaze into her eyes, Damon bowed down and kissed the back of her hand. “I’m delighted to meet you, Miss…”
“Althea. My name is Althea.”
For a short moment, they stood with him holding her hand and the two of them studying each other intensely. His energy was intoxicating like the forest after a thunderstorm, and although her heart hammered in her chest, she felt calm at the same time.
Annabel’s voice broke their connection. “Do you need help with the plates, dear? I’m famished.”
Gathering her wits, Althea pulled her hand back and gave Annabel an apologetic look. But her friend was looking at Damon and not her. The most peculiar feeling of competition hit Althea right in her solar plexus. The charming man had just called her stunning and beautiful and she had enjoyed his attention.
Annabel, however, didn’t seem like her usual warm personality around him. She exchanged one long glance with the handsome stranger and then she sidestepped so as to create distance from him.
Picking up her plate and glass of ale, she gestured for Althea to do the same before herding her to their table. Althea couldn’t help looking back in the direction of Damon at the bar and found him watching her as well.
“Don’t look at him.” Annabel’s warning came as she sat with her head down, picking up a spoon. “Eat your food as fast as you can without looking suspicious. As soon as he’s distracted, we’re leaving.”
Althea leaned forward and lowered her head. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell you as soon as we’re outside. Now eat, Althea.”
The two women ate quickly and without any further talk. Despite Annabel’s warning, Althea couldn’t help a few glances in Damon’s direction.
He was back to talking to other patrons at the bar but whenever she sneaked a peek, he seemed to sense it and met her glance.
When another tall man walked in and greeted Damon with a manly slap on the back. Annabel froze with her spoon in mid-air.
It made Althea study the man, who had a generous amount of black hair with a dusting of silver giving away that he had to be at least ten years older than Damon. The newcomer was dressed in leather and when he removed his jacket, she could see how fit he was.
Annabel muttered a low “We need to leave,now.”
Not understanding what was going on, Althea followed Annabel while soaking up any details she could about the two men who made her friend uncomfortable. Where Damon was handsome in a classical way, his friend was rugged with a scar running up his neck that stopped by his jawline. He had a small silver hammer around his neck and now that he was rolling up his sleeves, Althea saw two tattoos: a wolf on the inside and a raven on the outside of his left forearm.
Annabel and Althea were almost by the door when Damon addressed them. “Ladies, you can’t leave this soon. I was just about to introduce you to my friend, Mr. Thomas Hechmann.”
Annabel didn’t stop to talk. Opening the door, she pushed Althea out and gave a quick curtsy to the men without uttering a word.
Sensing the panicky energy in Annabel, Althea made sure to keep up with her fast pace as they hurried to the stable and fetched Tobias.
They worked together to hitch him to the wagon, while Annabel sent worried glances back at the inn.
“Don’t look,” she whispered, but of course that made Althea turn her head and see the two men watching them through the open window. Their facial expressions were serious now and she was dying to know who they were.
When Tobias was all set, Annabel climbed up to sit on the wagon and offered her hand to pull Althea up.
