Iknewthese individuals; Most were prominent figureheads in other kingdoms. These must be the traitors that Matthew had discussed. The ones that had teamed up with The Horde attempted to overthrow the peace that we’d had since The Great War. I met a set of familiar eyes and my blood boiled to the point of curling my hands into fists and breaking my skin.
A hand snaked out from the chair at the head of the table to beckon me closer. “Ah, my dear Eva! Please, come and sit next to me.”
The bitter voice. I had to force my body to move forward, but I didn’t break eye contact with the man that was to be seated across from me. I slipped into the chair and kept my back straight and looked ahead.
The bitter voice laughed, but my eyes were pierced by the man sitting across the table. “I had hoped this would be a surprise! Tell me, are you surprised?”
It was then that Orion spoke, smearing a smile on his face as he did so. “Yes, my Lord. I would say she is very surprised indeed.”
30
EVA
“So, you’re the traitor amongst Helia’s ranks?” I asked him, my stomach churning. This person was supposed to be someone that my family trusted above anyone. Someone that had helped train me, protect me, guide me. Now he was the enemy?
The smile on Orion’s face made me sick. How easily could one betray their king? Their kingdom? “This has been a long time coming, dear Eva. Surely you aren’t so naïve to think that loyalty would win over power? I was given a choice, and I did what was best for myself, for my family.”
I scoffed. “Your family? Does Damien know?” My voice rose, bringing the eyes of everyone in the room to me. “Does he know what you’ve done? What you’ve become?”
Orion opened his mouth, but a hand darted out in front of him. “Now, now… You two are ruining the party,” the bitter voice spoke. For the first time since I entered the room, I turned to look at my captor and nearly gasped.
I knew him. Although, I’d use the termknewlightly. We’d spoken the night of the ball. He looked different. Not as put together in his appearance as he was that night. His eyes were currently dark, so evil, they were nearly black. They matched perfectly with the short black hair atop his head. Although I hadn’t seen him stand, I could tell by the way his body moved that he was extremely tall.
His dark eyes bore into me, taking me in from head to toe. I wanted to look away but forced myself to meet his gaze. He smiled a cruel smile before tenting his fingers in front of his body. “Well, aren’t you a brave one, my dear Eva?” he cooed. I flinched internally, remaining hard as stone on the outside.
Orion snorted. “Brave or stupid, Lord Trystan?”
The glass in his hand shattered under his grip. “I don’t believe I gave you permission to speak!” Trystan roared, effectively silencing Orion. It was as if his mouth was sealed shut by some type of magic. Orion seemed momentarily panicked as he met my gaze, but I looked back to my captor. The atmosphere flipped in an instant with Trystan’s mood. The revelers stopped to stare at the scene unfolding in front of them at the end of the table.
“Trystan?” I hissed, horror sinking straight to the pit of my stomach.
He smirked. “My name is Trystan Roarke, son of Lachlan.” He picked my hand off of the table and brought it to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he paused. “Again.”
I snatched my hand back, resisting the urge to wipe it off as I brushed the side of my dress. That same desire as before. This guy was a complete and total creep. He’d been in my home, and Orion must have let him in. His eyes narrowed and I could feel him sizing me up like he would an opponent in the fighting ring, or perhaps a wounded animal in the wild. Both felt appropriate.
A maid slipped through the doors quietly and leaned into Trystan, whispering something into his ear. Even though I tried to eavesdrop, my Fae hearing couldn’t decipher what was being said. Without warning, Trystan jumped up. He clasped his hands together before raising them in the air. It reminded me of a child when they craved attention. I wanted to laugh. No wonder he and Orion got on so well. They were both utter fucking idiots with narcissistic tendencies. It didn’t take much for all eyes in the room to be on him because they already were from his earlier outburst.
“Guests! Oh, guests… We have a very important visitor with us tonight. Not only the Princess of Helia–the sweet Eva! No, someone else entirely,” he turned around to look at the doors, whispering to himself. “This is a wonderful surpriseindeed.”
All heads turned as the large gilded double doors opened. My heart stopped in my tracks at who I saw standing there.
“Brother!” Trystan called out, clasping the figure on the back. Tension drifted into the room in a constant stream as Matthew stepped out of Trystan’s grasp.
“No,” I whispered. “No, no, no.” I could feel the tears springing into my eyes at the sight before me.
It was him. All along, it washim. How stupid I’d been, that I’d willingly gone with him. I’d fallen in bed with a viper, priming me for his den. All the signs were there. But then again, they weren’t. Nothing was as it seemed right now. Orion was a traitor. Matthew was Lachlan’s son. Damien was… Well, I didn’t know how Damien fit into all of this, but I didn’t think it was anything good. I was alone.
Utterly, completely alone.
“Eva,” he started toward me, but Trystan stopped him by guiding him into the seat next to Orion. Matthew’s eyes narrowed as he took in his neighbor.
Trystan took his seat and directed his attention to his guests around the table. “Now that everyone is here, we can begin our feast!” At his words, platters of food appeared out of thin air in front of us. Rolls of freshly baked bread were passed around to everyone.
Gods, it smelled heavenly.
There was also a decent chance that everything was poisoned.
Goblets filled to the brim with wine appeared next. Some drank greedily from them only to have them instantly refilled; others, like myself, were more hesitant and hadn’t brought the liquid to our lips.
