"Turn around," he demands. His deep voice, enticing scent and glare keep me pinned. The darkness of his eyes are mesmerising yet intimidating. His fingers now rest upon my hip and the skin is on fire there, as is other parts of my body. His eyes burn into me and I realise I haven't followed his instruction. Slowly, I turn around. I close my eyes and inhale an extremely slow and steady breath. My arms drop to my sides and I desperately clench my fists as his hand trails to my back. When his finger skims the bottom of my spine, the only part where the armour doesn't reach, I barely contain my shiver. I bite my lip and scrunch my face and embedd my nails further into my palms. Finally, his reaches the strap in the center of my back. Rather than tighten it, he leans forwards. "Ronan and Alyssa will be training with you today," his voice is an intoxicating sound, my body urges me to get closer but I remain stoic as his fingers tug gently grip the strap, "Do not use your powers and make sure you restrain yourself..." He pulls it harshly and I- again- gasp aloud, my hands fall forward and catch the kitchen side. I quickly close my mouth and shake my head at the intensity of everything, his voice and touch have amplified ever since last night. I'd never been this sensitive towards someone's presence like I am his. ****************************************** We are the cursed. We live in what is known as the 'Vicinity' and wait for our number to be called. During that insufferable wait, we train and prepare to meet with our Enforcer and join the outside world, of which we have never seen. But the cursed die at the age of approximately 16, most die before meeting an Enforcer, some would say they were the lucky ones... But not me. Finally, my number is called, and at the age of 24, I am forced to leave and relinquish the leadership I held within the Vicinity. I had prepared tirelessly for this day, yet nothing could prepare me for what and who I faced...