“Matthew?” I asked, disbelief clouding my voice. In front of us stood the handsome man from the ball. The only thing that came to mind was also the most cliché thing to say at this moment. “Why? What are you doing?”
There was a tinge of sadness across his face for a split second before it masked itself into something angrier. “Why, Eva? You want to know why?” he snorted as if I should have already known the answer. His voice was almost cruel. It felt like a personal attack. I didn’t know this man, not really.
Damien cursed, and my head jerked to his attention. “You son of a bitch,” he spat. He was struggling to even sit up. While the explosion had weakened us all to the point of pure exhaustion, I had to think there might have been something more affecting him directly. He was so weak, while the rest of us were at least able to sit up by ourselves.
Matthew tilted his head to examine the man beside me, and a hard smile crossed his face. “Always so brave, aren’t you? I have to say that it was a pleasant surprise when you took the brunt of the assault to protect Eva… But surely you know she was never in any real danger.” He took two steps closer to our group and shoved his hands into his pockets, looking down at us like we were worth nothing more than the dirt beneath his boots. “Not from me, anyway. Although I must say, the fire was a wonderful surprise. I had heard about your powers, Eva, but to witness them?” He clicked his tongue. “My dear, that was truly brilliant.”
I dragged my eyes to his. “Yeah, and you’re trying my patience. What did you believe you would achieve by launching an attack on Helia’s princess and trusted advisors?” My voice cracked.
He crouched down easily, as if I was prey for his taking, and whispered, “Now, if I told you that then it would ruin all the fun I plan on having.” He winked and stood back up, circling us with his hands behind his back. “And Eva, I do plan on having so much fun with you.”
Disgust coiled in the pit of my stomach. The fire was completely out, but the charred lines remained. Matthew stayed just outside the circle, respecting some sort of boundary. Or maybe it was a clever ruse designed to bring our guard down. Damien’s hand captured mine, and he squeezed it tightly, but he never took his eyes off Matthew.
Orion and Luka remained quiet throughout the situation. Neither of them moving a single muscle. No sound escaped their lips. I was surprised that Orion was holding his tongue, though. The man who never backed down from a fight or said that there wasn’t a being alive that he couldn’t take on. Most of the time, it was just said in good teasing fun, but there were times I knew that he actually believed it. He was too cocky of a man not to. However, given the fact he wasn’t attempting to move any more than necessary and was as silent as a grave, I knew that wasn’t a good sign. He’d already given up, but this wouldn’t be how we died.
I wouldn’t allow it.
Matthew stared down at Damien and my interlocked hands and let out a low snarl. Damien only clenched my hand harder, meeting Matthew’s gaze with the same intensity. He tried to push my body awkwardly behind him, but I would not cower.
“What is it you want, Matthew?” His eyes quickly darted to mine, and I was met with the similar eccentric passion that I had felt at the ball. Our meeting had been intertwined with fate, but what would come out of that was yet to be seen.
“Isn’t it obvious?” He scoffed. “I wantyou.”
The forest thrummed with an eerie silence as both parties seemed to wait in trepidation. We were weak. All of us were drained. So, I already had made the mental decision that I would give Matthew whatever he wanted, as long as my companions remained safe.
The way he stared at me felt too personal for my liking, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. I was terrified, but not for myself. Luka and Orion were like family and Damien… Well, he was more than family. Our future was about to be ripped from our grasp.
If I died protecting those that I loved, then maybe it would make a difference. I couldn’t protect my mother, but I would be damned if I would let anything happen to those that were with me – no matter the cost.
Damien seemed to expect my thoughts before I could act on them. “Over my dead body,” he snarled, attempting once again to push my body behind his. He tried to rise on shaky legs before he fell back to his knees and groaned.
Matthew only scoffed. “That would be easy to arrange, as weak as you are.” Damien gritted his teeth, but as much as he tried, he couldn’t stand. Our surroundings seemed to grow eminently darker with every second that passed by. My head was finally clear from the blast, but the adrenaline that rushed through my body had kept me on edge.
I took in the way his body looked so ragged, exhausted. He was my rock. For as much as I was reckless and impulsive… Damien had always been my voice of reason. He’d always teased me about how I acted first and thought later. If it wasn’t for him, I would have found myself in some sort of inescapable trouble.
Maybe he was right, and maybe that’s what this was. I would do it to save them, though.
With my head held high, I stood on shaky legs. Even though I had to angle my head higher to meet his eyes, my gaze bore into Matthew. His lips turned into a smirk as he took me in. I must have looked like a pathetic fool standing in front of him, completely at his mercy. “Consider it done.”
Two things happened at once. Damien screamed out in protest while Orion held him down. Luka’s gaze drifted from Damien and his father to Matthew and me. Matthew held out his hand for me to take, and I felt as if I was selling my soul without fully understanding our agreement.
“Nothing will happen to my companions? You and any in your command that you have hiding in the forest…” His eyebrow quirked, and I only shook my head. “I’m not stupid enough to believe you’re out here by yourself.No onewill harm them. They are free to go?” If I hadn’t already been feeling queasy, then the smile he directed toward me would have knocked the breath from my body. I straightened my back, refusing to show acknowledgement of how weak he made me feel.
“Luka, Orion, and… Damien,” he struggled to get out his name. “They go free. No one will harm them. At least, no one in my employ will. Who knows what other monsters hide out in the dark?”
I must have looked apprehensive, because Matthew rolled his eyes. “I’m a man of my word, sweet Eva. Your friends are free to leave.” He waved at them, like a pesky insect buzzing around his face. I could hear Damien’s continued objections turning into sobs, but I couldn’t look at him.
I was leaving him, but I justified it because they would be safe. More importantly,hewould be safe. Matthew’s hand remained outstretched, but he was the picture of elegance. There wasn’t a hair out of place.
“Eva! Please don’t fucking do this,” Damien pleaded. “Take me, take me instead. I’ll do anything to save her.” Orion held a firm grip on Damien’s arms, effectively keeping him down on the ground despite his attempts to break loose.
“Shut up, boy,” his father’s stern voice cracked through the air.
“Luka, do something!” But Luka only stood anxiously by, torn between his best friend, his commander, and his princess.
“Come now, Eva. My patience is wearing thin.” Matthew’s voice pulled me from the scene behind me; the battle was still raging between Damien and his father. Slowly, I took his hand in mine and stepped out of the charred circle. By the time my foot had left the ground, we had transported out of the forest, and I stepped into a cool stone palace.
16
