Page 58 of His Ruthless Match

The familiar’s head twitched to face me, and I had the urge to knock the glass case off the table. “Loyalty,” I drawled, eyeing the stitched monstrosity. “That’s what you’re calling this Frankenstein bullshit? Seems like a waste of breath.”

Merrik’s grin faltered slightly. “Ah, but loyalty doesn’t come cheap, does it? These little ones are a bargain. The bond is simple: breathe into their mouths, and they’re yours. Sure, it siphons a bit of your life force, just a sliver, but isn’t that a small price to pay for unwavering devotion?”

“You’re telling me people are actually buying this shit?”

Merrik shifted uncomfortably, his sharp grin dimming. He glanced around, as if checking to make sure no one waslistening, then leaned closer. “Business isn’t what it used to be,” he admitted, his sing-song tone replaced by something darker. “The new rules—hisrules—have everyone on edge.” He gestured upward vaguely, indicating The Shadow. “Smugglers’ fees are through the roof. Can’t even move a decent familiar across the border without the proper papers.”

I folded my arms and narrowed my eyes. “And how are people handling all this tension? Seems like tempers are running hotter than usual.”

He hesitated, the glow of his scars flickering as he fidgeted with the hem of his coat. “You know how it is,” he muttered. “People don’t like being told what to do. They talk. They get ideas. They think if they push hard enough, they can go back to the old ways.”

“What kind of ideas?” My tone was sharp, and the air between us grew heavier.

Merrik’s grin vanished. He glanced around again, then lowered his voice. “There’s talk of someone rallying them. Someone with big plans. If I were you, I’d leave well enough alone. They don’t take kindly to outsiders sticking their noses where they don’t belong.”

“Good thing I’m not an outsider,” I said evenly, though his words planted a thorn of unease in my chest.

Merrik chuckled nervously, reaching out to stroke the glass case holding the stitched creature. “Maybe you’d like a little friend to help you keep an eye out, hmm? Insurance never hurts.”

I stepped back, shaking my head. “I’ll stick to keeping my own eyes open.”

Merrik’s unsettling grin returned, though it didn’t quite reach his sharp eyes. “Suit yourself, but watch your back. This place has a way of eating the unprepared.”

I left the stall, my mind spinning. Merrik’s cryptic warnings weren’t new, but from the way he spoke, the rebellion was more than just whispered complaints. It set me on edge. If someone really was rallying the rebels, as Izo had also suggested, The Shadow had more to worry about than bureaucratic headaches.

As I moved deeper into the market, the burn hit.

It started as a tingle on my wrist, but within seconds it flared into a sharp sting, like someone pressing a lit match to my skin. “Fuck,” I muttered, looking down at the faint, glowing mark that pulsed like a heartbeat beneath the bracelet.

Eva.

The emergency button on her bracelet. She must have pressed and held it, activating the alarm linked to me. A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind. Was she being attacked? Was she hurt?

Without a second thought, I veilstepped.

The market dissolved around me, replaced by the spinning vortex of shadows that carried me through the Veil. The darkness tightened around me like a second skin, and I willed myself toward her, heart pounding in my chest.

17

JARETH

Something was off. My feet landed on hard tile instead of plush carpet, and the air was suffocatingly still. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the dim light of a small, cramped room. The scent of antiseptic soap and hotel linen hit me, jarring my senses.

This wasn’t Eva’s apartment.

I scanned the room, my ears picking up the faint hum of an overhead light and distant traffic outside. It didn’t take long to piece it together—white porcelain sink, beige wallpaper, and a cream shower curtain hanging slightly askew. A hotel bathroom.

I turned toward the tub, and my stomach twisted. Eva was curled up into herself, her knees hugged tightly to her chest. Her usually composed face was streaked with tears, her shoulders trembling. She looked up, her eyes glassy and unfocused.

And her fucking nose was bleeding.

“Eva.” I was at her side in an instant, dropping to my knees beside the tub. “What the hell happened?”

She flinched at my voice, like she was waiting for another blow. Her wide eyes found mine. She stared at me, like she couldn’t believe I was really there.

I reached out, hovering my hand just over her shoulder, unsure if she’d let me touch her. “Eva, talk to me. What happened? Who did this to you?”

Her voice shook. “Jareth…” Her lips trembled as fresh tears welled in her eyes.