Bab 5: Teased...
Eve looked at the knob for a little while longer, still feeling the faint jolt in her fingertips. She struggled to make sense of the strange memory that had suddenly appeared in her mind.
'Whose hand had she seen? Why did it feel so... deliberate?'
"Is it going to take forever to open a single door?" Damian's impatient voice cut through her thoughts.
She glanced back, finding him watching her with a mix of irritation and curiosity.
The golden light from the corridor highlighted his tousled brown hair and strong jawline, making his silver eyes stand out clearly. He was handsome—annoyingly so.
Eve shook herself, brushing the thought away. "Sorry," she muttered. "I was just admiring the craftsmanship."
Damian's expression didn't change as he stepped closer, reaching for the doorknob himself.
The scent of cedarwood and fresh rain washed over her, maddeningly intoxicating. Eve stiffened as their proximity sent a shiver racing down her spine. Her knees wobbled slightly, but she held her ground, not wanting him to notice the impact he had on her.
Damian's hand creaked open the door, revealing a lavish room that left Eve speechless.
The room had high ceilings decorated with beautiful paintings of wolves running beneath a full moon, with golden details shining in the warm light from a crystal chandelier.
In the center was a large four-poster bed, covered with soft velvet curtains that matched the rich emerald rugs on the wooden floor.
A carved vanity sat by the tall windows, adorned with delicate brushes and perfume bottles. Outside, she could see expansive gardens illuminated by the moonlight with the soft smell of lavender in the air.
Damian stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter. "Go on."
Eve hesitated, her gaze sweeping across the room. This was Evelina's safe place—a personal area filled with memories that were not hers. Stepping inside felt like walking into someone else's life.
She turned back to Damian, arching a brow. "Are you planning to stay while I bathe and change? Or is this some twisted form of royal oversight?"
Damian's lips twitched as though he was holding back a smirk. "You're still a suspect in a crime that nearly cost me my life, Evelina. And treason isn't something I take lightly."
Eve leaned against the doorframe, her blue eyes sparkling with defiance. "You know, where I come from, suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."
Damian tilted his head, his silver eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't know where you got that ridiculous rule," he said dryly. "But here, all evidence points to you."
Eve let out a sigh, not wanting to push the conversation forward. She was suddenly aware of her poor hygienic state and didn't want to stay longer in her current clothing. "I'll just go and take my bath."
Damian watched her as she walked deeper into the room. Her shoulders were tense, as if bracing herself for what was to come.
"The bath is through the adjoining door," he said, motioning toward a side door carved with elegant patterns.
Eve turned, raising an eyebrow. "And you're going to stay out there, right? Or…?"
Damian crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "The guards will remain outside. You'll have your privacy—within reason."
"Within reason? What does that mean? I just need some privacy, Your Highness. Surely that's not too much to ask, is it? Or… is that just your excuse to watch me in the nude?"
As soon as Eve said those words, Damian's face heated up and he looked away.
"Don't kid yourself. I've seen better."
Even smirked. From Evelina's memory, she knew the Prince was still a virgin and hated for maids to bathe him.
"Is that so? And does better include you seeing your nanny when you were a child?"
Damian choked on his saliva, sending glares in her direction. Quickly, he tried to mask his shock. "The guard can leave. But I'm staying."
"Ahem… have it your way but if you still want to see a real beauty, then hop in." Eve teased, stepping toward the wardrobe to pick a change of clothes.
"You realize," Damian's voice dripped with a sultry tone that made Eve's ears perk up, "...you're my mate."
The way he said it—calm, sure, and with an edge of possessiveness—sent an involuntary flush to her cheeks.
She hadn't expected him to return the same teasing energy she had used against him; at least he wasn't like that, according to Evelina's memory.
'Is he learning fast, or has he been playing the innocent card all along?'
"Playing the mate card now, are we? I thought you hated me."
Without waiting for his response, she opened the wardrobe and found it neatly organized with gowns in a variety of luxurious fabrics. She ran her hand over a pale blue dress, the fabric soft under her fingertips.
Despite her irritation, she felt a strange pang of connection. This had been Evelina's wardrobe—her clothes, her life.
Damian's voice broke through her thoughts. "The bond exists, and that gives you this chance. Don't waste it."
Eve paused, her fingers brushing the fabric. There was something in his tone that struck a chord. It wasn't just suspicion—it was conflict. She could feel the restlessness in his wolf, just as her own wolf stirred uneasily within her.
Pulling the gown from the wardrobe, she turned to face him. "Unless you plan to help me change, I suggest you turn around."
A flicker of color appeared in Damian's cheeks, though his expression remained composed. "Fine," he muttered, turning his back to her. "But don't try anything stupid. I mean, you can try jumping out the window and meet a quicker, painful death than the one I saved you from."
Eve chuckled softly as she began unfastening the simple, tattered dress she'd been wearing. "Believe me, Your Highness, I'm not the one you should be worried about. The only thing I'm planning to kill is the smell coming off me. And maybe whatever dignity I have left."
Holding the dress to herself, she went for the bathroom door.
It was as lavish as the bedroom. A marble tub sat at the center, already filled with hot water and surrounded by candles. A tray nearby held scented soaps, oils, and towels, filling the warm air with pleasant floral aromas.
Eve paused for a moment and looked back at Damian, who was standing in the doorway.
"Well?" Her voice held a seductive tone. "Do you still want to take the invitation, princey?"
Hadiah
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