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“Yes,wefreed you from that cell.” He titled his head up in Karina’s direction. “Now we should be safely flying away from Artem. As for walking around on your own right now, I’m not allowing it until you’re better. You’re still freezing. I’m doing this for you.”
She couldn’t keep herself from laughing. “Doing this forme?I have a feeling you just want to be close to me, don’t you?” When he didn’t respond she decided to tease him some more, finding a sort of thrill in how uncomfortable she could make him feel. Maybe if he felt uncomfortable enough, he’d release her. She felt fine to walk around freely. “You know what really helps when someone is freezing?” She brought a seductive finger up to his neck and began tracing slow circles around it. “Body heat,and body heat doesn’t exactly work when both parties are clothed now does it?”
He must’ve been growing restless, because his legs shifted beneath her. It didn’t take long to learn why. Suddenly, something more than his legs was pressing against her ass.
He must’ve known the game she was playing, because he teasingly smirked down to her. “Then I suppose it’s a good thingI’mnot fully clothed.” Eva was taken off guard. He actually cracking a joke, and it was quite funny. Though it did lead her to recognize something about him that she didn’t notice before. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. She tried not to gape at his sculptured, bare chest, but she couldn’t help herself. Judging by the cocky way he looked down to her, his eyes lighting up, she knew he noticed the way she was gawking at him. “Does my lifeblood like what she sees?” He teased, his voice low.
He was teasing her some more! What put him in such a great mood?
As much as she wanted to act on the rising tension in the air, she chose not to. She wasn’t stupid. If she acted on desire, one thing would lead to another, until he was dining on her blood. Just the thought of the act made her cringe.
No thank you.
“Doesn’t matter if I like it or not. The two of us have no place together in this world.” She could never be with a vampire. Yet she was beginning to question the idea. Was it possible for the two of them to find happiness together?
“You do realize the two of us have nothing but a place together in this world. We’re fated.”
“Correction -you’refated. Sorceresses don’t get mates. As far as I care, you’re nothing other than some vampire who purposely sent me to earth’s version of hell.” Yes, Eva now understood why he did what he did, but she could never see herself living the rest of her days with someone who had done that to her.
On the other hand, he freed her from that horrible place, risking everything to do so. An unfamiliar concern for him arose, leading her to ask him, “What are you going to do now?” They heard Artem’s scream. His deception was no secret.
“I’m going to get you to safety and keep you there.” His expression hardened, determination lighting up his features.
“But what about your life? Your warrior status? You risked… everything.” He could never go back. Did he and Karina really do that for her? The more she thought on it, the more Eva believed she probablyshouldforgive him.
He pursed his lips. “I didn’t lose everything. I have Karina. I have you.” He held her gaze, a certain passion sweeping between the two of them. For the first time in a long time Eva felt excitement for what might be possible.
“Are you really that happy to have me?” Her insecurities arose. She didn’t understand how someone who distanced herself from others her entire life could be good company.
“You’re growing on me,” he smirked.
His smile mesmerized her, causing her to let her guard down and admit to him exactly what she was feeling. “I have to admit, you might be growing on me too.” The second after she said those words, she cursed herself, snapping her mouth shut. She had to remember the last time she trusted him, he used that trust against her.Immediately. What was going to stop him from doing it again? “But then I remember what you did to me.” She hardened her expression, putting a mask up to hide what she was really feeling. She was really feeling that she was beginning to seriously like this vampire. If he betrayed her again, it would hurt so much more than the first time. She needed to protect her heart against the possibility.
His expression darkened, the glimmer in his blue eyes dissipating. “Eva, I’m sorry for what I did.”
She wanted more than anything to accept his apology. She really did. But what would that make her? A fool, that’s what it would make her. And fools died in the unnatural world. As lonely as she was, she didn’t want to die. Better times were coming, she was sure of it.
She shrugged and looked away. She didn’t want him to look into her eyes, fearing they would show him how hurt she was, and how much she wanted to believe him. “You’re sorry now? You didn’t bring me to that hellhole too long ago. It’s difficult to believe you could have a change of heart so quickly.” She tried to mask her emotions, keeping her voice steady. Strong. But she needed to hear his answer. Maybe it would make sense and prove to her that he wouldn’t deceive her again.
“Look at me.” When she didn’t listen, he grabbed her chin and turned her head so she was facing him. She tried to resist, not trusting her eyes, but it was no use.
“I’m looking. Happy?”
His soft smile answered her question. “Exceedingly.” He began running his fingers through her hair again. “I’ve been a fool for centuries, doing Artem’s bidding no matter who it hurt. I thought I was helping my sister, but I wasn’t. I suppose I came to the realization that as long as Artem remained in my life, everyone I cared about would continue to hurt. I’m no longer going to allow Artem to hurt those I care about most.”
Eva wasn’t entirely sure if he was only talking about Karina when he spoke about those he cared for. Was it possible he was talking about her too? Eva didn’t want to lose herself to wishful thinking, so she asked, “Karina?” She could barely speak above a whisper, apprehension consuming her.
“And you, Eva.” The way he looked at her, as if he never planned to let her go, caused her heart to begin beating erratically. He said exactly what she wanted to hear.
Unable to respond, she held his gaze. She wasn’t sure what to say. Was she supposed to tell him he was saying all the right things, or should she continue to keep her guard up to keep herself safe?
No one cared for her before. She didn’t matter enough in anyone’s life. Yet here Darius was, telling her she mattered. Secretly, she always wanted to matter to someone. Now she did.
An unusual uneasiness began brewing inside her, which only heightened the longer she looked into his eyes. She knew exactly why she felt so uneasy. It was because she was beginning to care about him too, something she had never done for anyone before.
I once cared about my mother,she thought. Unfortunately, her mother’s life was not returned, no matter how hard Eva tried.
The uneasiness Eva felt was because she knew feeling this way about another could lead her to getting hurt. Just like her mother hurt her. Just likehehurt her.
