EVA
Strong arms wrapped around my body to steady me before I collapsed to the ground. I tried to push them away, but I was far too weak as my knees scraped the ground, earning a groan in embarrassment. I was a Princess of Helia, and here I was falling on my ass from a bit of transportation. My eyes tried to adjust to the sudden brightness of my new surroundings. I blinked rapidly, as if that was really going to help anything.
“Eva?” Matthew’s worried tone brought me back to him. I closed my eyes and groaned once again. For a split second, I forgot he was here – that hekidnappedme. I felt him lift my body into his arms as he carried me somewhere. Maybe this was all a terrible dream made up by my obviously overactive imagination.
When I open my eyes, I’ll be back in the cabin in the woods or even in my bedroom. Damien will be with me, and everything will be okay.
The door creaked open, and my body was set down onto something soft – a bed, perhaps. I curled into a ball, instinct pulling me to protect myself. I knew I couldn’t fight, so this was the only way. I listened as I heard footsteps pad away from me and a door click shut and lock.
I was trapped. I was a prisoner. Terror seized ahold of my mind and wouldn’t release its grasp as I struggled to breathe. I’d never been one to lean on dramatics, but the stress of the day had a viselike grip on what was becoming my new reality. There hadn’t even been a chance to look at my surroundings before I reached my apparent destination as images seemed to blur together as I had passed them.
If this were a training exercise, Damien would chastise me.
But it wasn’t, and I had no idea if he was dead or alive.
Because you left him dying in the woods, Eva.
No, I did it to protect him.
My heart sank at the thought of him. All I had to go on was Matthew’s claim that they were safe, which didn’t amount to much at the moment, if I was honest. I didn’t know him or have any reason at all to trust him, so why was there some force in the pit of my stomach telling me I could?
I opened my eyes and looked around the room. I’d assumed I would’ve been placed into a cell of some sort, but that wasn’t the case at all.
My jaw dropped at the lavishness of my dwellings. The area was a large bedroom with an adjourning bathing room. Tall ceilings with ornate motifs and expensive furnishings made up the room’s décor. The dim lighting was welcome since my head was pounding from my magic being so low. I ran my hand over the soft silk of the bedding, memorizing the feeling of it brushing against my skin. The entire room was beautiful, much more than I expected as a prisoner.
He was taking care of me like I was some sort of treasured possession.
I stumbled out of the enormous bed and made my way to the bathing room. The tub was large enough to easily fit multiple people in it, a completely idiotic notion. I didn’t want to have an orgy in a bathtub. That seemed like more trouble than it was really worth.
I filled the tub to the brim with hot water and slowly submerged my aching limbs. The sensation of the water lapping against my skin pulled a groan from my mouth. The sensation was beyond heavenly. I looked over at the various bottles and vials that were lined up neatly on a shelf near the tub. A dainty glass bottle with light purple scroll work caught my eye. I reached for it, twirling it in my hand as I pulled the stopper and the sweet, calming scent of lavender filled my nostrils. With a deep sigh, I poured some of the thick liquid onto a cloth and washed.
The aroma reminded me of the lavender fields that my mother used to take Damien and me to. She had told us it was a place of peace, and she had grown to love the scent because of that very reason. It’s funny, isn’t it?How something so simple as a scent can bring a torrent of memories crashing into you? My heart ached for my mother, and I missed her every single day.
My touch was feather light on my skin as I rinsed away the memory of the past few days. My mind drifted over my actions that led to me being here. I wanted to feel some type of pride for sacrificing myself for my companions, but did I really sacrifice anything? If I was locked in a dingy cell, then it might feel that way, but I was in a lavish room washing with high-quality products. All of these little things were just indulgences–they didn’t matter. Even though I didn’t know what Matthew had in store for me, I almost felt guilty about the luxury I was experiencing.
No, it wasn’t a sacrifice to be in his company at all, it seemed.
I let myself relax for the first time since I was taken, sinking deep into the water. I hadn’t realized how tired I had truly become. The soothing lavender lulling me into a sense of security and peacefulness.
If I could just close my eyes for a moment… Then maybe I would wake up and this would all be a dream.
A soft knock on the bedroom door pulled me from my daydream. I sank deeper into the water as if I could hide from whoever was on the other side of the door. What a coward I was.
Knock, knock, knock.
“If you don’t answer, then I’m barging in, Eva.” Matthew’s voice sounded from the other side of the door. From where I was in the tub, I couldn’t see the entrance, but I knew he had a key since he locked the door when he left.
I wondered what it would be like if he walked in right now and saw me. What would he do? Would he walk out like a true gentleman? Or perhaps he would stare as the water dripped from my body? It was a thrilling thought, but I instantly shut it out. My body was betraying me, causing me to think about another man’s eyes on my body while I didn’t know where Damien was.
“Will you please give me a moment?” I called out softly. I didn’t know if he could even hear me, but since the knocking didn’t persist, I could only assume that he did.
There was a silk robe hanging near the tub, a deep navy that reminded me of home.Helia.
I smiled to myself like the idiot I was. I quickly dried my body off before I wrapped the robe around myself. My hair was still wet, and it clung to my body as I tried to push it out of the way. I unlocked the door with impatience and found Matthew leaning casually against the door frame.
He looked casual and relaxed, the picture of elegance. But it looked… wrong. Like this wasn’t who he really was. I’m sure his charm worked on other women, and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t interested when I first met him, but now I felt a danger that hadn’t been there before. A small voice in my head called me a liar, but I pushed her out of the way. There wasn’t time for her antics.
When I walked away from him, I could feel how childish I was being. I was nearly stomping my damn feet, but the anger I felt for him taking me was so strong I could taste it in the air around us. The energy crackling under my skin.
