CRAVING THE PRIMORDIAL ELDER

She hadn't remembered the last time she had been up this early.

"Silas, I clearly said that I wanted the aloe vera mask and my green tea, I didn't say turmeric mask and black tea."

"But you-" He yawned and kicked back on my bed. "This is part of my punishment, isn't it?"

"Of course it is, what do you take me for? A merciful judge?"

"Maybe?" He teased, helping her pick between the green and lilac.

Lilac.

"As if. We're wolves, not humans." She rolled her eyes, dabbing her face with the white koal powder. Traditional.

"Since when did you start using koal powder? And not regular eyeliner?"

"Since I found out you have a six-foot-six gorgeous primordial for an uncle."

"You are unbelievable," Silas muttered, scrubbing a hand over his face. "You are supposed to be mad at me. Like, throwing-daggers-at-my-neck mad. Not suddenly thirsting after my uncle of all people."

Naelis leaned forward, chin in hand.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself. I'm still mad at you. But anger doesn't cancel desire, Silas. It just... sharpens it."

He groaned into his palms. "Heavens help me."

"Heavens help him," she corrected, smirking. "Because once I'm done with this mask, I'm going to need a pottery lesson."

Silas dropped his hands and stared. "You are not serious."

"Deadly." She dabbed another stroke of koal powder. "What is his favorite color?"

"I'm not telling you that."

"What does he usually eat for breakfast?"

"I'm not telling you that either."

Naelis tilted her head. "Then I'll just have to ask him myself."

Silas groaned so loud this time it rattled her teacup. "Nae, I swear, if you ruin my family gatherings with your insanity-"

"Correction." She rose from the vanity. "I don't ruin family gatherings, Silas. I redefine them."

Naelis dusted her fingers together and turned, arms folding. "You want my forgiveness, right?"

Silas squinted at her warily. "As your ex, yes. As your best friend, yes. But... not if it comes stapled to whatever devil's bargain you're cooking up."

She smirked. "Don't act brand new. You know I could've told everyone about your little late-night rendezvous with what's-his-name, the boy in the photos?"

Silas's ears went red immediately. "Keep your voice down..."

"Relax." Naelis leaned in close, her lips brushing near his ear. "Your secret is safe with me. For how long though... that depends on you."

"You're actually blackmailing me into pimping you out to my uncle."

"I'm not asking you to help shove me into his pants," she said with a laugh. "Just get me close enough. The seduction part?" She tapped her chest. "Handled."

Silas dragged a hand down his face. "Nae, you don't get it. He has taken a vow. A lifelong vow. Celibacy. Zero. Nada. Zilch. The man probably gets cold sweats if he brushes someone's hand by accident. Dad and I have tried to hook him up on several occasions."

"Mm." Naelis shrugged, adjusting the lapels of her coat. "Summer break will be over in a couple of months. What is wrong with a little fun? Consider it... distraction therapy. I forget the fact that I was cheated on, you get my forgiveness eventually, and your uncle, well, he gets me."

Silas dropped onto her bed with a groan.

"I feel like a brothel manager."

She patted his head. "Relax, Silas. It's a win-win."

There was a long silence. Then finally, begrudgingly, Silas muttered, "He is a meat lover. Loves having meat for breakfast."

Her lips curved into a grin. "Perfect. I love meat too."

"Ugh." Silas flopped back, covering his eyes. "If you're really serious about this, breakfast is soon. He eats in the general hall."

Naelis slipped her arms into her coat, smoothing it like armor. "And that, dear Silas, is exactly why I am dressed and ready. Now be a good boy and escort me to the woods."

"The woods? For what?"

Naelis flexed her fingers, her claws sliding out with a satisfying click. She plucked up the claw-sharpener from the vanity and dragged it along the edge, sharpening it as she often sharpened her nails.

"To hunt, obviously."

"Hunt?" Silas blinked. "Nae, what the hell-"

"You said your uncle was a meat lover, right? Then I'll bring him meat." She tilted her head.

Silas groaned. "The kitchen staff already serves meat. We have cooks. Actual, professional, apron-wearing-"

Naelis cut him off with a laugh. "Oh, Silas. Do you really think a slab of pork from a pan has the same effect as a bloody kill dropped at someone's feet? Your uncle is a primordial, not some bored accountant. He will appreciate effort, he will smell the hunt in the meat. He will know it's fresh, and from me."

"You make it sound like you're about to court him in the Middle Ages."

"That's exactly the point," she said with a smirk. "Old vows and old important traditions. I'm simply speaking his language."

Naelis waved a hand dismissively. "You said he was traditional, didn't you? Well, in traditional times, wolves wooed their women with fresh hunts. I intend to flip the script. A guest show worthy of a primordial."

Silas gawked. "So, you are going to hunt... for him."

She smiled. "Exactly. And I plan to look good doing it."

His gaze dropped to her dress.

"You are wearing that to hunt? You'll snag it on every thorn in the woods."

"I'll snag his attention first."

"Oh man. You've got it down bad."

"What?" Naelis arched his brow. "It's been ages since I set my sights on a man. Except, of course, for the time I wasted on you."

"Gee, thanks."

"Anyway," she continued breezily, "this summer deserves a little fun. And if targeting your uncle is that fun, so be it."

Silas stared. "Are you seriously not even taking a crossbow? A spear? Knife? Anything?"

She scoffed. "Crossbows? What do you take me for, an archer princess? Please. I have my hunting material right here." She tapped her claws against the sharpener with a soft metallic scrape.

"The boars in our woods are wild, Nae."

Her grin turned feral. "And I am wilder. You know that."