RIA'

rough the freezing air like a blade, "wh

silent. Even the wind

ifted toward the man wh

a

in his eyes vanished completely. He looked terrified. Truly terrified. His lips parted as if he wanted to speak, but

wasn

that terrifie

gainst the snow-covered ground. Every movement he made carried a dangero

lar men dressed in bl

wrapped my tremblin

er again would I let Morgana send me out on errands at night. She coul

ake finall

tranger inter

ur of his men s

id of

emained cal

assholes too man

Jake and the others instan

, ple

it won't happen again

caught in

. That wa

ike frightened animals. Their earlier arrogance had complete

. The falling snow settled lightly on his dark hair and shoulders, yet he remained moti

exploded thro

ped s

ear as the deafening sound

n

w

re

lly while horror rooted me to the spot. My eyes widened as Jake and the

s the wind. My breathing became u

e since he appeared, fear truly settled deep inside my c

ing figure carefully. I hadn't even realized h

ered. I had completely

y toward me, I flinched instinctively.

almly. "And what are you

outh, but no

lood staining the snow behind him. Terrified that if

ter exhaled quietly before

and

ow, his voice no longe

ing hand into his. The war

, and I nearly stumbled from

going to the store when those men drag

my eyes all over again. Humiliation. Fear.

none of this would have happened if my mother h

ssed by my tears. That was whe

ugh my body, making my tee

ying a word, he removed his black jacket

early made m

d a faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with smoke and winter air. Yet despite how

aid quietly. "Y

ehind us. "And trust me when I say those basta

tly damp from the snow. Cold brown eyes that somehow still carried something strangely protective b

owly steadied.

just 159cm tall, while Sylvester was at least 190cm. I didn't really feel intimidat

t to get back home. Suddenly, I realized I was still wea

ow his brows in surprise, keepin

wardly stood on my toe, and tried to put back the jacket on him th

t was the first time I had seen him, it really looked weird to see him l

y standing on my tiptoes. I felt quite ashamed of the situation, and had to bring my hands down, resting

t to you,

softened

keep

around my shoulders h

head home no

warm. Then he turned away and began walking toward the bl

nly rushed

, w

d out and grabbed his wrist. The mom

hell wa

g toward me aggressively. But Sylvester

fell sil

ipping his wrist. Then at me. Confus

s it?"

owed ne

embled badly. "What if I

frowned

ha

itted quietly. "She doesn't really care about

s left my mouth, re

telling

complete

rous st

flooded my f

y gaze. "I shouldn't have said that. I don't even

l holding his wrist. Mortified, I i

earched mine carefully, almost like h

wind swept through

nothing, I forced m

n come

ps halted