Elias stood frozen in the kitchen, his hands clutching his torn shirt to cover his chest after he watched Viktor leave the kitchen as if nothing had happened. The sting of Clara's scratch on his cheek and the burn of the spilt stew on his leg barely registered compared to the heat of Viktor's touch, his cedar scent still lingering in the air.
'Why did he do that?'
Elias thought, his heart racing. Viktor had sniffed him, pinned him to the counter like he owned him, searching for marks that weren't there. It was intense, invasive... and, to Elias's shock, part of him liked it. He shook his head, muttering,
"Am I losing it? What is wrong with me?"
A soft weight settled over his shoulders, and he looked up to see Gerald draping a blanket around him. "Elias," Gerald said, his voice low and kind. "You have to be careful around the master. And... keep your scent in check if you want to stay safe."
Elias's eyes widened, his stomach twisting.
