Page 87 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

JARETH

T he veilstep was disorienting, a jarring shift from the smoky ruins of the Crimson Dominion to the cold, looming grandeur of The Shadow’s estate.

I staggered slightly as the world righted itself, the familiar stone walls and dim lighting coming into focus.

Eva’s hand brushed against my back, grounding me.

Her face was pale but determined, and I couldn’t help but admire her strength after what we’d just been through.

The Shadow had instructed his assassins and Cain’s vampires to leave the Crimson Dominion. The rest of us had been veilstepped back to his estate.

He wasted no time. He strode toward the conference room, his shoulders set and his shadows curling at his feet as if sensing his agitation. “Everyone inside,” he ordered curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

We followed silently. Cain was the last to enter, his wings folding tightly against his back. He hadn’t said much since the battle, but the fire still smoldered faintly in his hands, a testament to how keyed up he still was.

Vivian was waiting, her eyes narrowing as she took in our disheveled appearances. “Well,” she said dryly, adjusting her glasses. “You all look like hell.”

“Thanks, Viv,” I muttered, dropping into one of the chairs. “You always know how to boost morale.”

She ignored me, her focus shifting to The Shadow as he took his place at the head of the table. Eva settled into the chair beside me and put her hand on my knee.

The Shadow’s voice broke the silence. “We won the battle,” he began, his tone measured, “but the war is far from over.”

Vivian leaned forward, her brow furrowing. “The magistrate?”

He nodded. “I have no choice but to allow them to become more involved in the Crimson Dominion.”

I stiffened at that. “You can’t be serious.”

“Do you think I want this, Jareth? If I push back now, if we let them know how aware we are of their overreach, they’ll make our lives a living hell. We’ll lose what little influence and power we have left. It’s better to play the long game and let them think they’re in control.”

It made sense, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. The thought of the magistrate sinking their claws deeper into the Crimson Dominion made my blood boil. Still, I nodded, forcing myself to trust his judgment.

“I’m more concerned about Eva agreeing to work for the magistrate,” I said. “Being their go-between in the human world? Their ambassador ? That’s a recipe for disaster.”

All eyes turned to Eva. She sat up straighter and cleared her throat. “It could actually work to our advantage.”

The room fell silent, and I could feel the weight of their scrutiny as they waited for her to explain. Even The Shadow seemed intrigued, though his expression remained stoic.

Eva took a deep breath. “Think about it. My involvement with the magistrate puts me in a unique position. I’ll be working alongside them, gaining insight into their plans and operations.

I can pass along any information that could be useful to us.

At the same time, I can continue working with my clients in the human world.

With the magistrate’s support, I’ll have more resources and influence to protect people like Genevieve. ”

Cain laughed. “She’s not wrong. The magistrate isn’t going to do anything to hurt Eva at this point.

Too much has been exposed. And let’s not forget, Izo wasn’t exactly the most reliable narrator.

Who’s to say he wasn’t spinning half-truths to save his own skin?

Perhaps the magistrate’s involvement looks different than Izo portrayed. ”

I nodded slowly, hating how much sense it made.

How could Cain have seen through bullshit when I’d only spent a total of two minutes filling him in on the situation back at the Crimson Dominion?

The man was an enigma. “Izo definitely had a superiority complex. He might’ve been funded and supported by the magistrate, but he clearly had his own agenda. For all we know, he went rogue.”

The Shadow’s lips twitched in what might have been agreement. “The lines are inevitably blurred. There’s no fucking doubt about that. Either way, Izo has been a thorn in my side for years. At least he’s no longer an issue. Perhaps something good came out of all this.”

“Oh,” I said, leaning back in my chair and smirking at Cain. “I almost forgot to mention. I may have offered up your assistance in dealing with the fallout of the human actress’s exposure to magic.”

Cain raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a slow grin. “Of course you did. What exactly did I agree to?”

I shrugged innocently. “I don’t know whether they’ll be contacting you or not, but if they do, you’ll need to work on reducing the impact of magic creeping into the mouths of high-profile humans, mainly Genevieve Witt.

And while you’re at it, do whatever it takes to keep the masses none the wiser about the magic’s impact on America’s golden girl. ”

Cain snorted and shook his head. “I’m sure they will contact me. Those crazy motherfuckers are always pestering me about political shit. Sounds like a blast. You owe me for this, Jareth.”

“Add it to the list,” I shot back, my tone lighter than it had been all night.

The Shadow turned and began to speak to Vivian in hushed tones. Now was my chance. I took Eva’s hand and stood. “Please excuse us.”

She gave me a puzzled look as I led her down the hallway, gripping her hand tightly. Her fingers were warm and soft against mine, but I couldn’t shake the tension twisting through my chest. I was limping, but with her by my side, I didn’t feel the pain.

Every instinct I had screamed to check her, to make sure she wasn’t injured. We’d just come out of chaos—fire, blood, bodies—and she’d been in the middle of it all. If anything had happened to her…

No. I couldn’t even think about it.

I pulled her into an empty room and shut the door behind us.

Eva’s lips parted to say something, but I was already stepping closer, my gaze tracking over her body.

“Jareth,” she said slowly. “What are you doing?”

“I need to check you. You were in the middle of a fucking battlefield, Eva. I need to make sure you’re not hurt.”

Her frown deepened. “I told you, I’m fine. You don’t have to?—”

But I was already reaching for the hem of her shirt. “Humor me,” I said as I pulled her shirt over her head. She squealed and tried to grab my wrists, but I batted her hands away.

“Jareth! What the hell?” she shrieked, backing up against the wall. Her cheeks flushed, and her hands flew to cover herself, though she didn’t seem entirely sure where to put them.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, crouching down to inspect her legs. “I need to do a thorough inspection. Just… bear with me, okay?”

Her indignation didn’t last long. I ran my hands carefully over her arms, shoulders, ribs, and down to her legs, checking for cuts, bruises, or worse.

My touch was methodical, deliberate, but every inch of her I touched sent heat rushing through my veins.

I told myself to stay focused, but when I stood back up and caught sight of her bare skin, I faltered.

I was a man hanging on by a thread.

Her chest rose and fell quickly, her cheeks still pink as she watched me with wide eyes. “You’re impossible,” she said softly, her voice trembling just slightly.

I stepped closer, my gaze locking onto hers. “I’ve been called worse.” I cupped her face gently, tilting her head up toward me. “Eva…”

My lips found hers, and the moment they touched, every bit of control I had left unraveled.

I kissed her deeply, pouring everything I couldn’t say into the motion—the fear, the relief, the need to claim her that had been building inside for weeks.

She melted against me, her hands gripping my arms as if she couldn’t bear to let go.

I moved my lips down to her jaw, then to the delicate curve of her neck.

She gasped as I trailed kisses lower, tasting her skin.

When I took one of her nipples into my mouth, she let out a sound that ignited my blood.

The cougar inside me growled, pushing against the surface, but I forced him down.

I couldn’t lose control—not entirely. Not here, in her brother’s home.

“Jareth…” she murmured, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of my shirt. “Maybe I should check you, too. You know, for injuries.”

I smirked against her skin, shrugging my shirt off and letting it fall to the floor. “Be my guest.”

She ran her hands over my chest, her touch tentative at first, but it didn’t take long for her confidence to grow.

Her fingers traced the scars on my skin, lingering over the newer marks from the battle.

When her hands slipped lower, her touch teasing, I growled again and pinned her against the wall.

She wrapped her legs around my waist. I held her there, her body flush against mine. She was intoxicating, everything I didn’t know I needed, and I didn’t think I could stop even if I wanted to.

And then the door burst open.

“Absolutely the fuck not,” came a familiar, clipped voice. “Not under my roof.”

My head whipped around, and there he was—The Shadow, standing in the doorway with his hand covering his eyes.

“Boss,” I said, my voice rough. “I—uh…”

Eva scrambled to pull her shirt back on, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like “cock block.” I fought the urge to laugh as I stepped back, grabbing my pants and pulling them on as quickly as I could.

The Shadow sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Clothes on, Lanza. Now.”

“Sorry, boss. Sorry,” I muttered, though I didn’t sound particularly sorry. “Got a little carried away.”

He dropped his hand and fixed me with a sharp glare. “A little?”

Beside me, Eva huffed, crossing her arms. “You know, you could’ve knocked.”

“It’s my house,” he said simply. “Try to remember that next time.”