บท 11: Eleven Steps Ahead...
"So, where do we start?" Damian asked as Eve stepped out of his chambers.
Eve didn't expect him to be waiting right outside the door, though at the same time, she wasn't surprised to find him nearby.
"You kept some distance this time," she quipped, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Couldn't stand being in the same room with me while I bathed and changed?"
Damian's lips twitched into the faintest smirk. "You wish. Now answer the question—where do we start?"
Eve sighed, pulling her thoughts into focus. "The poison. I'll need to speak with the healer to figure out what exactly it was and where it came from."
"Fine," Damian said simply, motioning for her to follow. "Let's not waste time."
Together, they both made their way to the pack's infirmary.
The room smelled strongly of herbs and ointments. Jars lined the shelves, their contents labeled in faded handwriting.
A cauldron of some potion bubbled softly over a fire in the corner, adding a sense of mystery to the already imposing atmosphere.
The healer was bent over a workbench, grinding dried leaves into a fine powder. At the sound of footsteps, he glanced up, his sharp gray eyes narrowing as they landed on Eve.
Something akin to rage fuelled his gaze. "What are you doing here?" he asked bluntly, narrowing his eyes at her before lifting up to meet Damian's figure. "Your Highness," the healer greeted Damian with a bow.
Eve crossed her arms, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Lovely to see you too."
"She has questions for you," Damian replied in a clipped tone. He stepped aside, giving Eve room to speak, though he stayed within earshot.
The healer nodded, but his eyes showed clear disdain as soon as Damain turned the corner. Immediately, he turned back to his work. "I've nothing to say to you."
Eve rolled her eyes, folding her arms. "Oh, come on. I'm trying to figure out what nearly killed your prince. You'd think that would warrant a little cooperation."
The healer didn't even look at her. "My loyalty is to the prince, not to a potential assassin."
"That potential assassin… happens to be my mate, Finn. And you'll do well to answer any of her questions and provide whatever help she needs."
The healer frowned, clearly showing his disapproval. "Your Highness, with all due respect, she's still suspected of—"
"Enough," Damian cut in sharply, his silver eyes flashing red for a moment. "I said she's with me. If you have an issue, then take it up with me. If there's none, you'll treat her as you would any royal."
Eve smirked, leaning in casually. "Now, where were we?" she asked with feigned innocence.
The healer's lips thinned, but he complied. "What do you need?"
"I need information." Eve's lips twitched into a small, triumphant smile as she stepped forward. "What kind of poison was used? And where would someone even get it?"
The healer reached for a small vial on his workbench, holding it up for her to see. Inside was a yellow liquid that shimmered faintly in the light.
"This is what was used," he said. "Wolfsbane. Not your average purple wolfsbane, but the rare yellow wolfsbane. That's not all, though. This has a new hybrid strain, made from a toxin extracted from the petals of the Sable Lily. It's rare and nearly impossible to detect unless you know what you're looking for."
"Yellow wolfsbane plus Sable Lily?" Eve asked, tilting her head.
The healer nodded. "Yellow wolfsbane is as rare… very rare; you can only find it in the South. Sable Lily, on the other hand, is a flower that grows in the Shadow Vale. It's a dangerous place—few who go there return alive. And even if they do, the lily itself is deadly to handle."
"Great," Eve muttered. "A rare poison and a death flower from a death forest. Just my luck."
The healer's lips twitched into a faint smirk, but he quickly wiped it away. "If you're looking for more information, you'll need to consult the royal library. There should be records on the Sable Lily's properties and potential uses."
Eve raised a brow. "So records of lethal poisons as these are just lying freely in the library, uhn? How easy for anyone to pick it up. Tell me, is it arranged in alphabetical order, or do I have to dig through decades of dusty nonsense?"
The healer's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps you'd prefer the dungeon again."
"If only you agree to be my cellmate," Eve shot back with a smirk.
"Let's go," Damian interjected, placing a hand on her shoulder and steering her out of the chamber before the conversation could escalate further.
***********
The library was massive, with high ceilings and walls covered in bookshelves that stretched as far as the eye could see. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting golden light on the polished wooden floors.
Eve let out a low whistle as she took in the sight. "Now this," she said, walking further into the room, "is what I call impressive."
Damian smirked faintly. "Don't get too distracted. We're here for the records, remember?"
Eve rolled her eyes, turning her attention to the nearest shelf. "I know. Yellow wolfsbane. Sable Lily… poison… Shadow Vale…" she muttered, scanning the spines of the books.
She dragged a ladder toward the shelf and began climbing up, her eyes scanning the higher rows.
"Need help?" Damian asked from below, his tone teasing.
"I've got it," Eve replied, waving him off.
She spotted the book she wanted—a thick volume with a dark green cover—and reached for it. It was just out of reach, so she stretched further, her fingers brushing against the spine.
"Almost…" she muttered.
Damian's arms crossed as he watched her. "Careful," he warned.
"I'm fine," she shot back, standing on her toes.
With a triumphant grin, she managed to grab the book. But the motion threw her off balance, and her foot slipped.
"Ah!" Eve gasped as she tumbled backward.
For a moment, she braced herself for impact, her eyes squeezing shut. But instead of hitting the hard floor, she landed on strong arms.
Her eyes flew open to find Damian staring down at her, with a hint of exasperation and amusement on his face.
"Hmm…" Relia purred in her mind. "Caught by Prince Charming. How romantic."
Eve groaned internally. "Relia, not now."
"You really know how to get attention, don't you?" Damian teased and his smirk widened.
Eve scowled. "Excuse me?"
"First by poisoning me," Damian continued in a light, mocking tone.
Eve glared. "You think I'd use an execution to get attention? Get over yourself."
Sadly, her protest and excuse did not seem to change the prince's mind. Damian chuckled, holding her a little tighter. "Well, here you are. In my arms. Again."
Eve huffed. "Aren't you going to put me down?"
"Are you sure?" Damian asked, raising a brow. "You seem pretty comfortable."
"Damian," she growled.
With a soft laugh, he finally set her on her feet.
Eve straightened, brushing herself off as she grabbed the book. She opened it, flipping through the pages quickly.
But when she reached the section on the Sable Lily, her heart sank.
Torn.
'The page's fucking gone,' she groaned internally.
Her fingers traced the jagged edge where it had been torn, frustration bubbling in her chest.
"Seriously?" she muttered.
Damian stepped closer, his expression darkening as he looked over her shoulder. "What is it?"
Eve held up the book, showing him the torn page where it had been removed. "The page is gone. Looks like the real culprit is eleven steps ahead of us."
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