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Why?

Fox waved once; the roar of appreciation took the roof off

This man was loved or feared or hated--ain the prickle of interest and fear senttoldif they knehat he kept hidden behind those colourless eyes He’d been inhuht or co his forehead with his sleeve, Fox brushed past the referee and left the cage to an uproar "Obsidian Fox! Obsidian!"

I didn’t care for the glory of winning--it see everyone The crowd kept their distance, sensing they could look but not touch

The wash of trepidation filled ain as he ca how dangerous he truly was

Ti daughter

The thought fistedme?

I turned to leave I needed to be away fro madness

The crowd dispersed, and I

Four steps, five steps, before strong fingers bit intome around

I looked up, a curse on my lips, but all words evaporated into shockeda stranger touch me--a hint of newness and uncertainty, but I wasn’t prepared for the electric bolt that whizzed fro like an epicentre in et my brain to work

Fox ers He glared, looking ready to murder me "Who are you?"

When I didn’t respond, he swiped his face with his other hand His forehead furrohile his expression turned pissed and stor? You had your eyes all over me Answer me Who the fuck are you?" His deep, accented voice stiffened h e "I’ such rude questions"

His jaw clenched; fingers bit deeper into my arm

All I could think was: run His eyes looked almost white His face sheened with sweat, and the small smear of blood from his nose smelled metallic The scar on his cheek screamed that he wasn’t a nice man This was a man who lived with no rules or laws This was awomen, and yet, I am" He shook me to emphasize his point "Answer me Who the fuck are you and where did you co deep, deeper than anyone had gone I felt exposed, defenceless, and coo"

Shaking his head, sending strands of bronze everywhere, he des? Girls arebacks in the private roo in the crowd" Fox’s eyes left mine to trail down my body "Unless you’re not an eest you answer my question"

Every fear and hardship in my life seemed inconsequential as he jerkedThis wasn’t amy arm, I rolled my shoulder to force his hand to drop Probleers unlatched only to retighten once I’d given up fighting The effortless way he keptarounde he presented But ue, the puzzle

"I’m not a spy What are you Jaated"

"Not until you tell ot intoaboutdifferent" His attention turned inward for a brief second "You lowered He smelled of earth and smoke and poith a trace of chocolate His hand was hot and tight on my arm--deadly "I’ve never seen you before, and I don’t like strangers I’ll ask one more time Who the fuck are you, and why am I drawn to you?"

My heart skidded to a stop He’s drawn to e compulsion, the unknown need Maybe it was purely lust--two bodies who recognised a person with sies If it was, I’d never been affected so violently

Everything I’d felt while watching hiht bubbled to the surface He’d hurt with no re How could I let some stupid chemistry in my body override my self-preservation?

I curled my hand, ready to punch him and run, but I paused

He made me feel alive

He made me feel like a woman and not a mother or friend or failure

He made me feel powerful and submissive all at the sa through day to day, always putting other’s needs beforeappearance, and I embraced the awareness, the connection, the sier

But then responsibilities bulldozed the fleeting attraction away

Clara

Destitution

Ruin

How could you let yourself be consuer hated hiet for the briefest of ti the snarl in my stomach "You’re mistaken You’re not drawn toso you’ll never have to see o ofoff the interest I’d seen before "I’m never mistaken" He unclenched his hand Pins and needles rushed to the spot where he’d gripped ure out what I don’t understand"

My heart lurched He’s the saure out the unknown before the unknown could hurt hi you leave," he muttered With fists clenched by his sides, he looked overfor a way to run Gone was his do air, replaced with heavy acceptance Without his potent gaze on me, I scrutinised him