Page 46 of Eternal
He looks like mine too.
I pull out my phone and snap a quick picture of them. They look good, strong, andhappy. And for once, that knot in my chest starts to loosen.
It’s stupid, maybe, but they’ve always been like that for me, the calm to my chaos, the only thing that quiets my head when it gets too loud.
But Viktor isn’t done, the crowd hushes again when his deep voice slices through the murmurs.
“We’ll also be forming an elite duo to handle our bigger enforcer missions. High-stakes, high-risk operations. Only the best can take this on. And tonight…” He pauses, letting the tension stretch. “I’m naming the two who will carry this nationally.”
My pulse spikes.
“The first,” Viktor continues, his gaze settling on me, “is Voron.” No surprise there. I already knew that, I’m waiting for the next name. “And the second…” His voice takes on a sly note, and when his eyes flick to the shadows, something inside me tightens. “Damir Koskov.”
I follow his gaze, and there he is.
The man from yesterday.
Damir Koskov.
He steps forward, and I get my first real look at him.
He’s massive. Broad shoulders, the kind of chest that makes a room feel smaller just by standing in it, his short hair is dark, neat but not too perfect. His beard isn’t thick, enough stubble to give him that careless look. Tattoos spill down his arms, black ink peeking out from under his shirt cuffs, some are fresh, I can tell by the raised lines and slight sheen. Then there are his eyes.
Icy blue, piercing, cold.
He doesn’t clap for himself, doesn’t look around the room.
No, he’s watching me.Me. His new partner.
The applause grows louder, and for some reason, it pisses me off.
Why would they applaud?
I arch a brow, tilting my head slightly. Who the hell is this guy? He’s too new, and yet here he is, standing across the room like he owns it, like he owns me, and then he smirks. Barely there, a small tug at the corner of his lips, but it’s enough to send heat rising to my cheeks. I can already tell; I don’t like him.
Viktor’s voice fades into the background as the crowd relaxes into celebration, and I’m about to grab another drink when I feel him behind me, really close.
“Glad to finally know my partner,” he murmurs, low and smooth, his breath brushing against my ear.
I stiffen, turning my head, enough to catch his smirk out of the corner of my eye. “You always sneak up on people, or is this just for me?”
He chuckles softly, the sound annoyingly deep. “You looked like you could use some excitement.”
I snort, turning fully to face him. God, this bastard is tall, I have to tilt my chin to meet his eyes. “Is that too obvious?” I lie
His gaze flicks down, scanning me quickly. “Way too obvious. You need to hide it even better.”
Stupid fucking smile.
I cross my arms, leaning closer as if to prove a point. “I’m guessing Viktor didn’t mention that I have a habit of losing partners in mysterious circumstances.”
He smirks wider this time, his head tilting slightly as if he finds me amusing. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not easy to lose.”
Oh, I hate him already.
For a second, we simply stare at each other, the noise of the room fading away.
Then, he leans closer, dropping his voice low enough that only I can hear. “This is going to be fun,Voron.”
