Page 32 of Deceived By a Warrior

“I had no choice.”

Why was he still trying to fool her into believing he cared for her? Eva didn’t understand it. Unless this was all part of some master scheme. “Weallhave a choice.”

Darius looked as if he was on the verge of exploding. He was clearly struggling.

Good.

“As much as I love quarrels between lovers,” Artem began, “I did have you brought nearly half way across the world forme. Nothim.”

Eva looked at Darius for only a moment longer, ignoring the warning in his eyes, before turning back to Artem. “You did? I nearly forgot why I was brought here in the first place. Thanks for the reminder,” she taunted, fuming with anger.

“Eva,” Darius hissed behind her in warning. She ignored him.

Artem chuckled just as he waved his hand, as if ordering someone to do something. A second later, a fist drove into her stomach. Her head flew forward as she tightly gripped her throbbing abdomen. It took everything in her to not vomit right there. One of those asshole vampires just punched her!

Eva heard grunting behind her. By the time she had enough energy to look back and see what happened, the two vampires that were manhandling her earlier were on the ground, Darius standing over them, looking down with hatred in his eyes.

What the fuck is wrong with him?

Eva heard slow clapping, and she knew it was coming from Artem. “And this is why no one can deny that you are my best warrior.”

Darius’ face shot up to Artem as he took a forceful step forward, pointing a strong finger in Artem’s direction. “Don’t do this to her. All you wanted was your fortune told. Torturing the girl wasn’t what we talked about.”

Was Darius really defending her?

Yeah, he really was. She didn’t believe she’d ever understand the man. Why turn her over to Artem in the first place?

A part of Eva wanted to be impressed by Darius’ brave actions, but she couldn’t be. If it wasn’t for Darius, she wouldn’t be here in the first place. She needed to remind herself of that.

“My dear warrior, you’ve known me long enough to understand I get what I want. If the soothsayer refuses to do as I ask, I will do whatever is necessary until she has no choice but to obey me. Eventually she will bend to my rule. They all do. Don’t they, Darius?” Artem looked at Darius with both knowing and mocking eyes. Darius stoically looked back, but said nothing.

Eva couldn’t tear her eyes from Darius. She was filled with both awe and confusion. She couldn’t comprehend why this man would try to defend her at this point. Her situation washisfault.

Darius turned to Eva, brimming with desperation. “Eva,pleasedo as he says.”

“Why should I?” She challenged Darius, hands on her hips. Granted, she already made the decision to give Artem what he wanted. She was in no mood to bebegging for deathanytime soon. She’d much prefer dealing with a weakening illness for a few days. That didn’t change the fact that Darius was sweating right now, and gods she wanted him to sweat.

Serves you right.

“You don’t know what he’s capable of.” Darius told her, taking a step in her direction. She took a step back, and she swore she could hear laughter from Artem when she did.

“At least he won’t feign friendship with me to gain my trust.”

When she said this, the distress in Darius’ eyes was enough for her to know her words struck him right where it hurt. “You have no idea…”

“Frankly, I don’t care enough to want to have any idea.” He could never take back what he did to her, just as she could never take back her idiotic decision to trust him.

Never again,she reminded herself.

Deciding she was done with Darius, she turned back to face Artem. “I’ll give you the answer to whatever you ask today,” she finally admitted. “But don’t call on me tomorrow. I won’t be able to help you.”

Artem’s gaze drifted between the two of them before landing on Eva. “And why’s that?”

“I might be a soothsayer, but I’m not a good one.” Not that she had anyone to compare herself to. Shewasthe only known soothsayer. “The power drains me. I become weak. Too weak to use my powers. You will have to wait at least a week before I could utilize my powers again.”

“Then I suppose that gives me a week to come up with a better question. For next time.”

“I suppose it does,” Eva replied, awaiting his question. She wasnotlooking forward to this. And the idea of being called on again in a week? It horrified her.

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