Page 169 of His Ruthless Match

The tension in the room was so thick it felt like I could choke on it. My brother’s shadows writhed around him like a living storm, his expression carved from stone. Jareth stood at my side, his jaw tight, the rage radiating off him almost palpable. Across from us, the magistrates sat perched on their thrones, their expressions cold and calculating, like vultures circling their prey.

One of the magistrates, the one who seemed to enjoy the sound of his own voice the most, leaned forward with a smug smile. “Perhaps,” he began, his tone dripping with mock generosity, “we can come to an agreement.”

I tensed, my instincts screaming that whatever came next wouldn’t be good. The magistrate’s gaze swept over me, lingering just long enough to make me feel like an insect pinned under a magnifying glass.

“You’ve made valid points, Miss Delgado,” he continued. “You’re clearly an accomplished attorney in the human world, and your arguments here today were… compelling. However, the law is the law. If The Shadow agrees to allow us to peacefully step into the Crimson Dominion and work together, as a team, to resolve the rebel factions and get everything under control, then we will find another way for Eva to make up for her transgressions.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Jareth stepped forward, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “What do you want her to do?”

The magistrate’s smile widened, and my stomach dropped. “We need an ambassador. Someone who can straddle both The Below and the human world. Yes, we have strays stationed throughout the human world, individuals in positions of influence who do our bidding. But while they are useful, they lack nuance. What we need is someone to navigate the delicate and evolving relationship between humans and the magical creatures of The Below.”

His gaze landed on me like a predator sizing up its next meal. “We want you to work for us, Miss Delgado. To mitigate these uncharted waters.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. An ambassador? Forthem? I glanced at Raffaele and Jareth. They had gone rigid, and their faces didn’t betray their emotions, but the sheer force of their anger was undeniable. They were practically radiatinghell no.

“I’ll work with you to dissolve the rebel factions and stabilize the Crimson Dominion. But that’s enough. Leave my sister out of it,” Raffaele said.

The magistrate tilted his head, feigning disappointment. “Unfortunately, that’s not enough. Miss Delgado’s actions have consequences. If she doesn’t agree to this, she will need to be held here until her sentencing.”

My heart sank. Held here? Like a fucking prisoner? My eyes darted to Jareth, who looked ready to explode, and then to Raffaele, whose shadows had grown darker, more ominous. But this wasn’t their battle. It was mine.

I took a step forward, my voice steady even as my heart pounded. “I’ll do it.”

Jareth turned to me, his expression a mix of shock and anger. “Eva, no.”

“Yes,” I said firmly, cutting him off. “This is my mess. I got us into it, whether I realized it at the time or not. If being your ambassador means I can fix this, then I’ll do it. I can handle it.”

“No,” Jareth snapped, his voice rough with emotion. “You don’t owe them this. You don’t owe anyone this.”

“I do, Jareth. Genevieve is my client. My responsibility. And if taking this on means I can keep her safe and continue helping her—and others like her—then I have to do it. It’s the only way.”

He stared at me, his golden-brown eyes filled with a desperation that made my chest ache. “You don’t have to fix this alone,” he said quietly, his voice breaking. “Let us help you.”

“I am letting you help me,” I said gently. “But this is something I can do, Jareth. Something Ineedto do.”

One of the magistrates, the same one who had spoken before, smiled gleefully, his teeth glinting in the dim light. There was something far too eager in his expression, and a chill ran down my spine.

I swallowed hard, trying not to let my unease show. Had I just signed my life away?

“Excellent,” he said smoothly. “We will be in touch. We already have your phone number, Miss Delgado, so expect further instructions soon.”

“Great,” I muttered, the sarcasm slipping out before I could stop it.

The magistrate’s smile didn’t falter. “There is a secret veil tear in New York City that leads directly here. It will ensure ease of transportation for your new… responsibilities.”

I nodded, my throat tight. “Got it.”

As the Magistrates exchanged satisfied glances, I felt Jareth step closer to me. His hand brushed against mine, a silent show of support that nearly broke me. I wanted to collapse into his arms and let him tell me it would all be okay. But I couldn’t. Not here. Not now.

Instead, I stood tall, my gaze locked on the magistrates. I didn’t know what the future held, but I wouldn’t let them break me. Not now. Not ever.

48

JARETH

Istepped forward. “I was already planning to make a move against the rebel factions tonight,” I said. I glanced down at my watch, a deliberate motion to drive my point home. “As a matter of fact, I’m supposed to meet my associate and his men in about an hour. You’ve already taken out my main target”—I gestured to where Izo had been beheaded moments earlier—“so thanks for that. We do have a strong plan to take out the other rebels once and for all. Do I have your permission to move forward with that plan?”

The lead magistrate’s gaze narrowed, studying me with cold deliberation. The silence in the room was deafening, and I felt Eva shift beside me. Her hand brushed mine, and I resisted the urge to pull her closer.