"Is everything okay? Kai told me what happened in the morning." Gwen spoke, worry flashing in her voice but Eva gave her a reassuring smile which didn't seem to have worked sadly enough.
"I just needed to think about some stuff, nothing else. I'm fine." she spoke, the word 'fine' almost getting stuck in her throat but she managed to get it out before it could suffocate her.
Her eyes roamed around the living room, wandering about but she didn't resist the urge to look at him. She would look and that is how she would manage to refrain from all types of feelings that threatened to overcome her every time he was near. If she didn't learn how to control herself, her plans would only end up being ruined.
Because if he knew what she had planned, he would make sure that it never happened.
Or he would be glad of her going away too?
"Who is this man that we're going to visit tomorrow?" she asked instead, distracting herself from the voices that penetrated her mind whenever she let herself drown back into that ever-familiar darkness.
Gwen stiffened beside her but let out a small hesitant smile as if she was trying to reassure herself rather than her.
"Eden has many locations present in it. Some beautiful, and some perilous to even go near. The dungeons are one of those places where one of the most dangerous people have been imprisoned for their crimes against..."
"Against?"
"Nature," she spoke, lowering her voice. "They defied the order of things and the previous King and Queen captured them, throwing them away in the deepest and darkest of cells where sunlight has never entered or even glanced at. The man you're going to visit is the most dangerous there is but he's locked up. You don't have to worry since Theo will be there with you but anyone who goes in there should be cautious. Some of the creatures have voices that can allure humans and even us Fae." she explained and shuddered near the end.
Eva felt a tingle of apprehension travel down her spine. Her mind had already started to picture how the place would be and the sight gave her goosebumps all over. Her hands wasted no time in abandoning their firmness and started trembling again.
Damn it...
"Have you ever gone in there?" she questioned and Gwen had a faraway look on her face as she replied,
"Once. When I was a little toddler and was playing hide and seek with my one and only cousin." Here her eyes glanced toward the boys who were busy discussing some plans for the upcoming war they were all anticipating with worry or fear. Eva wasn't sure what she felt about it so she only remained silent.
"Theo found me in time but that incident left me terrified of it forever. However, you're going in with the strongest guy I've ever met so you'll be fine. He won't let anything happen to you."
Eva only nodded absentmindedly and Gwen noticed her small action. She looked glum for some reason and Gwen wonder if it had anything to do with her older cousin.
"Did something happen between you two?" she questioned and Eva looked up abruptly. Was it that hecking obvious?
"No, why would you say that?" she answered with a hesitant chuckle and then gulped. She couldn't let the others in about anything, they were loyal to him only, and they had no relation whatsoever to her.
"He might be my cousin and friend but that doesn't mean you can't talk to me about it. If he does anything wrong, I'll make sure to beat the bastard up into a pulp," ensured Gwen and Eva smiled out, unaware of the fact that she had let herself feel hopeful again in just a few hours.
"But I'm sure he won't ever fuck up in matters related to you."
Eva raised a brow, smiling sarcastically but Gwen looked dead serious. Her smile slowly fell.
"You don't notice?"
"..."
Notice what?
"Darling, he stares at you every time you look away," she spoke, amusement rising in her eyes like fireworks ready to explode in the sky.
'No, he doesn't...'
"Wanna test my theory out?" she offered and Eva nodded. And then she wished she had never asked in the first place. She didn't want to know, it would make her brain even more muddled than before.
She watched as Gwen looked in the direction where the boys were sitting and smiled mischievously. Looking back at her, she said, "He's looking right now. Quickly glance at him and you'll see that I was right."
Feeling like a spy in a thriller tale, she darted a hasty look in his direction and saw him watching her with an intensity that made her blush all over.
However, the minute their eyes met, his eyes widened and he looked away suddenly as if caught red-handed in a crime. Was it her eyes playing games on her or did he just... blush?
Retracting her gaze, she almost smiled once again as she saw Gwen giggle behind her palm. Her eyes plainly told her, 'See? I told you so!'
Eva rolled her eyes in response, looking down at the comfortable-looking carpet. She was used to her mind and heart betraying her and so when the thought of risking a look entered her mind, she wasn't too surprised.
'And anyways, it's just a look, right? One glance and then I'll look away as if it never happened. No strings attached.'
Her eyes moved up slower than ever and instead of a glance, they turned into a whole stare. Because this time, he wasn't backing up either.
His eyes were staring at her without blinking when she looked up and then they were drilling into her brown orbs that tried to widen but she didn't let them. Not this time.
Kai and Sebastian were busy talking about something related to their wings while Gwen had long left her position beside her. Eva thought she heard something clang from inside the kitchen but she didn't have time to focus on that. The eyes that were burning her whole body were still stubbornly gazing at her. Was it awe that she detected in his look?
Desire?
Hunger?
It couldn't be...
Was she overthinking this again?
Swallowing, she felt her parched throat and knew that not even a whole jug of water could quench her thirst. It was something she couldn't have because she couldn't allow herself those pleasures that women dreamed of.
She needed to get out of this room which had become so suffocating with his scalding eyes on her. He was sitting at a noticeable distance but somehow she felt his touch all over her body, caressing her in unexplored places and making her feel things she had never felt before.
He consumed her without even touching her and he knew this. The smirk on his face told that much as he slightly coked his head to a side, silently asking her if she wanted more or not.
Eva was aware that she wasn't capable of saying no or yes. The only thing she could do... was silently get up and leave.
And that's what she did.
'Remember the plan... focus!' her subconscious shouted at her in full volume and Eva could only look down, feeling guilty knowing that she was a centimeter close to giving in.
The aftermath would be too much for her to handle. She couldn't let feelings come in the way. Feelings she herself didn't have a clue about.
Too risky...