Descent - Mattheo Riddle

Chapter thirty-nine

Lucia

June 22nd, 9:30 p.m., Ancient Library

The moment we stepped into the vast, echoing halls of the ancient library, I felt like I had entered a different world entirely. Scrolls, books, and ancient texts were stacked high on towering shelves, reaching up to what felt like an endless ceiling. Dusty tomes, covered in forgotten languages, glimmered faintly under the ambient light that seemed to radiate from nowhere and everywhere all at once. My fingertips tingled as I reached for the nearest scroll, and I could feel the magic humming through the parchment, as if knowledge itself had a pulse.

I didn't know where to begin. Each book held a promise of discovery, of wisdom buried deep in time. It was intoxicating.

With barely a glance at Mattheo, who had taken his usual stance—arms crossed, leaning against one of the pillars—I immersed myself in the closest shelf, brushing the dust off the bindings, eagerly pulling one scroll after another. My heart raced, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it all. Each scroll I opened was a treasure trove of knowledge, and I greedily took it all in.

But no matter how focused I tried to be, I could feel Mattheo's presence like a gravitational pull. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him pacing around, touching things when he thought the guardian wasn't looking, only to get reprimanded by the creature every single time. He would raise his hands, pretend innocence, and then return to leaning against the pillars, his eyes dark and restless.

I caught him sighing heavily and then stealing glances my way. A smirk played on my lips, but I tried to ignore it, returning to the dusty scroll I was translating in my head. Still, I couldn't help but peek again.

This time, he was just... staring at me. Not with boredom, but with that intense, simmering gaze he always wore when he had something entirely inappropriate on his mind.

It distracted me.

I lifted my eyes fully, meeting his dark ones, and before I could stop myself, I grinned. "Could you stop looking at me like that?"

Mattheo raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into that familiar, cheeky grin that always sent my pulse racing. "Looking at you like what, princess?" His voice was a lazy drawl, all dark velvet and amusement.

"Like..." I hesitated, feeling the warmth creep up my neck. I glanced back at the scroll in my hands, trying to hide my slight blush. "Like you want to fuck me..."

He didn't even blink. That grin of his widened into something far more wicked. "Oh, but that's exactly what I want to do, pretty girl."

My cheeks flamed instantly, and despite my best efforts, I couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped me. "Mattheo!"

His grin was pure arrogance, like he had just won something. "What? You started."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. His flirtation was relentless, and the worst part? It was starting to work. Every teasing remark, every dark stare—it was wearing me down. Not that I'd ever admit it.

"Seriously," I muttered, returning to my scroll, though my focus had been shattered beyond repair. "You're distracting me."

He pushed off the pillar and sauntered toward me, his movements slow, deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. "I'm not allowed to touch anything here, am I? Might as well touch what's already mine." His voice was low and rough, sending a thrill down my spine.

I felt a shiver despite the warmth of the library's magic, but I forced myself to laugh, shaking my head. "You are incorrigible."

"Maybe." He was right behind me now, his breath warm against my neck as he leaned in close. "But you love it."