Chapter 164: The Antagonist
When morning arrived, Eve’s eyes fluttered open to the sunlight streaming across her face. She stirred slightly as her thoughts drifted to Ivan. Turning around to check if he hadn’t disappeared again like the night before, she found herself still wrapped securely in his arms as he slept peacefully beside her. A sigh of relief escaped her lips upon seeing him there, but the memories of last night came crashing down soon after, bringing a faint blush to her cheeks.
As her gaze lingered on his gorgeous, sleeping face, a twinge of sadness filled her eyes. She remembered the moment he had thrown up blood, how his features had morphed into something more feral, and how he had been in such agony. It tore at her heart to recall how he had pushed her away when he was struggling so hard to control whatever was consuming him.
She recalled how rough it had gotten after that, how he had given her pleasures she had never known, and how gentle he’d been later during their bath. He had held her close, showered her with tender kisses, then helped her clean up and dress before pulling her into his arms, holding her so incredibly close until they both drifted off to the realm of dreams.
There were so many shades of Ivan she was beginning to see each day, but no matter what, one thing remained constant: the deepening bond between them. Not just physical, but emotional. And she wanted to cherish every moment of it, especially with the uncertainties that surrounded them. Lifting her hand, she tenderly brushed his cheek before shifting closer to him. Even in his deep sleep, he instinctively drew her closer, and it warmed her heart...a heart that melted more and more under his tender care.
Eve had never known what it felt like to love or to be loved by someone, but what she had with Ivan was certainly the closest thing to love she had ever experienced. And that was exactly why she didn’t want to lose it, no matter what. She wanted to protect this safe haven she had found in his arms, at all costs. She couldn’t afford to give up. She wanted to fight for it...for them, whenever someone dared to threaten the sacred sanctum she had built with Ivan. Her Ivan, her lover, her protector...the man she was falling for, deeper and harder than anyone she had ever known.
Her deep blue eyes traced the lines of his face before settling on the locket she had gifted him. She slid her fingers from his cheek down to the sapphire brooch resting against his chest and brushed it gently with her fingertips. To her surprise, it glowed softly under her touch, and she couldn’t help but feel grateful that she had chosen something useful, something that could protect him.
One thing that ended up protecting him in the most unexpected way, in the most unexpected situation. Letting out a soft sigh, she buried her face in the crook of his neck and drifted back to sleep, as it was still quite early.
She felt him plant a gentle kiss on her hair, and a faint smile bloomed on her lips before she slipped back into slumber.
Later that morning, when everyone was dressed and ready to leave for the excursion, the plan was to visit a museum, one where ancient war artefacts were carefully preserved, serving as a tangible link to their history lessons.
Eve was dressed in a beautiful, soft lavender one-shoulder gown made of a light, flowing material. It featured a fitted bodice cinched with a jewelled waistband and cascaded into layered, asymmetrical ruffles of light chiffon. She paired it with silver medium-heeled shoes. Her long brown hair was styled into head braids, with the rest falling down her back in healthy waves. She wore medium-sized diamond studs, giving her a regal yet effortless look.
She stood next to Ivan, who looked impeccable in his tailored black suit. One of his hands was wrapped around her waist, while the other rested casually in his pocket as he leaned against a pillar, listening to the professors giving out safety instructions.
The Silver siblings stood next to Evelyn, and though their dark red eyes were fixed ahead, their minds were filled with worry for their brother, Ivan. After barely getting any sleep, they had met Eve and Ivan during breakfast and had been quietly observing him ever since. Apart from his slightly darker eyes, they couldn’t detect any other change. And though Ivan showed no signs of discomfort, they knew their brother was adept at hiding his pain and emotions.
When Ivan had momentarily stepped away to speak with Alex and the rest of his men about security arrangements for Evelyn, Eve took the opportunity to fill the Silver siblings in on what had happened in the bathroom, making them deeply worried for Ivan. However, when she mentioned that her powers somehow kept his darkness in check, they relaxed only slightly, knowing the danger was far from over. Things were as dire as they could be, and if anyone else were to witness what Evelyn had seen, Ivan’s unshakable status as crown prince would be in jeopardy. Those power-hungry nobles would seize any opportunity to rebel and claim the throne if they sensed the foundation beginning to crack.
They were lost in thought when a sudden stir in the courtyard snapped them back to reality. Mr. Warren came rushing toward Professor Dante and Seira, with him looking like someone who had just struck gold. He leaned in close and spoke to them in a hushed, urgent tone that immediately drew curious glances from those nearby.
Professor Dante’s expression remained unchanged as he listened to Mr. Warren, and so did Professor Seria’s. They seemed to consider his words for a moment before giving him a nod, prompting Mr. Warren to take off like a goose on the chase.
Those blessed with sharp hearing already knew what was happening. This included Damien, Cece, and Ivan...whose expressions darkened as the air grew thick and oppressive. Ivan’s hand suddenly tightened around Eve’s waist, pulling her impossibly closer.
Startled by his sudden change in demeanor, Eve turned to look at him. "What’s wrong?"
Ivan remained silent, his darkened eyes shifting slightly in the direction of the disturbance, as if he had heard something. Cece and Damien mirrored his reaction, before Damien murmured under his breath, "Here comes the antagonist."
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A frown settled on Eve’s face at Damien’s words, and she followed the line of sight toward the direction they were looking.
She didn’t have to wait long before she saw several people approaching in a group, escorted by armed royal guards. Among them, one man stood out more than the rest. He was dressed in an all-white suit adorned with silver embroidery, a green robe draped over one shoulder. At its centre, a green brooch bearing the royal insignia of the Kingdom of Dartmouth: a lion within a shield crowned at the top glimmered proudly.
He had shaggy brown hair, pale green eyes, and strikingly handsome features. Handsome as he was, however, he didn’t come close to Ivan’s breathtaking allure or the beauty of the Lumen men.
He walked with an air of lazy arrogance, a sly smile tugging at his lips, earning a few delighted sighs from the women in their group. Beside him strode a broad-shouldered man with black hair and brown eyes, clad in a knight’s armour with twin swords strapped to his waist.
The man strode toward Professor Dante and Seira with confident, unhurried steps before his face curved into a warm, practised smile.
"Welcome to Dartmouth," he said in a deep, velvety voice that carried easily across the courtyard. "I assume you are Professor Dante." His pale green eyes shifted to Seira, gleaming with amusement. "And you must be Professor Seira."
He extended his hand toward her, and after a brief pause, she placed hers in his. He brushed his lips lightly across her knuckles, a gesture more theatrical than courteous, before she quickly withdrew. His smile deepened, clearly entertained by her reaction.
Both professors offered him a respectful bow.
"You are correct, Your Highness," Professor Dante replied evenly. "Thank you for having us in your kingdom."
"The pleasure is all mine. I hope your stay has been pleasant so far?" the man asked.
"Yes, it has. Thank you for asking," Dante replied with a bright smile. He then turned his light red eyes toward his curious students and announced, "Right! My dear students, meet Prince Valen Kaine, the Crown Prince of Dartmouth."
A hint of amusement tugged at Dante’s lips as he added, "I must say, Your Highness, we’ve already had the pleasure of admiring some of your...unique art pieces scattered around the property."
Professor Seira and the others fought to contain the smiles threatening to escape, while the prince’s own grin only seemed to grow wider.
"I’m glad you like it," he said with a wide smile, his pale green eyes drifting over the sea of students one by one before finally settling on one woman in particular, undoubtedly the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. For a moment, he stood utterly stunned.
His gaze raked over her like a slow caress, from the soft fall of her brown hair and her smooth, unblemished skin, to the gentle curve of her brows, her deep sea-blue eyes, her straight, graceful nose, and those rosy, plump lips that seemed far too inviting.
’By the devils, what a sight to behold,’ Valen mused. When his eyes lingered on the delicate slope of her bare shoulder, his throat tightened with an involuntary swallow. But before he could let his gaze wander any further, a tall man with molten red eyes and striking features stepped directly in front of the woman he had been admiring, blocking her completely from view.
The man’s glare was so fierce, so charged with hostility, that Valen thought he might combust on the spot from the sheer force of it.
