[Bonus Chapter] Smoke

The snow-peaked mountain neared as he flew around its perimeter, trying to find a suitable place to land on. Eva's eyes scanned the fir and spruce trees, which were burdened with snowflakes all over their leaves. Her hands would've been freezing cold if she hadn't been clinging onto his shirt and if his body warmth wasn't so intensely hot.

Finally, his boots touched the snowy ground and Eva scrambled in his grip to make him let go of her body.

"Patience," he spoke, slowly letting her down and Eva stabled herself by taking support from a nearby tree. Now that she wasn't touching him, the cold was getting to her as the cool wind rushed past her face and stabbed her bare body parts in various places.

Just as she was going to turn around to face him, she felt a soft cloth touch her shoulders. Warmth engulfed her body and that familiar scent which sent her senses into a daze every time she smelled it. The obsidian coat covered her thin body from every direction while her hair was enough to shield her face from the freezing wind.

She was about to turn around to thank him but he started walking ahead of her, his hands stuffed casually in his pockets and his broad back free and available for her to ogle on.

Eva slapped her face in mortification. 'Get a hold of yourself!'

"Are you planning to stand there all day?"

She looked up, her eyes meeting his for a second before she looked away first and started walking. The shoes that Daphne picked out for her were made out from a type of material that made it easier for her to walk on snow. Soon, she was walking beside his towering figure, occasionally glancing at his face when she thought he was looking elsewhere.

She wanted to ask how long it would take for them to reach the destination. But... she decided to keep her mouth zipped close unless he asked her something first. Silence was better than getting distracted by his voice.

They walked in silence for a while and soon Eva saw smoke rising in the air from a faraway location. She squinted her eyes and looked at Theo for a sign of confirmation. He didn't say anything and continued walking though in the direction of the smoke. Eva followed like she had been doing for a while and soon a stunning sight came into her view.

A large-sized marble table was placed in the middle of an area, the only one that was rid of snow. Four comfortable-looking chairs were placed around the table along with a big-sized sofa bench which Eva immediately wanted to sit on. Two to three candles were burning on top of the dining table while lamps were hanging from the big tree that looked over the seating arrangements. The only things that were missing were people and food.

Eva heard Theo sigh beside her. She secretly glanced and saw his lips twitch up into a smile that sent her heart beating faster than lightning.

Footsteps drew her attention to a corner and a tall male emerged from behind the tree as Eva used all her strength to not let her jaw hit the floor.

The guy's ash-blonde hair was tied up into a small ponytail, small strands coming out from the sides of his head as he pushed them back with one hand while the other was occupied in carrying a dish of steaming mashed potatoes on which sat a roasted turkey that instantly set her mouth on drooling mode.

Eva's eyes moved down to his body which was distraction enough for her to look away from the turkey. Any girl would've started drooling at the sight of that muscled and fit body and she wondered if she was too.

Were his friends going to be just as breathtaking and hot as he was?

Eva sighed, feeling miserable, and felt two pairs of eyes on her. The stranger was staring at her with a keen gaze and it didn't take her many brain cells to know who else was staring.

He always stared and she felt it each and every time.

So she ignored the man standing by her side and crossed her arms over her chest, staring straight into the stranger's eyes.

The male smirked, the sight feeling familiar as he walked to the table and placed the dish down with smooth movements.

"I can see why he calls you Birdie now."

Eva felt her cheeks going red slowly as she tilted her head to glare at Theo through her fluttering lashes. He raised his brows giving her a look that stated, 'This is not my fault, okay Birdie?'

Eva rolled her eyes and looked again at the man who was now trying his hardest to stifle his laugh. It was a failed attempt as he burst out laughing just as Gwen entered the scene along with another male who was even more handsome than the stranger before her.

No.

She couldn't compare, they both were equally attractive males who were enough to make any girl or man drool over them.

She still wondered if she was drooling or not.

"Oh, Eva you're here!" Gwen immediately set the plates down and waved which Eva returned a little awkwardly because the taller male was now staring at her with the same curious gaze as the first one did. She returned it though she could hear her heart thundering loudly in her chest.

Gwen wasted no time in coming to her side and waving everybody to take a seat hurriedly. "Dav is going to arrive in a few minutes too—"

Gwen couldn't finish her sentence when dark smoke arose just a few feet above the ground and a woman stepped out from it, her clothes similar to hers and Gwen's though her aura was similar to Theo and the second male whose name she still didn't know.

"Well then everybody is now here. Do I have to drag you all to take a fucking seat?" Gwen asked sweetly and the woman scoffed, her eyes now fixed on Eva as they all took their seats in different orders.

Eva sat on the couch, thinking that Gwen would take a seat beside her when Theo popped out from nowhere and sat down next to her. The first male chuckled as the woman smirked, and Eva wondered if her expression was as horrifying as she was imagining it to be.

Out of all the seats, he just had to pick this one!?