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Book | EVA

I stood, doing nothing as usual while he worked away at things I knew he'd never explain. But it wasn't the same as before. Now, I could feel every bit of frustration in his body. I could feel every bit of his eye straining concentration as he worked, and though I tried to ignore him, it was still there.

"Damned lords..."

I wished I could turn this off.

"Why does she smell so nice..."

I peered over.

I found his eyes staring off into nothingness. He'd suddenly drifted off in a daydream, and if I stayed there long enough, I'd join him in it. I could feel heat rushed to my cheeks, and began a hum in my own head, a failed attempt to ignore it. My mind too drifted. His body pressed to mine, its coolness seeping into my skin...

"Eva," my gaze snapped back to him. "Could you give this to Yvette?"

This was a first, but it wasn't surprising. He'd do anything to get me out of this room just to be rid of his thoughts and my listening ear.

I took the envelope from his hand, and as I did, our fingers brushed. It sent a tingly feeling from my fingertips up arm. I hurried away, intent on escaping him and these thoughts before they progressed further.

Closing the door behind me, I took a deep breath, and left to find Yvette.

My small heel clanked against hardwood, echoing through the hallways as I passed other servants who gave me curious sideway glances. I looked back at them, but they quickly turned away.

A familiar face snickered as I walked by, stopping me dead in my tracks.

"Something funny?" I asked.

A male servant held a broom in one hand and a dustpan in the other. He offered me a glare, but the woman next to him gave him a hard smack in the back of the head.

"Don't be a brat, Jason."

I laughed lightly, as he rubbed the back of his skull.

"Sorry about him, Eva."

I shrugged.

"It's fine. I'm just wondering what all these stares are about."

Jillian and Jason both looked at each other, their blue eyes widening at me as if I'd said something surprising.

"Jillian... Is there something I need to know about?

They turned back to me

"Listen," Jason said. "There's only a few of us here. Word spreads easily, but not only that, it doesn't take much to see that your Hale's favorite."

I scoffed.

"I'm not his favorite."

"He's come into your room," Jillian chimed.

"He keeps you in his office. Hell, you have the nicest stuff of all of us." Her eyes motioned to the leather chocker, I wore most days. "Everyone, knows what's going on here."

My face threatened to flush bright red.

They didn't know anything. They thought they did and assumed. They spread rumors and took them as face value for the truth. But did these things make me his favorite? Did having a few extra items and freedoms make me his favorite?

Maybe they weren't wrong.

"Its not what you all think. Tell people to leave it alone, and leave me alone because I'm just Hale's errand girl. Nothing else."

"Hm... Keep telling yourself that," Jason snickered.

Jillian shot him a glare.

The twins walked away, and I stared them down as they did.

They had no reason to be in me and Hale's business. Actually, there was no business. I was Hale servant and he was my lord. And though that should've been the end of that story, it wasn't.

I needed to distance myself, otherwise some serious rumors could spread. I endangered not only Hale, but myself. We committed nothing physically wrong and scandalous... yet, but it was only a matter of time before this became much more complicated than it need to be.

I continued down the hall to find Yvette. She often accompanied Ms. Lovett, helping her with whatever she could and making sure she had everything she needed. But today, I assume Ms. Lovett wasn't in.

"Yvette," I called.

She looked over at me, placing the book in her hand back on the shelf.

"Eva?" She slid her thick-rimmed glasses up further on her nose.

I passed her the envelope and without another word, I went to return to Hale's office.

"Already going?" She asked.

I turned back towards her and faked a smile, feeling bad for my silence.

"Uh sorry, I'm just... Thinking. Didn't mean to be rude."

"It's fine," she tucked the envelope away in the waistband of her apron. "What's on your mind?"

She began searching through the books again taking one out and looking into it.

"Well, it's a lot to explain."

"I have time. Care to help me look for a book?"

"On?"

She fell silent for a moment as she skimmed through a book.

"Vampire-human hybrids."