Drums pounded throughout the night, almost mimicking the rhythm of his heart in his chest. The vibrations could be felt through the earth even though he stood on the edge of the forest. His amber eyes seemed to almost glow in the darkness thanks to the ever growing bonfire in the middle of the revelry. His eyes however were only set on one figure that he had been watching for weeks at this point. He heard your name only once when a different High Fae called out to you, but yet it never left his mind since.

His tongue slipped out, flicking slightly in the air, tasting and scenting the collective scent on the air. Sweet wines, roasted meats, overly perfumed bodies and yet beneath it all there was an undercurrent of lust that all creatures even ones that dressed themselves up eventually surrendered to. His tail that had been wrapped around a small tree's trunk tightened its grip, making the tree groan and softly crack in the night.

The clothes you wore accentuated the curves that were just beneath the fabric, making his claws itch to rip it from your body. He had been watching you for just a few weeks now and yet he knew your scent by heart, knew your habits and the sound of your voice. Tonight however would be the night he finally made you his.

When a male approached you, not the first time this evening, his eyes had narrowed faintly. The male was tall for their standards, broad shoulders with reddish-brown hair that was tied back in a low ponytail. He offered you a goblet of the fae wine, his fingers brushing against yours as you took the drink. A deep hiss left Ophio's lips at the offense the male had just done.

It was when the male bent down to whisper something in your ear that nearly undid him though, seeing you smile for another. It took everything to not strike now, to surge forward and rip that male's throat out with his own teeth, it was nearly overwhelming. But no, patience had served him well so far, and patience is what will earn him what he rightfully deserves.

His eyes moved back to you, seeing you pull away from the male and gesture to the woods. While he may not have heard what was said he could see the disappointment in the male's posture as he practically deflated. A smug sense of satisfaction moved through him at the sight.

As you moved away, he had waited before he saw the male make a last minute decision to follow after you. A cruel smile rose on his lips. 'So the male thinks himself the hunter...'

Ophio moved away, going further into the forest as he circled wide to intercept the male before he could ever reach you. The only sound Ophio made was the noise of his tail brushing against the ground until it went eerily silent.

There was a soft whisper of scales until the male turned too late.

Ophio's massive scaled hand clamped over the Fae's mouth, his claws digging into the male's cheek which caused blood to quickly drip down. The male's eyes widen in horror and pain while Ophio lifted him from the ground with hardly any effort, slamming his back into a nearby oak.

The recognition in the male's eyes at the sight of the monster before him gave Ophio a dark satisfaction. Stories of Naga had always been passed down throughout history, a way to scare children to stay away from the forest especially at night, though Ophio made those stories seemed like lullabies.

'You touched her... you pursued her...' Ophio's voice rumbled while his tail moved to encircle the male's legs. 'An error I will fix...' His tail's gripped tightened, snapping the male's bones with ease. The screams were muffled against his scaled palm.

His other hand surged into the male's chest, his claws rendering his flesh with ease as he pushed forward, finding his heart and squeezing it. He could feel as the blood to the organ slowed even as the heart fluttered in desperation. A simple tug was all that was needed to tug the heart from the male's chest and as the light left the fae's eyes he bit into it while it still twitched. His blood was bitter against his silver tongue but it was far from the worst he's ever tasted.

He ate a decent amount but not all as he had eaten nearly two weeks prior. This was more of solving a problem before it truly became one. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, spreading the blood across his face before his tongue flickered out, catching the intoxicating scent of you in the wind. Still in the woods, still free for his taking.

The drums of Calanmai faded into the distance as he pursued you, his blood running hot in pure anticipation of finally, finally claiming what his nature demanded he take for himself.