Page 166 of His Ruthless Match

I moved toward the door. “Then that’s where we’re going. Immediately.”

The Shadow nodded in agreement.

Izo backed away as soon as the plan was solidified, his hands raised in mock surrender. “I can’t go with you,” he said quickly, his voice tight with nerves. “If the magistrate sees me with you, they’ll kill me on the spot. They already suspect I’m not entirely loyal.”

The Shadow regarded him with disdain. “You made the right call coming to me,” he said flatly, though his tone lacked any warmth. “We won’t let on that we got this information from you. That would be dangerous for everyone involved.”

I scowled, unable to hide my frustration. “So we’re just supposed to play dumb while they continue screwing with your territory? That’s your plan?”

The Shadow turned to me, his sharp eyes narrowing. “We can’t go in guns blazing, Jareth. Not in Tenebris. The magistrate is more powerful than you realize, more powerful than they even let on. We can’t win a war with them right now. Our priority is getting Eva back.”

He wasn’t wrong. As much as I hated the idea of walking into the magistrate’s den without making them pay for the damage they’d caused, Eva’s safety came first. It would always come first.

“Fine,” I muttered, clenching my fists at my sides. “But don’t expect me to sit quietly if they start pushing.”

The Shadow didn’t respond, and before I could say anything else, he stepped closer to me, his hand outstretched. “We’re veilstepping directly to the outskirts of the palace.”

The moment his hand touched my shoulder, the world around me twisted and blurred. It felt like being pulled through a vortex, the air ripping at my lungs as colors and shadows swirled together in a chaotic dance. My stomach churned, and just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, we landed.

I staggered slightly, sucking in a breath as the world righted itself. Veilstepping with the bracelet’s magic wasn’t as disorienting as veilstepping with the full might of The Shadow’s power behind it. We stood just outside the towering black gates of the magistrate’s palace. The massive structure loomed above us, its dark spires piercing the night sky. Everything about it screamed power and authority, and my instincts were on high alert.

The Shadow didn’t hesitate. He walked up to the guards stationed at the gates. “We have urgent business with the magistrate,” he said, his voice steady and commanding.

The guards exchanged wary glances before one of them nodded. “Wait here,” he said, disappearing inside.

Time stretched on, tension crackling in the air like a live wire. I kept my gaze on the gates, every muscle in my body coiled and ready. Finally, the guard returned and gestured for us to follow. “You may enter.”

We were led through the grand halls of the palace, every step echoing in the cavernous space. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings, and the air was thick with the weight of power. When we reached the throne room, the double doors opened with an ominous creak.

My eyes immediately locked onto Eva. She was standing in the center of the room, her face pale and drawn. She lookedscared and confused, her gaze darting between the magistrates seated on their thrones.

When our eyes met, something inside me shifted. I wanted nothing more than to run to her, to pull her into my arms and tell her everything would be okay. But I couldn’t make a scene. Not here. Not now.

The Shadow stepped forward. “What is my sister doing here?”

One of the magistrates, a tall figure with a chilling smile, turned to Eva. “Perhaps you’d like to explain.”

Eva’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. “I was following that damn rat. It led me into the forest, and then… I don’t know what happened. Suddenly, I was here.”

I knew exactly what had happened. Veilstepping. That rat wasn’t just a nuisance—it was a tool, a mutant created to manipulate and transport. Based on everything Izo had told us, the magistrate had orchestrated this. They wanted Eva here.

One of the magistrates leaned forward, looking highly amused. “Shadow, you’ve done such a good job rejuvenating your territory. Such a shame it’s not going well in the Crimson Dominion.”

The Shadow’s jaw ticked, but he said nothing. He was so much better at hiding his emotions than I was.

“It looks like we’ll need to step in. This is obviously too much for you.”

“And if I don’t agree?” The Shadow asked, his voice dangerously low.

The magistrate’s smirk widened. “Unfortunately, it’s not up to you to agree or disagree. We are the impartial governing body of The Below. And Eva, your dear sister, has made some… unfortunate choices. She shared vital magical information with a high-profile human client, putting The Below in jeopardy. As everyone in this room knows, it is against the law of The Belowfor a magical creature to put The Below in jeopardy for their own gain and for a purely human situation. Eva has given us no choice but to detain her and have her stand trial. In addition, you have lost control over the unmentionable aspects of the Crimson Dominion territory, which was yours to manage, and which we agreed to overlook for a fee. Unfortunately, we are starting to look bad as a governing body for not containing the situation. We will have to take a larger role in maintaining the integrity of the territory.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Eva snapped, her voice rising. “I’m not magical. I’m human.”

The magistrates burst into laughter, one of them leaning forward with a toothy grin. “How cute. Is she or is she not the daughter of Lord Thorne, the infamous nightmare fae?”

Eva paled, and my stomach dropped.Oh, shit.I hadn’t even considered the possibility that she might have magic in her blood. Why hadn’t I seen it?

Before I could dwell on it, I spoke up. “We all know the situation with the human actress wasn’t entirely human. Magic was at play?—”