Chapter 180

I couldn’t stop staring at him. He was so familiar and yet to strange. He raised his brow in amusement, probably wondering what was wrong with

“I always knew I had this effect on women I could make them stare, but dicby’t know this long.” He grinned

I was more concerned about the fact that I ran into Eros’s lookalike at a vampire’s coven. And who exactly is this arrangert

I cleaned my sweaty palms “I thought you were Eros”

“Who’s that?” “The stranger asked, staring at me with eyes that looked so much like those of my Mate. One could easily mistake one from then conduct

I swallowed and gathered my thoughts together.

“Never mind, it’s nothing” I frowned.

I rubbed one hand over the place where he held me moments earlier. I was only now beginning to feel the force of his grip

“I’m sorry.” He said

I frowned. “What?”

He nudged his head towards the hand I caressed over my skin. “I was trying to stop you from falling. Are you alrigher

“Oh. Yes. Yes. I’m fine.” I moved back a little. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you like that.”

He smirked “It’s fine. What’s your name?”

“Eden.”

“Eden. What a beautiful name. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He grinned, picking up one of my hands as he placed a soft kiss on the back of my hand.

I smiled. He definitely has charm, but I would choose Eros a hundred times over. There was no question about that.

“Thanks.” I eyed him curiously. “So what’s yours?”

He gave me a lopsided grin. “Ryker” He scanned my full length. “I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new here?”

I shrugged. “Something like that.”

There was no use trying to tell him exactly who I was or how I came here. If he doesn’t know who I am, then he would find out later, just sex troma

A small silence fell over us before I asked.

“Do you have a brother?”

Ryker’s smile dropped. His face hardened, and I raised a brow at his reaction.

Before I got my answer, Lord Shevek walked in from behind, his steps hurried as he came to a stop behind Ryker.

“Why are you out here?” Lord Shevek hissed. His voice was like a furious whisper. He looked at me for a second and then back to Ryker “Why did you leave your room? I told you to stay there.”

Ryker’s went still immediately. He rolled his eyes, suddenly wearing a sickly sweet smile, before he made a turn to face Lont Shevek

“Did you expect me to stay in the room all the time? I got bored. I needed air.”

Lord Shevek’s growled, his hand tightened on his staff. For a moment, I thought he might do something dangerous, instead, he held in his anger.

“Get over here, boy!” He bellowed.

Ryker turned to me. My eyes widened in surprise when he leaned in and whispered in my ears ‘I like you.” he whispered, his breath ticking my ea

A chill ran through me as my skin prickled. Tiara growled. feeling angry that another man who isn’t our mate was this close to tis,

Before I could say anything. Lord Shivek pulled him away from me with more force than necessary.

Ryker shrugged himself off and gave me a wink before he finally walked away.

fold Sheves at 1 were alone again. For a few seconds, none of us said anything, I couldnt understand what exactly went on

3:35 PM

My mind still couldn’t wrap itself around the fact that I had just seen a man who looked exactly my mate but who wasn’t Eros. It was confusing.

And why exactly was Lord Shevek acting like Ryker wasn’t supposed to be out- in the open? What exactly was happening?

“Who is he?” I finally asked.

Lord Shevek sighed. “He is no one important.”

I scoffed. “That wasn’t the question. Who is Ryker to you?”

“He is just a member of the coven, someone I’m in charge of.” He said.

That still didn’t answer my question, and I couldn’t keep still.

“He looks a lot like someone I know. My mate, Prince Eros. I could have sworn he was Eros if I didn’t move closer.” I said, and frowned. “Do you know my mate?”

Lord Shevek averted his gaze immediately. “No, I don’t.” He answered a little too quickly.

I narrowed my eyes on him. Something seemed off. I was about to ask another question again when Lord Shevek cut me in.

“Ryker isn’t just a part of the coven. He is my son.”

“Your son?” I gasped. I thought he said he had no family. No heir, that I was his only heir!

“Yes. I adopted son.”

“Oh.” I softened. “How?”

“His mother was a maid. She died while trying to give birth to Ryker. There was no one else to care for the child, so I took him in.”

I nodded. “So, why didn’t you tell me about him? You said you have no family. Why were you trying to keep him away from me?”

“Because he’s trouble, Eden.” he whispered “Ryker is like a flame and never fails to leave a trail behind him.”

That might have sounded like a very good reason, but I knew that was far from the truth.

I felt tempted to keep pushing for answers, to ask him why he chased Rhyker- why it seemed like he didn’t want me or anyone to see Rhyker:

I wanted him to look me straight in the eyes when he denied knowinh Eros.

But I decided not to push. If he was hiding something from me, there would be a reason for it. A reason he decided to hide from me so I don’t find out exactly who Ryker is.

“Eden, you shouldn’t be out here in the cold.” He said.

I nodded. Nothing could take my mind off the fact that something fishy was going on in this coven, and if Lord Shevek wouldn’t give me the answers then I’ll get them myself.