


Mat is mouthy from the beginning, not afraid to say what's what and wha the's thinking right to anyone's face, damn the consequences - which, at times, is not a good thing at all. Mat is a spitfire, a wildcat as Ren often describes him (even comes to think of him as "my wildcat" )) and it is very, very apt. The chemistry between these two was so so so good! Even though they're both attracted to and want each other from the beginning - and Ren is more open about it, as his culture is more tolerant of non-heterosexual pairings, whereas with Mathias, it's very very forbidden, and men get flogged within an inch of their lives - sometimes even die - if they're found to have been with another man - there is also hate there, delicious hate that brings on the heat. A genuine, genuine enemies-to-lovers, which I felt I haven't read in so long.
