Elrik peered at the woman. She was barefoot, the dress her had prepared for her drag slightly across the floor behind her. He could see how tense she was from where he was. She seemed to try and cover it up with a smile, a nonchalant aura as she sat. He reached down to help brush her tail back so she would be comfortable. His grey gaze took in how it made her shoulders stiffen, and her ears twitched. He found this interesting. He found the whole thing interesting.
He never liked being stolen from, who did. He was a powerful man with many things to be stolen. Usually, the robbers wouldn't even make in, never less out and away with an item. It had been unexpected, you never knew when a wolf might strole in with the ability to pick a lock and the foresight to bring a bag.
He had left her lock up, curious what she would do. Would she quickly break and offer to sell out who sent her, apologize, beg for her life. Anything? She had done nothing, staying in the dark till she was on the edge of feral.
He took his time settling in his seat. His gaze not once leaving the woman. She was having a hard time staying still, she squirming, looking anywhere but him. Often she glanced at the covered food, he knew she was hungry. She had to have had will power not to lung forward
Katherine wanted to, she felt saliva gathering in the back of her throat. Her tongue dragged along her sharpen canine. She tried not to linger on the scent of the beef beneath. She tore her green gaze away from the reflection of herself. The man made her nervous. She was a thief, what was she doing at his table. It had to be a trick, she couldn't fathom what kind. It was hard to focus when she was imagining what cut of beef was beneath the- she went to glance back at the metal cover only to find it gone. The scent lingered like a ghost, there was no muffling the whine of disappointment as her ears dipped back.
"You seemed a bit distracted," the man's voice warm and sweet, almost too inviting. Katherine glanced at him now, her nose wrinkling but how did she respond to that. That she was starving because of him, could she slam her fists on the table and growl feed me?
Elrik watched her internal struggle with unhidden amusement. The corner of his lips pulled up as he held her gaze. The whimpers had been a nice touch, it did seem she was quite hungry. He might be considered cruel but she had been the one to put herself into this situation. Unlike earlier she was suddenly quiet. He decided to continue on.
"Well then now that I have your attention, do you have anything to say for yourself," he asked as he leaned back into his seat, waiting for her response.
Katherine's lips parted to answer. She almost declared she wouldn't talk to she ate but she didn't really have the upper hand here. She had not expected to be confronted this way, like a parent winding up to lecture their child. She felt her cheeks grow warm and she cleared her throat. Her head tilted away and her lips puckered as if she was pouting. "Oh yes. Uh well about that-" Now she felt more awkward then before. This was a serious crime, people were killed for things and she- "I did it to prove I was skilled thief so that I could join a group..." she had obviously failed. She had even been allowed to pick her target.
There was silence next, Elrik wasn't sure how to respond. This was a first, he wasn't use to a regular break in. He was to target assault with reason but this? Prove she was a skilled thief. "Well obviously you're not," he suddenly snickered unable to hold back his reply and why should he.
Katherine's ego was bruised. She let out a soft gasp, her head jerked to him and she had no problem peering at him as she glared. There was a soft growl in her throat. "As if, I got in, made it past all your guards and out again, I only got caught cause I spooked the dogs."
Katherine felt the heat leave her cheeks as she watched the man's face chance from amused but serious as he leaned in to her. She tried to glance away but his hand so quickly caught her chin holding her gaze with his.
"but you didn't succeed and now you're caught here in my home all chained up and hungry. You think it's best to be bragging Miss..?" He quickly released her chin as if he never had it. His hand now reached for a glass of wine on the table. He studied her reaction as he sipped from the glass. His words had hit their mark and she had settled back in her seat recalling there wasn't any pride to be held in his situation.
The silence was back as Katherine admired her hands. He was absolutely in the right there, she didn't even have the wiggle room to disagree. She was lucky he had allowed her any wit. The man beside her was notorious for being cold and unforgiving, she couldn't understand why she was here at his side. She was even tempted to lie, he might be testing her here, perhaps he already figured out who she was.
"Katherine."
"Do I get a last name Katherine?"
The question made her wiggle again. Elrik arched a brow, why would she concerned about sharing that. He watched as she shook her head. Her drying hair showing off loose curls.
He hummed and nodded a little. "I see, and do you know who I am."
Once more he watched her curls bounce as she nodded, her lips parting to answer. "Lord Blackwood of The blackwood estates."
The man nodded, "so you did know who you were stealing from and still risked it?" He clicked his tongue as if ashamed of her. Annoyance darted through her. Her nails pressed into her palms as she kept her hands in her lap. "Hm then I shall have to make the punishment fit the reward you were seeking," he missed out loud. He snapped his fingers and from the side entered a line of people who would lay out plates and silverware.
"For now you may eat."
She glanced at her cuffs wrists but it was clear he had no intention to undo them. She had to lean forward grabbing at a fork but discovered there was knife on her plate how was she to cut the meat. She was ready to stab the steak and gnaw on it like the animal she was but as she lifted her fork ready to stab it in her plate went missing.
Elrik had pulled her plate towards him, she looked ready to bite of her hand. There was a whine again, it really did seem she was quite hungry. He began to cut up the meat, displaying the perfect shade of red inside.
"You know before I make up my mind about what to do with you is there anything you would like to add. Katherine?"
Katherine wanted to eat, she wanted food. Now, he kept teasing her, her stomach was twisting on itself she just wanted food. Now! She licked her lips and tore her gaze from the juicy meat, she realized she was still gripping the fork tightly. "um- I think this was a good life lesson for me and uh- um- " food. "I apologize?" Feed me.
Elrik kept the plate from her reach, he noted the question of her apology. He stabbed his fork into a piece he had cut and held it up watching her gaze follow the movement. "you apologize? I don't think you're taking this seriously Katherine." He waved the meat side to side watching amused at how focused she was. "How about a real apology and I'll let you finish your meal."
Katherine huffed a little, finish her meal, she hadn't even started. She watched the piece of meat at the tip of his fork starting to make it's way to his mouth. She suddenly stood, "Ah!!! I'm sorry, I'm Sorry I stole from you on a whim, I won't do it again!" Her tail suddenly swayed behind her as he pressed the meat to her lips and she not, juices exploding against her tongue.
There was a snicker from Elrik as he pushed her plate toward her. "oh don't worry, I'll make sure of that." Katherine was too consumed by her hunger to consider what he had said as she dug into her first meal in too long.