Page 45 of Deceived By a Warrior

Trying to ignore the close proximity between the two Eva of them, Eva asked, “How’d I do what?”

“Get my sister to laugh.” He peeked back in the direction of the room Karina was still standing in, seeming to be intentionally giving the two of them space. “I haven’t seen her laugh in centuries.”

Considering the awe in his expression, Eva knew he was very serious. He hadn’t.

“I didn’t do anything. I guess I’m just funnier than you are.”

His lip twitched upward. “I can’t disagree with that.”

Eva smiled up to him. She liked it when he smiled. “Anyway, which way to Artem?”

Darius released her and began walking down the hall, motioning for her to follow. She did. “I don’t understand,” Darius murmured. “I try so hard to make her happy.”

Eva already knew that Karina wasnothappy with his continuous efforts to keep her happy. Considering that, Eva told him, “Perhaps the secret is not trying at all.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Darius Fischer

Not trying at all.

Could Darius actually consider what Eva just told him?

Yes, he could.

He allowed Eva to take the lead, following behind her in awe. She marched forward with more confidence than anyone should have on their way to see Artem. He couldn’t even blame her confidence on her being ignorant of Artem’s ways, because she wasn’t ignorant. She already confronted him. She knew very well what he was capable of.

Still, she marched forward.

She’s hurting,he thought, reminding himself of how hurt she looked when she spoke about being alone. Beneath her snide sarcasm and hard exterior there was a woman inside begging to be loved.

Darius rushed forward, catching up to Eva and walking beside her. “Why are you looking at me like that?” She looked at him questioningly. It was only then that he realized he had been staring.

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“How do you walk with such graceful confidence and spread your happiness onto others despite your circumstances?”

“Who said I’m happy?”

Her truthful question surprised him. She was slipping again, revealing a bit of what she was actually feeling inside. He liked it. This was real. “Then why continue to smile?” He asked. She was always joking, always laughing, always smiling. “Why not ask for help?”

She narrowed her gaze. “I don’t need help.”

“Everyone needs help.”

“The last time I let someone help me I ended up here. Why would I put myself through that again?” Her expression hardened and he knew her walls were going back up. “Or did you forget?”

Her sarcasm returned.That’s her wall,he thought. She used sarcasm to protect herself. Of course, she was right to be upset. She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. He couldn’t take back what he did. Now, all he could do was try everything in his power to keep her from breaking.

“Why do you keep doing that?”

“So many vague questions,” she commented, letting out an irritated groan. “I’ll bite. What is it that I keep doing?”

“Use sarcasm to hide what you’re really feeling inside.”

“Who says I’m feeling anything?”

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