Kalen moved first, jerking the door wide open and taking up the space with his enormous frame, which obscured our bodies from view. Luka took a couple of steps back, obviously surprised by the imposing figure in front of him. It took everything I had not to laugh at the panicked look that flashed over his face.
“Can I help you?” Kalen asked, taking a step closer to Luka. His face continued to pale, but he cleared his throat and stood up a little taller.
“I need to speak with Eva. If you’d please move,” he stepped to the side, but Kalen moved with him. Luka scowled and sighed. “This is a bit childish, isn’t it, Eva? You won’t even come out and talk to me?”
Kalen didn’t have time to react as Matthew moved past him and pushed Luka back. He bared his teeth and was breathing hard, anger taking hold of him. I moved forward to intercept them, but Kalen’s hand grabbed my arm and shook his head in warning.
“If you have something to say to mymate,” he growled the word, “then you can say it from right where you are.”
Luka balked and took a step back. “Mate? Eva isn’t your–" but the words stopped, and he looked between us with wide eyes.
The mating bond could be sensed by another Fae once it was accepted. It acted as a warning against other suitors. Also, we were branded, which meant it was obvious. If that wasn’t enough, especially after last night, Matthew and I’s scents were tangled up with each other. They seemed to be completely indistinguishable.
Luka stared at me in horror. “What did you do, Eva?” He paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair roughly. “Fuck, no. Tell me this isn’t true. Tell me the gods haven’t cursed you with this,” he shook his hands at Matthew, “pathetic excuse for aman.”
Matthew’s body shook from anger. I pushed Kalen over, to his surprise and slight chagrin, and stepped up beside Matthew, taking his hand. His body cooled at my touch as I absorbed the heat coursing through him. I met Luka’s glare. “What is it you want?”
He shook his head. “You need to come back. It’s bad, Eva. Damien isn’t okay. Your father isn’t okay. The kingdom is in trouble, and we need you.Heneeds you,” he added. I scoffed.
“There’s so much you don’t know, Luka. I can’t just go back. I’ll be hunted-”
“I’ll protect you. You know that we’ll protect you. You’ll be safe.”
NowIwas the one that was getting angry.
Did he seriously not know about Orion? It was possible, of course. Luka was too much of an obedient soldier to his kingdom to consider treason, but at the same time… His blood pact to Damien made him loyal to their family and, by extension, their secrets.
“Luka… Orion will kill me if I go back. I know too much about what he’s done,” I said.
A questionable expression passed over his face. “What’s he done?”
The cracking of a twig turned all of our heads in the direction it came from. To my complete and utter horror, Damien and Orion stepped out from behind the trees.
Damien took Matthew and me in from head to toe; how our bodies drew closer to each other, our fingers interlocked. His eyes grew dark as he moved toward us, but Orion stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder and he shook his head.
My grip on Matthew’s hand tightened to the point where I knew it must be causing pain, but he took every bit of it. Kalen stepped further out of the house and took his place on the other side of me, both men dropping into a protective stance.
I turned my head to Luka. My body heated with sheer fury. I shook Matthew and Kalen off of me as my palms lit up with fire. “What did you do?” I spat. “What the fuck did you do?”
“Eva, I didn’t-”
“He led us to you, of course,” Orion drawled, interrupting him. Luka shot him a furious glance and shook his head. He turned his face to me, pleading with his eyes to believe him.
I turned my palms up to them, forming two perfect fireballs. “Leave, now. All of you, before I burn you where you stand.”
Orion just laughed, Damien cocking his head to stare at his father. “Dear Eva, do you think you can really take me on?” He scoffed. “No, I could kill you in my sleep if I wanted to. It would really be too easy. I’ve had centuries of experience in combat compared to you.”
Matthew growled and stepped in front of me. “Leave Orion, before your son learns of your betrayal. I have no qualms about informing him.” The air grew icy, regardless of the sun shining down on all of us in supposed favor. There was no guarantee of how this would end, but I wasn’t so naïve to think that it would be in our favor.
“Father, what is he talking about?” Damien stepped up, but Orion shoved him back.
“Nothing. These parasites will say anything to ensure your doubt in me,” he spat.
“What about me?” I stepped around Matthew, holding the fire close. “Would I lie, Damien?” I needed him to believe me. To be able to look at me and know I wasn’t lying, to see his father’s betrayal, or at least be open to hearing it.
He stared at me for a second, before the same darkness I had seen before clouded his eyes. He gritted his teeth. “Not intentionally, but you would allow yourself to be corrupted by his darkness. You’d believe anything he’d tell you.”
It happened so fast that I didn’t register his movement before it was too late. Matthew shot forward and grasped Damien around his throat, pushing him against a tree. Kalen grabbed Orion and shoved him to his knees. Luka turned to me, and I raised my hands in defense. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I would do anything to keep us safe. Right now, Luka was an enemy. My blood ran cold, adrenaline pumped through my veins. I stood taller than I had before because, for the first time in my life, I knew I was doing the right thing.
