Page 131 of His Ruthless Match

The Shadow studied me for a long moment, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. But you’d better keep an eye on her, Jareth. No mistakes.”

“Understood,” I said, my voice firm. There was no way in hell I’d let anything happen to her. Not while I was breathing.

Eva sighed. “Guess I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

“Not really.” I smirked as I picked up her overnight bag. It felt light in my hand, a sharp contrast to the weight of responsibility pressing down on me.

The Shadow’s voice cut through the room one last time. “Neither of you leaves the estate until I say so. Got it?”

“Crystal clear, boss man,” I replied, my gaze meeting his before shifting back to Eva.

The cottage’sporch light cast a soft glow against the darkened landscape. The crash of distant waves was a constant, rhythmic backdrop. Behind me, Eva’s footsteps were heavier than usual, her exhaustion radiating off her like an aura.

Grelth was already waiting at the door, leaning against the frame with his lanky frame stretched in exaggerated nonchalance. His beady eyes flicked between me and Eva. “The two of you look like shit,” he said, his voice dry as sandpaper.

I shot him a sharp look as I guided Eva inside, my hand resting lightly on her back. “Not tonight, Grelth. It’s been a long night.”

For once, he had the good sense not to push. He straightened, stepping aside to let us in, though his claws scraped lightly against the jackets he took from us. “Cleaning up after everyone,” he muttered under his breath, clearly trying to provoke me. I ignored him.

Eva moved slowly, her shoulders slumped. I gestured toward the couch in the living room, my voice softer than usual. “Sit down. I’ll make some tea.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t fine. Her usual fire was buried under layers of exhaustion and fear. I didn’t press, though. Instead, I grabbed a notepad and pen from the kitchen counter, walking back over to her.

“Make a list,” I said, handing them to her. “Everything you need from your apartment—clothes, toiletries, work stuff, whatever you want. Grelth will get it.”

Her fingers brushed mine as she took the notepad, her touch lingering just long enough to send a jolt of something warm through me. “Thank you,” she said, sinking onto the couch. She stared blankly at the page before she began to write.

She bit her lip as she concentrated, her brows furrowed in thought. Even now, with the weight of the world pressing downon her, she was breathtaking.You’re so strong,Eva. Stronger than you know.

Grelth reappeared, raising an eyebrow at the notepad when I handed it to him. “You want me to play delivery boy now?” he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“Just get it done,” I snapped.

He glanced over the list. “A laptop, clothes, toiletries… This better not take all night.”

“Grelth,” I said, the warning clear in my tone.

He gave a mock salute, his smirk firmly in place. “On it, Master Jareth.” With a flick of his ears, he disappeared out the door, grumbling all the way.

When I turned back to Eva, she was standing, a distant look in her eyes. “I can set up my room for you,” I offered, stepping closer. “You stayed there before. It’s comfortable.”

“Would it be okay if you stayed with me? I’d feel safer if you were close.”

The words hit me like a punch to the chest, and for a moment, I could only stare at her. She trusted me enough to ask for this. I swallowed hard, keeping my voice even.

“Of course,” I said. “You can sleep in my bed. I’ll take the floor.”

Eva shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “That’s not necessary. You can sleep in the bed too.” Her hand brushed against my arm as she walked past me, squeezing lightly. “I sleep better next to you.”

Trust. The word echoed in my mind, setting something in my chest alight. I stood there, frozen, as she moved toward the bedroom, my thoughts racing.She trusts me. She wants me close.That warmth swelled, impossible to ignore, and I forced myself to follow her before I betrayed how much her words affected me.

By the time I reached the bedroom, she had already climbed into the bed, her legs tucked under the blanket, shoes still on. The sight made me chuckle softly and shake my head. “You’re a disaster, Delgado.”

Kneeling beside the bed, I carefully slipped her shoes off, my fingers grazing her ankles. She didn’t move, her eyes already half-closed, her breathing slow and steady. The soft rise and fall of her chest was mesmerizing.

I pulled the blanket up over her shoulders and tucked it around her. For a moment, I just sat there, watching her. Her lashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks, her lips slightly parted as she drifted off.