CHAPTER 9

As the door creaked open, I whirled around, gripping the dagger firmly. As adrenaline flooded my veins, my heart raced. Even though the voice whispering my name was familiar, I couldn't trust my ears not with the form that loomed just outside the door frame and not in the dead of night.

The voice repeated, steady and low, "Maya."

"Who is that?" The blade shuddered in my hand as I made my demand. "Show yourself!"

The figure moved forward and the shadows parted treveal… Darius. Closing the door behind him, he had a drawn face and conflicted eyes. Darius's dark hair pressed against his forehead; he was utterly saturated, and a thin line of blood smudged across his cheek.

"Darius?" My tone fluctuated between relief and rage. "What the hell is happening?"

He silently begged for quiet by raising a hand, palm out. “Maya, bring the dagger down. You're safe now.”

"Safe?" I sneered, bringing the blade down but not dropping it. “You amusingly define safety. Do you think I'll sit here and keep silent when there's a mysterious figure outside the hut, and you're covered in blood?”

He ran a hand over his wet hair and sighed. "I was the one outside."

I answered sternly, "No. Another person was there. I caught sight of them. They were watching this cabin before your arrival.”

His eyes grew gloomy, and I could see his mind racing. In a somber tone, he said, “ Lysander sent them. I will take care of it."

"Take care of it?" I lost it. “Is that your response to every question? To deal with it? I wouldn't feel like a pawn in your devious game if you told me for once!”

He fixed his piercing, unforgiving gaze on mine. “Do you think that I'm playing games? That I enjoy entangling you in this mess?”

Stop bringing me into it, then!” I took a shot back. Rather than keeping me in the dark, tell me what's happening so I can make an informed decision!"

He loomed over me, his presence intimidating, and he took two strides across the room. You want the truth, Maya? Okay. The truth is you are in this because you are important to me. And that frightens me.”

His confession stunned me so much that I was unable to speak. "You care?" I said it was hardly more than a whisper.

"Yes, screw it!" Despite the seething wrath, his touch was surprisingly kind as it came up to cup my cheek. "I care more than I should. It's also a liability for us both.”

I looked into his eyes for any hint of dishonesty, but all I saw was the unvarnished truth. Then, I added quietly, "Stop pushing me away. Stop behaving like you must bear this burden by yourself."

He touched my cheek with his thumb before looking down at my lips. With vulnerability in his voice, he whispered, "You make it sound so easy."

Even though my mind raised red flags, I leaned into his touch and muttered, "Maybe it is."

The world turned on its axis when I could not take my eyes off his lips. The kiss was violent and frantic, an emotional collision too powerful to control. He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me to him, and I could feel the tension coiling in his body, the storm brewing just below the surface.

As his lips moved away from mine and followed my neck and jawline curvature, I exhaled, "Darius."

He hissed into my skin, his sound resonating through me, "You drive me insane, Maya. I keep trying to protect you by keeping my distance, but you make it impossible."

“Maybe I don't need your protection," I remarked as I ran my fingers through his hair.

His tone was playful, but his eyes were blazing with something darker and more primordial. "Maybe I don't care what you want," he shot back.

I let out a gasp as he hoisted me with ease, and my legs automatically wrapped around his waist. He moved with purpose and fluidity as he carried me to the bed, and when he lay me down, his weight covered me like a second skin.

His lips met mine again, but he kissed me more slowly and purposefully, this time as he was enjoying the moment. His hands moved over my body, leaving a path of fire in their wake, and I arched into him, wanting more.

I was on the verge of losing myself entirely to him when the moment was cut short by a collision outside.

As Darius's instincts took over, he froze and lifted his head. With an unarguable tone, he said, "Stay here."

“Like hell, I will!" As I pressed against his chest, I muttered. "You will need backup if Lysander's people are here."

He said in a calm voice, "Maya, please. I can't fight them if I'm worrying about you."

Stubbornly, I took the dagger from the bedside table and muttered, "Don't worry. I am capable of handling myself."

Another crash, closer this time, seemed to force his hand before he could object. Through clenched teeth, he muttered. “Fine but stay behind me.”

Darius moved with a predator's stealthy grace as we slithered toward the door. With his body rigid and prepared for battle, he opened the door carefully.

The only sound in the eerily silent night was the rustle of leaves in the breeze. When I finally saw it, a figure with a cowl covering its face stood at the treeline's edge.

"Who are you?" Darius' voice was steely as he commanded.

The deep, ominous laugh reverberated through the trees, but the figure didn't answer.

"Darius," I said as I gripped the dagger more tightly. "Something is wrong."

He said, his gaze fixed on the figure, "I know."

The figure then suddenly lunged, moving at an unnaturally high pace.

With his body a whirl of movement, Darius confronted them directly and deflected their onslaught. I followed instructions and remained back, but my heart pounded as I watched the fight play out. They were not here to talk, and whoever they were was moving quicker than anyone I had seen.

“Stay down!" Darius yelled at another person who appeared out of the darkness, approaching me.

I raised the knife to deflect their blow before I could react. Adrenaline drove my motions as I held my ground despite the intensity of the contact sending me reeling back.

The assailant sneered, their voice muffled by a mask of some sort. "Not bad. But, you're not in your league, young lady.”

I retaliated by throwing myself at them with all my strength. "Try me."

The battle was a flurry of movement and slamming blades, yet I could hold my own somehow.

"Maya!" Darius's voice boomed as he defeated his opponent and turned to face me.

"I've got this!" Dodging another blow, I yelled.

The adversary then made a leftward feint and swept my legs out from under me just when I believed I had the upper hand. I struck the ground forcefully, releasing the dagger.

Darius was there, his fingers wrapping around their throat before the assailant could strike, their blade lifted as they hovered over me.

He hissed, his voice deadly calm, "Touch her again, and I'll tear you to pieces."

The assailant tried to break free from his hold but to no avail. In one last cruel turn, Darius broke their neck and dropped their corpse on the floor.

With worried eyes, he turned to face me. "Are you hurt?"

Even though my body was shaking from the adrenaline, I shook my head and whispered, "No."

His arms wrapped around me in a second, keeping me tight while he muttered, "I told you to stay behind me."

I said, "And I told you I can handle myself, "my voice muffled against his chest.

He drew back just enough to gaze at me, adoration and frustration mixed on his face. A little smile tugged at his lips as he continued, "You're impossible."

I teasingly said, "And you love it," but the tone was heavier than intended.

His grin dimmed, giving way to something more profound and passionate. "Yeah," he muttered. "I believe that I do."

Before I could comprehend what he said, a howl from a distance shattered the darkness, serving as a terrifying reminder that the battle was far from over.