"Have you met someone you are so deeply connected to, Eve?" The Duke asked as the music progressed. Her body was glued against his as he started moving. His steps were light and soon, she was lost in the music.
She knew she couldn’t dance. But what is this?
"No," Eva said. While she told him, she couldn’t really dance, her body just started following his lead the moment he moved. It felt like they were in sync with each other. It was something she found irritating and weird at the same time.
The man’s gaze almost made her tremble and it should be enough to make her uncomfortable but there was something similar yet different about that gaze. It was... deep and enticing. Dark and possessive.
And while it had similarities with how Matthew looked at Ava, she knew that Josef was different. He isn’t a shifter. He was something else.
"That’s a bit depressing isn’t it."
"It’s not."
"Do you believe in soul mates, Eve?"
"No."
"A witch who doesn’t believe in soul mates. That’s— interesting to say the least."
"I don’t believe in many things, Mr. Asad."
"And that made you one of a kind...."
Ava pursed her lips. One of a kind? She snorted inwardly.
"My previous actions clearly showed my interest to you... Miss..."
"Just Eve."
"Very well... Just Eve. I would like to invite you for some tea. We could— "
"No. Thank you."
"Pardon me?" he arched an eyebrow as his lips lifted into a smirk. Now that he did this, Ava could see a small scar just below his right eyebrow.
It wasn’t so noticeable at first.
"You clearly showed interest. But it was also pretty obvious that I had no such interest towards you." Ava responded.
"Was it because of Mr. West? Is he your lover?" He didn’t hide the disgust in his voice. "I am pretty sure you can do better than him."
Ava said nothing. She had no interest in telling him anything.
This man was just too direct and while he looked exactly similar to Matthew, Ava could feel something dark lurking inside him. It is giving her goosebumps.
"I will change your mind," Josef said just as the music stopped playing. "You will understand soon..." he smirked. "Very soon."
Then he let her go and took a step back.
And before Damon could reach her, Josef was already walking away. Not long after, he disappeared into the crowd.
"Dance with me," Damon said.
A piece of new music started.
"What did he tell you?" Damon asked.
"Nothing."
"I saw him talk."
"He was asking if... I am your woman."
"And?"
"I said nothing."
He let out a sigh.
"We should get out of here."
"I agree," Ava nodded. For some reason, she had a bad feeling about what Josef said to her earlier.
Without waiting for the music to end, Damon escorted her out of the hall and back into the place where they met the other Dukes. After a quick farewell, Damon and here were already out of the door.
"Are you sure we’re not going to wait for the Monarch?" she asked.
"No. We need to leave. I have an ominous feeling about that man."
They were already inside the carriage back to Damon’s villa.
"What happened back there?" Damon asked.
"I don’t know."
"He immediately showed interest towards you. This never happened before."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Duke Josef Asad..." Damon clenched his teeth. "Is known to kill people on a whim. And that includes women who... professed their feelings towards him."
"That’s twisted. Why would he do that to people who— "
"I had no way of knowing. Everyone in this place knows that the Duke likes to kill people. Even the Monarch couldn’t stop him. There were rumors that he may be gay but no one could confirm this and soon, the people who started the rumor disappeared... forever."
"So, he never had a lover... even before?"
"No. The man should be more than a hundred years old and he never had anyone. There is no woman in his palace. The people working in that place were all men."
"That— " Isn’t that too much?
"Imagine my surprise when he immediately approached you and even dragged you to the hall for a dance when you met."
Ava looked out of the carriage. She had so many questions right now.
"Are you sure that’s the only thing that he said?" Damon asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"I don’t know. I just— I have never seen him act like that."
Ava looked at Damon. The look on the man’s face showed panic and confusion. With this, Ava waved her hand and a sound protection magick appeared around them.
"Can you tell me why you wanted to kill him?" she couldn’t help but ask.
Almost immediately, Damon frowned.
"I am doing it for some personal reasons."
"And I am guessing that he knows about your— personal reasons?"
He nodded.
"So, he knows that you wanted him dead. Since he is not a dumb man, there is a possibility that he already guessed your plan about me." Ava scoffed. Disbelief flashed in her eyes. "You are going to send me to my death."
"I am not."
’Then?"
"I didn’t think he would do that. You might be beautiful but there were others... there were a lot of women in this world whose more beautiful than you. Besides, just like most people in this place, the Duke hated... other- worlders."
"Why?"
"It was rumored that the Duke cannot leave this place because of an other- worlder. Of course, these are mere rumors. But that is the only explanation why he hated other- worlders so much. In fact, he was the only one among the four Dukes who is showing his obvious dislike against other- worlders."
"So... why the hell did he do that?" she asked.
Damon clenched his jaw in response. "The thing is... I have no idea."
Ava sighed.
The Duke’s words about changing her mind echoed inside her head. Her heart started pounding against her chest. If given a chance, she wouldn’t want to see that man again. But she had a feeling— a terrible feeling that she would see him again.
...
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