Page 146 of His Ruthless Match

Jareth stared at me, his eyes flickering with emotions I couldn’t quite decipher. There was anger there, yes, but also protectiveness, and something deeper, something unspoken.

Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Fine. If The Shadow approves, I guess I don’t have much choice. But we do this my way. No arguments. No taking risks.”

Relief flooded me. “Deal.”

His eyes lingered on mine for a beat too long, then he muttered something under his breath and grabbed his keys.

“This is a bad idea,” he grumbled as he headed for the door.

“Probably,” I replied, but I was smiling as I put on my jacket. Determination burned bright in my chest. This wasn’t just his fight—it was mine, too. And I wasn’t going to let anyone, not even Jareth, keep me from seeing it through.

Jareth broughtthe car to a smooth stop in front of Raffaele’s sprawling mansion, the massive structure casting long shadows against the fading evening light. The sight of it—all sharp edges and overwhelming grandeur—sent a familiar pang of tension through me. It wasn’t fear, exactly—it was the knowledge that stepping inside meant walking into my brother’sworld, where control and authority ruled, and every move was calculated.

“Here we go,” Jareth said, his tone clipped as he stared at the looming building. His grip tightened briefly on the steering wheel, the motion so subtle I might have missed it if I hadn’t been watching him. “Do you know what you’re going to say?”

I nodded, swallowing hard to steady my voice. “Yes.”

I’d carefully considered telling Raffaele the truth about me wanting to follow Jareth to the Crimson Dominion but quickly decided against it. He’d never allow it, and I couldn’t stand the thought of being kept from the action, especially since this was so closely related to the case I’d been pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into.

Facing Raffaele was never easy, even when I wasn’t actively deceiving him. He could read me like an open book, and the thought of lying to him—even for what I deemed as a good reason—set my pulse racing.

Jareth’s phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the moment. He fished it out, frowning as he glanced at the screen. “I need to take this,” he said, already stepping out of the car. “Go on in and talk to your brother. If you can convince him to put an illusion on you, I’ll take you with me. I’ll catch up in a minute.”

The guards stationed at the mansion’s entrance nodded respectfully at me as I passed, their stoic expressions unchanging. I didn’t stop to acknowledge them, too focused on steadying my nerves.

When I reached the heavy door of Raffaele’s study, I paused. My hands felt icy, my palms damp despite the coolness of the air.You’ve got this,Eva.He’s not your keeper. He doesn’t need to know everything.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked twice.

“Come in,” Raffaele called.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. The study was as imposing as ever, the walls lined with dark wood bookshelves, the air faintly scented with leather and old paper. Raffaele sat behind his massive desk, his posture relaxed but radiating authority. His dark eyes lifted to meet mine, sharp and assessing.

“Eva,” he said, leaning back slightly. His fingers steepled as he studied me, his expression unreadable. “This is unexpected.”

I forced a smile as I crossed the room and stopped just shy of his desk. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

He gestured for me to continue, his gaze never leaving mine.

“I’ve been stuck at Jareth’s cottage for days,” I began, keeping my tone even and calm, like I was discussing the weather. “I thought it might be a good idea to see more of your territory. Get a better sense of how things work here.”

Raffaele’s brows furrowed slightly, suspicion flickering in his gaze. “Why the sudden interest in my territory? You’ve never cared about this before.”

My stomach tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. “I’m curious. If I’m going to be stuck here for a while, I might as well learn more about your world. Besides, I thought it’d be nice to see what you’ve built without worrying about being spotted. That is, if you’ll agree to put an illusion on me.”

Raffaele stared at me for a long moment, the weight of his scrutiny pressing down on me like a physical force. He knew I was holding something back—I could see it in his eyes—but I refused to flinch and kept my smile firmly in place.

“You’re not telling me everything.”

My heart skipped a beat, but I held his gaze. “What else is there to tell?” I said, interjecting a hint of exasperation into my tone. “I just want to get out for a bit. I’m suffocating, Raffy.”

The use of his nickname softened his expression, though the wariness didn’t leave his eyes. He exhaled through his nose ashe rose from his chair with deliberate grace. “Fine,” he said, his tone clipped. “But if you’re hiding something, Eva?—”

“I’m not,” I said quickly, relief mingling with guilt. “I promise.”

His dark eyes searched mine. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded. “Stand still,” he instructed, gesturing toward the ornate mirror on the wall.

I stepped closer, keeping my eyes on my reflection in the mirror. I stared back at myself with wide, nervous eyes. Raffaele muttered something under his breath, his hand moving in fluid, practiced motions. Shadows swirled around me, wrapping me in a cocoon of shimmering energy.