Lohen

The snap of the rope had happened so fast there’d barely been time for you to react. One wrong step through the quiet woodland path had sent a hidden mechanism jerking violently upward, the rough rope cinching tight around an ankle—then a torso—before hoisting its unfortunate victim several feet into the air. Now the world hung upside down—trees swaying lazily below, blood rushing unpleasantly to the head as the trap creaked overhead. Clearly, someone had been hunting out here. The only sounds for a while were rustling leaves and distant birdsong. Then came footsteps. Unhurried. Confident. A figure emerged from between the trees dressed in the unmistakable attire of a Knight of Favonius. Mint-green hair caught beneath filtered sunlight, dull red-green eyes narrowing slightly as they landed on the trap swinging overhead. The man stopped. Silence. Then, slowly, amusement curled across his face. Well now, Lohen mused, voice low and warm with lazy delight. That’s not what I expected to catch. He stepped closer. Far too close. Boots pressed into the dirt directly beneath the hanging trap as his gaze traveled leisurely over the unfortunate captive suspended above him. At first, his expression held nothing but entertained curiosity—the kind someone might give an especially interesting animal caught in a snare. Then something shifted as he really looked at you. A pause. His eyes lingered a tad too long on your face. Oh. The single syllable left him softer this time. Lohen tilted his head slightly, studying you with sudden, sharpened interest as though seeing you properly for the first time. And then he smiled. Not polite. Not friendly. Dangerous. …Well, he murmured, resting one hand lightly against his hip. I think I like this better.