He had not forgotten her. Alaric had kept himself busy, sure. @Nephthys wasn’t the only fiery female that had snagged his attention since he had come to Amaryllis — but she was intoxicating all the same. She had flipped his game back on to him, leaving him wanting more and counting down the days until he would climb the peak again. Thankfully winter had eased its hold somewhat and it was a far less blustery hike than it had been a week past. He chose his steps carefully but his muscles did not protest near as much — spring was kind to the scarred beast. He comes as promise with anticipation pounding in his chest and racing through his veins. He comes for their “date” and he is no fool, he does not come with empty jaws. A nice fat hare hung from his teeth, an unexpected treat for so soon after winter. The tree is unoccupied when he arrives and he wonders, then, if she will be bold enough to show. Fiery as she was and tempting as she had been she was young, inexperienced, and not for the first time he questioned if he had shown his hand too soon. For Alaric it was a game and she was the prize — but for her? For her, he imagined, it could be much more. Women were emotional creatures, after all.

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Nephthys is far too preoccupied with her current situation to even remotely understand why she is drawn back to the peak. There is a nagging in her mind that says to return, and while her thoughts are otherwise with Bhaskar, she realizes too late that she has stepped back into the midst of Alaric. Things are different now, she knows, and for a moment she wonders if Alaric will strike her for leading him on. The situation has changed dramatically since their last encounter and Nepth finds herself on the cusp of marriage to a man she loves (bc vague timelines). Will Alaric hate her for it? Likely. She has half a mind to simply sneak away before he can spot her, but she feels eyes on her and knows it is far too late. Nephthys sweeps the area and detects the scent of blood, her eyes falling upon him easily enough. The promise she has made to him returns with thunderous fear, but Nephthys is no coward. She sucks in a breath. "You must have been eager to see me again." She remains where she is, tail twisting, already concocting her escape route should things turn violent. Fingers crossed.

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The relief that washed over him was surprising but short-lived, masked by the charming smile he slides in to place. Perhaps she would catch a glimpse of it and be surprised that he had seemingly cared , that he had sat here and fretted over her. “Immensely so,” a purr as he hefted his bulk back to all fours paws and snatched his bloodied gift from the ground. Stalking steps are taken in her direction, venomous eyes glittering with anticipation. “For you,” as he placed the hare at her feet, playing the role of the smitten boy with practiced ease. There is dark desire, but the myriad of smells that cling to her fur make him question more than a few things. For now he bites his tongue and holds back the beast that threatens to rise at the smell of another man on her flesh — he would bide his time and see how this played out, first. He does slide forward, though, seeking to press his muzzle against her cheek in a decidedly affectionate gesture.

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Nephthys feels trapped. She does her best to keep her breathing slow and steady, but she fears what Alaric expects to receive from her. What kind of bumbling fool is she to have actually shown back up? By bloody accident?! She blames the lack of judgment, the lack of foresight, the lack of self preservation on her troubles with Bhaskar. It certainly isn't anything else that draws her to this shadowy man, surely, and Nephthys can only stand her ground as he approaches.

"You're too kind," she murmurs, blushing crimson beneath her fur as he presses his cheek against hers. The gesture is not returned. Nephthys only stiffens and allows her eyes to drop onto the hare, wondering how terribly this is all about to go.

"I owe you honesty, Alaric, and that is.. my heart belongs to another. We.. have been struggling to figure things out, but when we last met, he was not in my life. He is back now.." And she felt guilt crashing down around her, mixed with lust for the older man and the desire to have him act on the words from before. "I can't take this from you." Nephthys gestures to the hare, frowning deeply.

code by shelby | art by irish

Alaric is not a stupid man. Driven by base instincts, sure, but not stupid. He can feel the way she stiffens, can feel the pull away, and his lips curls in annoyance. His voice is honey when he speaks, but the words carry a dark intent. “oh sweet neph,” a murmur as he pushes closer, ignoring whatever boundaries she attempted to impose, “have you forgotten your promise?” because he had not. There is a pout in his voice, a forced sadness that echoes on his handsome face. He seeks to trace his nose from her cheek to her neck, his breath hot with the desire he feels. “I thought about it every day, about you.” All the things he wanted her to hear, the yearning in his voice, the desire and affection.

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Oh sweet Neph. She sneered at that, her lip lifting ever so slightly as the honey dripped from his tongue. There was no doubt in her mind that it was a demeaning comment, and the Tollaire was not a woman who simply accepted insults. "Sweet Neph?" she returned callously, shaking her head to dismiss the mere idea he felt comfortable enough to call her so.

"I promised you nothing. I owe you nothing. Besides, I've been with another since then." Nephthys lied through her teeth, hoping he wouldn't call her bluff. The heavy scent of Bhaskar on her skin should be more than enough to convince him, she hoped. It was really all she had going for her at that point.

Still, she is paralyzed by his touch. Her claws scrape the earth as he runs his muzzle against her, and for a moment she wonders if all of this was a test. Was Bhaskar testing her loyalty? No, she didn't think him capable of such a thing.

"I'm sorry, Alaric, but it's not happening. It's best I leave now." Nephthys turned from him and made to leave, turning her back to the devil sent to tempt her.

attempted exit

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He knew she was smart, knew she would pick up on the taunt and if anything it made him want her more. Alaric had not been lying when he said he liked her tongue, the man was drawn to intelligence as much as beauty. “oh but you did,” he purred, dangerous and deadly and yet clinging the last vestiges of gentlemanly behaviour. “I waited, like you said. I wanted to come and sweep you away, but I waited.” there is that pout in his voice, that hint of hurt he has so carefully crafted. He draws in another breath and realizes, too, that the scent of pride has slipped from her coat. How interesting… She moved to leave and then he awoke, a monster from stone, a gargoyle come to life. He lunged after her and sought to intercept her, yo stand before her with a plea in his eyes - “please don’t.” and he softened his gaze and looked down, as if he were shy and nervous and coy. “please neph, I… i know you want me, too.” a lopsided smile as he peered up through his mane, every bit the charming playboy. “Look what you’ve done to me,” he purred, giving her a true taste of her power.

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"I didn't," she quipped in response, her tone flat and her eyes narrowed. Nephthys had never uttered the words I promise and so as far as she was concerned, whatever he had taken away from the conversation was his own fault. She knew damn well if it hadn't been for the potential of mending things with Bhaskar she would have already been beneath the man, but alas. There were others involved in her life she needed to consider, and she wasn't exactly sold on letting this guy be her first.

Her gaze hardened. "Sweep me away? Please, don't act like you have feelings for me, Alaric. We've only just met." Nephthys said it with enough intension to make it clear she did not have feelings for him, regardless of whether or not he had some sprouting in his heart.

He was upon her seconds later, blocking her exit and stating out loud something they both knew: she wanted him, too. Still, she held strong. "I want Bhaskar," she corrected him, frowning as he peered up at her from behind his mane. "I haven't done anything to you besides give you a set of blue balls, and I'm sure there's someone nearby who would be happy to help with it. It's just not me." Nephthys struggled against the temptation, forcing herself to stay where she was lest she show a hint of weakness.

code by shelby | art by irish

“promises are not just words,” was his quiet response, fighting hard against the beast that wanted to rear its head and tear her pretty little neck open. it was his crowning achievement, this act, an Oscar worthy performance as he prostrated himself before her. For now. Feelings? Oh no, there were no feelings. But he looked to the side and down, as if shamed by the ones he had — the ones he worked so hard to make her believe. “I haven’t felt much since my wife died,” he admitted as if it pained him, and it did, truly. The grief was real — once upon a time. But it was not his wife he grieved the most, but his kingdom, his rule. The days when he was a proud king with a harem before him. “But on this mountain I started to think I might.” oh what a silvered tongue he had. Before her with another name in his mind (what did this Bhaskar have?) he shook his head. “I don’t want any other,” and this was true, right now. He advanced again, carefully, and sought to press his muzzle to hers again. “Only you, @Nephthys.” He would attempt to drag his tongue across her cheek, warm and needy, while another convincing purr rumbled in his chest.

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Nephthys was growing irritated. She frowned deeply at the man as he countered her defense, but it made no difference. The woman was free to do as she pleased and with that, she was free to change her mind and tell this man no. The audacity, she wanted to scream, at him trying all of these scoundrel tricks to convince her to slip beneath him.

She couldn't help but scoff at the mention of feeling again after his wife. "So what, you want to marry me? Is that it? After one night of getting to barely know each other, you want to claim me as your wife?" It was mind boggling if she understood him properly. The lioness rolled her eyes at the thought, prepared to turn around and leave again. "Coming here was a mistake." For both of them.

And then he was against her, his tongue rasping against her cheek and a soft breath hitched in her throat. It was only from being startled, she told herself, and certainly not because it send a shudder down her spine. No. No. Nephthys was better than this. "You'll have to settle for someone else, Alaric. Now I am leaving, thank you."

code by shelby | art by irish