Page 20 of His Ruthless Match

“You’re the only shifter I know who eats like a peasant,” he shot back.

I pulled up my notes app and created a to-do list for the day:

Security cameras for Eva’s office.

Talk to Vivian about the bracelet’s calibration.

Bring a flask (because dealing with Eva requires alcohol).

Handle whatever mess Eva inevitably gets herself into.

“Done,” Grelth announced, reappearing with my freshly pressed suit draped over his arm. He handed it to me with a look of mock severity. “Try not to ruin it before noon.”

Smirking, I grabbed the suit and slung it over my shoulder. “Thanks, Grelth. You’re a gem.”

He sniffed, clearly unimpressed. “I expect a raise for putting up with you.”

“Duly noted.” The sound of his grumbling followed me out the door, and I couldn’t help but grin. As big a pain in the ass as Grelth was, I had a soft spot for the little guy.

Not that I’d ever admit it aloud.

The Shadow’sfortress loomed ahead, its sharp angles and dark stone a reminder of the world I operated in. The air carried a faint hum of magic, a constant, low-level vibration I’d long since grown used to.

I headed straight for Vivian’s office, my boots striking the polished floor with purpose. I needed a solution to this bracelet situation before it turned me into a permanent intruder in Eva’s personal life. Not that I minded seeing her in short shorts, but that glare of hers could peel paint off walls.

The faint clack of keys reached my ears as I pushed open the heavy door to Vivian’s workspace. Her office was just as meticulous as the woman herself: sleek black furniture, glowing monitors, and a controlled chaos of wires and gadgets scattered across her desk.

She looked up and gave me a warm smile. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite pain in the ass. What brings you here, Jareth?”

I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Your tech,” I said dryly, raising my wrist to display the bracelet. “This thing doesn’t know the difference between danger and a cardio workout. I had to crash Eva’s workout yesterday because her heart rate spiked.”

Vivian laughed lightly, and it set my teeth on edge. “That’s not the bracelet’s fault. It’s working exactly as intended. You’re the one who panicked and veilstepped.”

“I didn’t panic,” I corrected, narrowing my eyes. “I responded. Big difference.”

Vivian shrugged. “Let me take a look at it.”

I watched as she connected some type of cord to the bracelet and tapped on her typey thing. After a few moments, sheunplugged it and handed it back to me. “The bracelet doesn’t need recalibrating. You just need to learn how to read the signals.”

“So, I have to somehow learn the difference between a spike in heart rate from cardio versus a spike in heart rate from impending death. Is that what you’re saying?”

Vivian nodded. “Use those killer instincts of yours.”