Please comment and like this chapter - Let me know what you think!

When Harper finished eating, she stopped Arnest before he exited the doors.

"Where's Yanpu?"

"Giada," Arnest answered honestly. "She's helping him with a project."

"A project?" Harper wondered what project he was assigned after only a few days of attending school.

"Close the door."

Harper realized that she was holding him up. She quickly stepped back, and let the door come to a close. She wasn't used to Arnest's change of tone.

His hostile posture changed drastically. It felt eerie to her.

Harper roamed her way into the bedroom. There, she saw Hyde setting up a mat next to the one he already owned.

"Is this for me?"

Hyde rolled his eyes. "No. It's mine. This side is for my feet," He pointed at one mat before motioning his hand over to the other one. "And this one is for my head."

"No need to be sarcastic," Harper murmured and sat down on top of the new mat. "Thank you."

"I didn't buy it for you. I'm sick of hearing your snoring. Laying on this might help you shut up so I can sleep."

Harper bit her tongue, holding back all the words she wanted to say. "Even if that's the case, thank you."

Hyde's red eyes became more radiant as they burned into her head. Harper fidgeted nervously under his glare.

"Hyde, I—"

"What is wrong with you?"

"What?"

"This act. This front you're putting up. You're skittish and mild all of a sudden. And now you're getting along with Arnest? Cut the bullcrap."

"What act?"

Hyde scoffed at her. "Ah, I get it. Do you think this change of behavior is gonna persuade me to trust you? I'm not as stupid as you think, Vixen. Cross me the wrong way, and I swear I'll—"

"Why are you trying to argue with me about nothing?" Harper groaned.

"I will never trust you. Just because you have Arnest wrapped around your finger now—"

"Why do you keep bringing Arnest up?"

"Arnest is weak-minded. He's a sucker for sob stories."

"What happened between us is none of your business. And it doesn't give you a right to insult him!"

"Now you're defending him."

"What? Are you jealous?" Harper flicked Hyde on the forehead. His eyes became torched, and his nose flared.

"Jealous? Pay attention to what's happening around you. I could go out and get any woman I want. Why would I be jealous of Arnest?" He eyed Harper up and down before tusking. "You're overconfident in your average looks."

"Then go! Get a woman! Do whatever you want!" Harper fumed. "You think you're a bag of chips. Any woman would be LUCKY to avoid the path you walk on! Lazy, no good, no skills. I bet the women who spend a night with you end up disappointed because of your awful attitude."

"You wanna test that bet?"

"On a waste like you? Ha!"

Hyde tackled her onto the mat.

In seconds his body was on top of hers. Harper shrieked only for a moment before her jaw was raised.

Hyde's lips hovered over hers, but he stopped himself from going any further. Harper's eyes were as wide as saucers.

The glow in his eyes faded and lightened repeatedly as he debated whether to continue. His pupils began to dilate.

Both of their heavy breaths could be heard. Harper's was more out of fear of what was to come next. Hyde's was more out of frustration.

While they both just remained in place, Harper's curiosity was starting to get the best of her. Something about Hyde was more attractive at that moment.

Unknowingly she tilted her head back, in an attempt to push her lips closer to his. Hyde smirked at her and sat up.

"What? Don't tell me you're shy." Harper mocked him.

"As much as I enjoy proving you wrong, I don't feel it's necessary to please you in the process."

"To plea— excuse me?!"

"You're attracted to me."

"I am not!" Harper blushed.

"Prove it."

"What?"

"Go on." Hyde leaned away completely and gestured with his hand.

"How the heck am I supposed to prove it? You're an egotistical maniac! A monster of a man! You're worse than any human being I've ever met!"

"But you're also attracted to this monster of a man, aren't you?"

"Why would I be attracted to a vile person like—"

Hyde wrapped one arm around her waist and yanked her forward. Her front collided with his, and he snaked his fingers around the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

Harper's breath logged in her throat, and she grabbed him by the shoulders to steady herself.

"W-what are you—"

"You're stuttering." Hyde laughed softly. His chest rumbled against her, causing her to go rigid. "And now you're avoiding eye contact."

"Let go of m-me!"

"Your face is red." He whispered in her ear seductively. "You've got aaaall the signs..." Hyde hummed out in a lustful tone, before quickly clicking his tongue. "But you say you're not attracted to me."

He released her and Harper sank onto the mat. She covered her face, completely captured by his flirtatious behavior.

"Be honest, you like pretending to be my wife, don't you?"

Harper quickly came to her senses. "Why would I? Especially to a killer like you! Oh, yes, my dear husband who just came home after dismembering a serviceman, let me take your coat and fix you a nice warm meal! Do you hear how insane that sounds?! Do you?"

"There you go again..." Hyde spat. "Watch your words carefully."

"Why don't we just tell Giada the truth? Aren't you going to kill them all anyway?"

Hyde cackled.

"What's so funny!?"

"You're acting like a deranged person. Outrageous mood swings and all."

"You kill people!"

"So?"

"So?! SO!?" Harper felt lightheaded. "HOW does my mood make me any more crazy than you are? Oh. Overseers. My head." Harper massaged her temples before feeling a warm liquid trail down her nostrils.

Hyde's eyes widened when he noticed. Her nose was bleeding. Harper reached to touch it, and the moment she saw the red smear on her finger, she looked up at him in horror.

"Oh my go—"

"Don't." Hyde raised a finger at her sternly. "Don't panic—"

Harper's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she flopped onto the mat, lifelessly. Hyde growled, knowing exactly what caused her to faint.

Stress.

It didn't help much that Harper didn't like seeing blood, especially her own. He barely even spoke before she blacked out.

Hyde rested Harper against the mat properly, making sure that her neck and legs were aligned straight. Then he used a towel hanging on a nearby rack to wipe the blood from around her nose.

As he gently patted the sides of her face, Hyde thought about the gentle words she voiced when she was drunk. It was like she was a completely different person when she was intoxicated. She was mild and honest.

But he knew that it would be days before she reverted back to calling him insane and cursing at him.

~~~

Harper woke up the next day feeling completely refreshed and vitalized. Sleeping on a cushion made an extreme difference in how her body felt.

She wasn't as sore as she was the night before, and her back felt amazing. For the first time in weeks, she was well rested.

Part of her didn't want to get up because she was warm and the most comfortable she had been in a long time. But mid-day was approaching.

She knew she couldn't stay in bed for much longer before Giada said something.

Harper outstretched her body, raising her arms high above her head and spreading her legs while raising her lower back. She let out a soft sigh out of satisfaction and sat up.

Her lips smacked softly as she brushed her messy hair out of her face. Then she rubbed her eyes.

"Oh." She paused when she saw Hyde. His body was face down on his mat, sprawled over it. There was a sheet covering his lower half, while his upper body was completely exposed.

She saw his back muscles rise and fall slowly while he was in a deep slumber. It was odd. Hyde usually slept in, but it was later than usual.

What time did he fall asleep the night before? Harper wondered. Perhaps it was to wait for Arnest to return. Did Arnest come back?

She racked through her brain to find her last memory of last night. But she couldn't process them because her mind was still foggy.

Harper groaned quietly, and looked away from Hyde's body, ashamed that she was staring for longer than she would've preferred.

Despite the scar that ran from the tip of his neck, curved down his front and around his lower back, Hyde was completely built resilient. If she wanted to be honest, Harper would say that he was pretty solid in both stance and stature.

Those words would only boost his ego more. Knowing how he was, he wouldn't let her live it down. She hated that he was muscular and handsome.

By Westona's standard, he would've been highly ranked on appearance alone. As for personality, he'd rank extremely low.

Harper's lips curved into a small grin. Indeed, his personality was a deal breaker. No woman with respect for herself would give in to him easily.

It was a shame. Someone like him would've been a great benefit to Westona if he hadn't gone mad and fled 10 years ago.

Harper finally rolled her sheets off of her body and crawled to stand, but the sound of someone pounding on the door alarmed her. It was Giada. She knew that Giada would come to get her eventually.

Harper sighed and walked out of the bedroom and toward the door. When she pushed it open slightly ajar, she was surprised that Anna was there instead of Giada.

She was even more taken aback because Anna looked frightened out of her wits. There were tears in her eyes. For a moment, Harper thought something happened to Giada.

"Anna—"

"Harper! Is Hyde or Arnest inside?" Anna's lips quivered as she spoke.

"Yeah, but Hyde is sleeping—"

"Could you please tell Hyde to come out? Please! It's urgent!"

"Anna," Harper narrowed her eyes and examined her. There was a bruise on her arm, it was long and black. The stretch of it indicated that she fell. "Are you okay? Is the baby alright?!" Harper reached for her pregnant belly, and Anna jerked away.

"Baby is fine! Please call for Hyde!"

"Okay." Harper nodded and turned on her heel as fast as she could. She raced back into the bedroom and prayed to the Overseers that he wouldn't hurt her for interrupting his sleep.

"Hyde!" She threw herself onto the floor next to him and began to shake his shoulders gently. But her worry for Anna grew and she became more aggressive with her shaking. "Hyde! Wake up!"

His eyes flickered open instantly. But rather than resorting to threatening her, he yawned and pushed himself up slowly. "Vixen..." He mumbled, still half asleep. "You'd better have a bloody good reason..."

"Anna... she... she needs you!"

"Huh?"

"Something is wrong! I don't know what happened, but she looks terrified!"

"What?" Hyde tilted his head, some of his senses returning a bit slower than others. He wanted to make sure he heard her correctly, especially since she seemed frantic.

"GET UP!" Harper exclaimed and grabbed his arm, before yanking him to stand up.

"What the—" Hyde swore when his head rammed into the side of the doorway as he was dragged out of the bedroom.

"Anna! Here he is!"

"Hyde!" Anna rushed inside, before stopping when she realized the lack of clothes. She was alarmed that his top half was exposed so casually and late in the morning but decided to ignore it.

"Anna..." Hyde grumbled, brushing his hair out of his face.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but we need your help! The tax collectors are here, and they're causing a ruckus! I've been trying to look for Arnest and you but I don't know where he is! And you weren't around either so—" Anna's voice was shaking as she explained.

"Calm down," Hyde placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're speaking way too fast and so loudly."

"They've been harassing Mama and Arturo." Anna whimpered.

"Where is Giada right now?"

"I left her to rush over here! I know I shouldn't have but I'm scared they may actually do something this time! They brought weapons!"

Weapons. The tax collectors were armed? What kind of tax collectors were they? It was enough information to get Harper spooked. Yanpu was with Giada last. If they were armed, they could hurt him.

"Take me there!" Harper forced herself in between them.

"W-Wha?" Anna huffed.

"Where's Yanpu?! Is he there?" Harper questioned her aggressively.

"He-he's—"

"I'll meet you there, Anna." Hyde nudged Harper away. "Go back and aid Giada. I'll be there soon."

Anna sniffled and whipped around quickly, before waddling as fast as she could back toward the courtyard.

"Stay here." Hyde opened one of the dressers and grabbed a shirt. He yanked it over his head, before grabbing onto his swords that were stationed by the door.

"You don't expect me to just wait here while Yanpu is in danger, do you?"

"Yanpu is at school. What you did just then was very selfish. Anna is worried about her mother and you're worried about the kid."

"You know Yanpu is my number one priority!"

"And I don't give a shite." Hyde voiced scornfully. "Wait here."

"Hyde! I'm coming with you!"

"Are you deaf?" Hyde spat. "I just ordered you to stay here."

"I'm also worried about Giada." Harper slipped on some sandals and fixed her hair into a messy high ponytail. It was the best she could do with it until she decided to wash it again.

Harper pushed him, out of the door and ran in the direction of the courtyard. Hyde followed closely behind.

"I don't get it. What kind of tax collectors wields a weapon?" Harper looked to Hyde for an answer.

"They're getting bolder." He grumbled in response.

"Who? The tax collectors?"

"Who else?"

"You don't have to get snippy. I'm asking because I genuinely don't know."

"Itaria has 4 sections governed by 4 state officials under the Grand Duke of the country. Piccposto is in the southern section, and their tax laws are very unfair to those whose families are made of wealth. And because the Cazzioco's are known because of their great food and ambition, the tax collectors are more ruthless."

"Thank you for explaining that." Harper nodded.

"It's not because I wanted to. It's a warning. Stay out of the way. Don't cause any more commotion than there already is." Hyde seethed. "They're not like government officials in Westona. There is no boundary between men and women. If they want to, they will harm you."

"That must be where you picked up your behavior from." Harper snickered at him but Hyde halted suddenly.

Harper flinched, thinking he'd retort, but he wasn't focused on her anymore. Hyde tightened his hold around the handles of his blades and clenched his jaw.

He could see in the near distance, four men dressed in long white sacred robes. While three of them stood aside, one of them was shouting at Giada.

Giada's face was red. Rather than accepting the taunting, she aggressively poked the man in his chest while yelling at him in response.

"I tell eyu! Non more pay! Turo andeh mi pay 2,000 silver pieces!"

"Si!" Anna agreed.

"Senora, Giada. How old isseh femalia? How many children does she have? We want more pay. There isseh New law. More children isseh more pay."

"Show me the new law!" Anna spat. "I haven't seen it!"

"Aiy! Mi figlia! Tell him!" Giada shoved the man back.

The man who was shoved scoffed at them, before glancing at the three behind him.

"Destroy everything." He commanded, and the three men stepped forward.

"Non!" Giada cried as they stalked forward. Her cries were ignored. All four of them began rounding up items like pots, pans, decorations, buckets, and even the wagons, before smashing them or ripping off parts of them.

Anna blocked one man from trying to enter the home, and she was easily shoved out of the way. Harper thought on her feet and stopped Anna from falling onto her stomach.

"Anna!" Harper huffed. "Stay away from them. You'll strain yourself!"

"They'll break everything!"

"Yes, I know, but it's not worth you or your baby's life!" Harper voiced in a harsh tone. In her peripheral, she saw Giada slip and fall after being shoved by two men whom she was trying to block.

"Mama!" Anna whined.

"Have you men no shame?" Harper scowled at them.

"Foreigner." The men stopped to glance at Harper. "Non speak Piccposto dialect. Femalia isseh foreigner."

"Foreigner tax, non pay." Another smiled wickedly. He grabbed Harper by the arm and yanked her close before studying her.

"Unhand me you filthy—"

"Senora. Where eyu from? Casto? Sinclaira? Hmmm... Non. Non Itarian."

Harper's eyes widened. The fact that they were able to determine so quickly that she wasn't born or raised here shocked her. Could they also tell she was specifically from Westona?

Before he figured it out, Hyde snatched the man holding her in place away and threw him across the courtyard. The man smacked into a large flower pot, breaking it clean in half.

The amount of force used to throw him aside shocked the others.

Hyde stepped forward and slanted one of his swords toward the other men. As if on cue, the others pulled out their daggers as well.

"Step away."

The command was simple. There was no sign of anger or any emotion from Hyde. He only took slow strides, causing the men to instinctively back away from the front doors.

"Golden boy." The one who was tossed wiped his face and placed a hand on his back. "Eyu returned."

"Not that excited to see you again either." Hyde glared hard, before tilting his sword and letting the reflection of light bounce off the blade. "Didn't we come to an arrangement the last time you did this?"

"5 years..." The man asserted himself. "Law changes every 5 years, aiy."

"Then maybe you should've set a reasonable time to discuss things. Instead of coming here to destroy someone's property, which I'm sure is against Itarian law."

"Discuss? Scusi? Ha!" The man jeered. "Eyu? Discuss?"

"You're right. I'm not a talker." Hyde's authoritative voice took over. "Get off the property before I tear you apart limb from limb."

Before anything else was said, a flower pot smacked against Hyde's head and cracked into pieces. One of the men had attacked while he was busy talking to the head of the group.

Hyde stumbled forward only by an inch. When he raised his head to look at the offender, a droplet of blood trailed down his face. His red pupils began to glow.

The man backed away slowly as Hyde smirked. "Worst mistake of your life."

~~

Chapter 26