Page 21 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

EVA

T he lush trees, glowing flora, and winding paths humming with the undercurrent of magic in my brother’s territory almost made me forget how much I hated being in The Below.

But no matter how beautiful it was, this place sent a shiver up my spine.

It was a world built on power, secrets, and danger, and it always made my skin crawl.

Jareth was completely at ease, one arm draped over the steering wheel as if he didn’t have a single care in the world. His casual indifference was maddening.

“Where exactly do you live down here?” I asked, partly to distract myself and partly because I was genuinely curious.

“On the edge of your brother’s territory,” he replied without taking his eyes off the road.

“Like...the actual edge? Or is that just your dramatic way of saying you don’t live in the middle of the action?”

He smirked. “The actual edge. By the ocean.”

I blinked. “You live at the beach?”

“Yeah. A little cottage by the ocean. It’s nice and quiet. Private.”

“You don’t strike me as the little-cottage-by-the-ocean type.”

He quirked an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Oh? And what type am I? Go on, Delgado. Enlighten me.”

I rolled my eyes, already regretting my words. “Forget it.”

“You’ve been picturing where I live, haven’t you?”

Heat crept up my neck. “I have not been picturing where you live.”

“Sure you haven’t,” he said, his voice dripping with smugness.

I crossed my arms and stared out the window, silently cursing myself for opening my big mouth.

Ancient, twisting trees lined the long driveway, creating a canopy overhead. I heard the ocean long before I saw it, the rhythmic crash of waves growing louder as we approached. When the cottage finally came into view, I was speechless.

It was small but charming, with weathered wood siding and a stone chimney that added to its rustic appeal. A stone path led straight to the ocean, where the water sparkled under the light of The Below’s eerie twin moons. There were no other structures in sight, just endless sand and sea.

“This is not at all what I was expecting.”

Jareth parked the car and glanced at me. “What were you expecting? A dungeon?”

I shrugged. “Maybe. It’s nice.”

“I needed a refuge. Once I started making good money doing what I do, I asked your brother if I could buy a tract of land. He gave me this spot.”

“That sounds like Raffaele,” I murmured, ignoring the pang of guilt in my heart. “Big and bad on the outside, but really just a softie who takes care of everyone.”

Jareth didn’t respond, but I caught the faintest flicker of respect in his eyes. He got out of the car and opened my door before I could even reach for the handle.

I eyed him curiously as I stepped out. “Chivalry, huh? That’s new.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

The house was just as cozy inside as it was outside. Soft, overstuffed furniture in warm wood tones and shelves lined with books, trinkets, and what I could only describe as… artifacts. A fireplace crackled softly, and the scent of salt and woodsmoke filled the air.

Jareth tossed his keys onto a table by the door. “Grelth, we’ve got company.”

I frowned. “Seriously, what the fuck is a Grelth?”

Before he could answer, a small, hairy, grumpy-looking creature popped into existence right in front of me. I let out an embarrassingly undignified squeal and stumbled back, grabbing Jareth’s arm.

“Eva,” Jareth said, clearly amused, “this is Grelth, my, uh...assistant.”

Grelth scoffed, narrowing his beady eyes. “Master Grelth is no assistant. I basically run your fucking life, sir, if you please.”

It took me a second to process what he’d said, and then I burst out laughing. “I like Grelth.”

Grelth sketched a small, theatrical bow. “I’m pleased to meet you, Miss...?”

“This is Eva Delgado. The human. My assignment .”

I scoffed at that. “Mr. Grelth, I assure you I am no one’s assignment. I am merely a victim of circumstance, which has resulted in my forced proximity to this asshole.”

The corner of Grelth’s mouth twitched. “Well said, Miss Eva. I must say, you’re far too clever to be hanging around someone like him.”

“I’m right here,” Jareth muttered.

Grelth ignored him. “You know, he never brings anyone home. You must be very special to him.”

“Grelth,” Jareth growled.

I arched an eyebrow. “Oh, really? He never brings anyone home?”

“Not a soul.” Grelth tutted. “Master Jareth is quite the recluse.”

“I bring people home,” Jareth protested, folding his arms.

Grelth turned to him with a skeptical look. “Name one person you’ve brought here in the past year.”

Jareth opened his mouth, then closed it.

“Thought so,” Grelth said smugly. “May I take your jacket, Miss Eva?”

“Thank you.” I shrugged off my coat and handed it to him.

Grelth disappeared into another room. Jareth was frowning at the floor, still trying to think of someone he’d brought home.

I smiled sweetly. “Well? Got anyone yet?”

“Shut up, Delgado.” He brushed past me. “Grelth, I thought you could make dinner for the two of us tonight. How about it?”

The moment Jareth casually announced that Grelth should whip us up some dinner, my stomach betrayed me with an audible grumble. It was mortifying, and Jareth, of course, caught it immediately.

“See? Even your stomach knows you’re hopeless,” he teased, smirking.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, refusing to dignify his comment with a response. I was starving, but admitting it would be like handing him a victory on a silver platter. No way in hell was I giving him that satisfaction.

Grelth shot Jareth a look so nasty it could’ve curdled milk. Then, with surprising politeness, he turned to me. “Miss Eva, is there anything specific you’d like? Something you’re craving?”

“Oh, no,” I said quickly, waving my hand dismissively. “Whatever Jareth wants is fine.”

“Steak. I’m in the mood for steak.”

“That sounds great,” I said.

Grelth eyed me curiously. “Any food sensitivities or allergies I should know about?”

“Just no shellfish.”

Grelth nodded curtly. “Noted.” He hobbled off toward the kitchen, grumbling about “clueless cats” under his breath.

Jareth watched him go, then gestured toward Grelth with a dramatic flourish. “Look at him go. Such grace. Such positivity. He’s a ray of sunshine, isn’t he?”

I snorted. “He seems like a real treat.”

“Oh, he is. You should see him when he’s really excited. Sometimes his nose twitches. It’s downright adorable.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that as Jareth gestured for me to sit.

The room was not at all what I’d expected.

It was cozy and clean, with dark leather furniture and warm wooden accents that contrasted with the modern aesthetic I’d imagined for him.

A plush rug lay under the coffee table, and a stone fireplace dominated the far wall, its mantle lined with candles that looked well-used.

This was not a place that someone passed through out of necessity. It was lived in.

“Not a cat hair anywhere,” I remarked, running a hand over the back of the couch.

Jareth rolled his eyes. “Grelth does all the cleaning and cooking. And everything else, really.”

“That tracks,” I said dryly, earning an amused look from him. But I couldn’t wait any longer. I turned to him, hands on my hips, and cut to the chase. “Why do you think Gabe’s theory about Genevieve’s former co-stars is wrong?”

Shrugging, Jareth leaned back against the armrest like he didn’t have a care in the world. “Call it intuition or whatever you humans like to call it, but it feels too easy to pin this on a bunch of disgruntled ex-costars.”

I frowned at that. “Why?”

He straightened slightly, his expression turning serious.

“Think about it. What would they stand to gain? They’re in the industry, so they know that pulling something like this could get them blacklisted for life.

Unless there’s a solid motive—money, revenge, whatever—it’s not worth the risk.

It just seems like they’re an easy scapegoat. ”

I considered his point, chewing it over in my mind. As much as I hated to admit it, he might be onto something. “You could be right, but I still have to follow up on the lead.”

“Sure,” he said. “Follow the trail. Just don’t be surprised if it leads to a dead end.”

“Why do you assume it’ll lead to a dead end? What would you do differently, since you’re such an investigative genius?”

Jareth smirked. “All I’m saying is that you might want to think outside the box and take into consideration things that would be impossible in the real world that you know are possible due to your connection with The Below.”

Maybe Jareth was right. Was I being short-sighted? Maybe, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that magic was involved in this, because if it was, how could I fix that? It would be entirely outside of my control. Outside of Genevieve’s. I couldn’t accept that. Not yet. Not without trying harder.

Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed from the direction of the kitchen. My eyes widened as the sound was followed by the clanging of pots and pans.

“Uh… is Grelth okay in there?” I asked, glancing toward the source of the noise.

Jareth waved a hand dismissively. “He always makes a racket when he’s cooking. I think he does it on purpose, just to make a point.”

“What point would that be?”

“That he works hard, and I should be grateful.”

I shook my head, suppressing a smile. My gaze wandered to a nearby bookshelf, packed to the brim with books of all sizes. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as a reader,” I said.

“I love to read.” He flashed me a sly smile. “Just not the… ahem… same variety of books as you.”

My cheeks flushed. “What do you read, then?”

To my surprise, genuine enthusiasm lit up his eyes. “History. Humans fascinate me. Don’t get me wrong, they annoy the hell out of me. But by gods, you spend so much time trying to understand everything—yourselves, the world, the universe. I don’t get most of it, but it’s interesting.”