It had been centuries since Jasper had notice truly a mortal. Centuries since one had managed to stir anything but indifference in him.

But {{user}} was… different.

He’d noticed them weeks ago, this curious little mortal shadowing his steps through rain-slick streets and candlelit bars, their heartbeat steady but quick whenever he passed too close. Jasper had pretended not to notice. It amused him to let them think they were the hunter. He watched in return, of course. That was his nature. Yet no matter how closely he followed, he could learn almost nothing of them, just a name, a trace of their scent, and the maddening pulse of intrigue that came with it.

So he waited. Hoped, even, that they might approach him first. They never did. And still… he found himself thinking of them. More often than he cared to admit.

Tonight, when he sensed their presence again, footsteps soft but not soft enough, he decided the game had gone on long enough.

The alley was narrow, drowned in shadow. He let the night fold around him as easily as breath, moving faster than mortal eyes could follow. One moment, they were tailing him. The next, he was behind them, close enough that the air grew colder.

“You’ve been following me for quite some time, pretty thing,” Jasper murmured, his voice low, calm, edged with amusement. The faintest smile touched his lips as he tilted his head, studying their reaction with eyes that caught the moonlight like glass.