Chapter 174: Twisted Desires
Ivan turned his head slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to her palm, whispering back, "I don’t know, Eve... It’s strange...yet painfully familiar."
She gave him a small, slow nod.
He continued to stare deeply into her eyes before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. He let out another sigh. "I wish someone could answer all of our questions."
Eve sank deeper into the warmth of his embrace, clutching the back of his shirt. In a soft voice, she murmured, "That man...he was Kai."
Ivan’s brows shot up at the revelation, the pieces beginning to fall into place. So that was the man she had been calling out to...the name of the man who looked exactly like him. He didn’t know what to feel about it, but he instinctively tightened his hold on her.
As for him, he had seen visions of a golden-haired woman before, but he couldn’t recall her name...at least, not when he was awake.
With the mystery tightening its grip around them, Ivan knew one thing for certain: it was more important than ever to reach the Vault of Ages and uncover the truth behind it all.
"I promise I’ll find the answers for us one day," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Mhm..." Eve replied softly, believing him with a doubt. And so they stood together on the balcony, wrapped in each other’s arms beneath the moonlight...united by deep feelings for each other, and bound by a single goal...The Vault of Ages.
....
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[Music Recommendation: Osi and the Jupiter - Baldur]
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The next day, carriages once again moved in a single line along a path that cut through the dense green forest. Most of the students were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of visiting the Palace of Demos, wondering if it held anything as fascinating as the museum. Like Ivan and Eve, they had all heard the rumours circulating about the Vault of Ages...rumours that Cece, Edward, and Oliver had deliberately helped spread to increase their chances of the royals revealing its location. The goal was to make their curiosity appear natural and not suspicious if one of them asked to see it. It was all part of their careful plan to test the waters.
Soon, the massive iron gates creaked open after the leading carriage, carrying their professors, identified themselves. As they crossed the vast estate, lush with greenery and adorned with fountains at its centre, their attention shifted to the marble statues lining the way, figures of scantily dressed women frozen in expressions of fear and pain. The sight made Eve and Damien’s faces twist in disgust, while Ivan maintained his usual calm façade.
Damien clicked his tongue. "I must say that man really needs to get his brain checked to have such a distasteful sense of art...if you can even call it art."
"I agree. Just looking at them makes me feel like something’s crawling under my skin," Eve said, her tone filled with equal disgust.
Ivan heard her and gave her hand a light squeeze, the same hand he’d been holding throughout the journey. "I wonder if it’s only that vermin who’s like this, or if the entire royal family shares his taste," he murmured.
Damien hummed thoughtfully. "I wouldn’t be surprised if they do...considering they allowed such displays all around their estate." He let out an exasperated sigh before adding, "Truly, Evelyn, did your father ever visit this place before deciding to hand you over to them?"
Eve’s expression darkened at the mention of her father. Her voice turned cold as she replied, "Let’s just say...his priorities are different when it comes to me."
Both Damien and Ivan exchanged glances, understanding the sharp edge in her words, and chose not to press the matter further.
Soon, the carriages came to a halt, lining up before the grand Palace of Demos. Eve’s pulse quickened, a familiar dread curling in her stomach at the thought of meeting that unsettling prince again. But the warmth of Ivan’s hand in hers kept her grounded. More than fear, a nervous anticipation stirred within her, and she only hoped everything would go according to plan so Ivan wouldn’t have to take any dangerous risks.
Her blue eyes shifted toward Damien, who met her gaze and gave a silent nod of reassurance. Then she turned to Ivan, whose crimson eyes held nothing but warmth and quiet strength. Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and whispered against her ear, "Stay close and alert."
When he pulled away, she nodded resolutely. A moment later, the coachmen disembarked and hurried to open the carriage doors for them.
"Here goes nothing," Damien muttered under his breath before stepping out first.
After him, Ivan gave Eve one last reassuring look, his molten-red eyes swirling faintly with darkness, before releasing her hand and stepping down from the carriage.
The moment he did, every royal delegate waiting by the entrance turned their attention toward him. His commanding presence and striking appearance drew their eyes instantly, the air seeming to still around him.
Ivan’s intense gaze swept over each of them in turn. He noted the old man with grey hair standing beside the arrogant Prince Valen. Next to Valen stood a slender woman with neatly tied brunette hair, a golden crown resting upon her head, clearly indicating that she was the infamous queen of this kingdom. Beside her were a few other officials, all assembled to formally greet their arriving guests.
Giving them a quick once-over, without a care in the world, Ivan turned and extended his hand. A moment later, a delicate, fair hand slipped into his, and Eve stepped down from the carriage with her natural grace and elegance.
As she did, every royal delegate present was momentarily taken aback by her otherworldly beauty. This time, however, Eve had made a conscious choice to wear a more conservative gown, having learned her lesson from the last encounter with Prince Valen and his wandering eyes when she had worn a one-shoulder dress.
She was dressed in a stunning gown of silver-tinted tulle that shimmered softly like starlight. The fitted bodice was adorned with delicate beadwork and embroidery, while a slim waistband flowed into a full, glittering skirt. Light, sheer sleeves draped from her shoulders like a cape, giving her an ethereal, almost magical appearance, like a queen descending from the heavens. Her hair was styled in a romantic half-up, half-down fashion, with soft curls cascading down her back. The top was gently twisted and pinned, while loose strands framed her face, enhancing her graceful beauty.
Once again, Prince Valen couldn’t help but be captivated by her divine beauty and allure. This time, he had a clear view of her as she gracefully stepped down from the carriage. Her deep blue eyes, framed by thick lashes that fluttered with every blink, seemed almost to tease him. He swallowed hard as he took in her form and felt his pants tighten below. He suddenly had an urge to take her right there and then. The maddening obsession to have her in his possession was so strong that, for the first time, he felt he could never hand over this exquisite beauty to his mother. He wanted to cage her, to keep her all to himself, as he loses himself in her over and over again for days.
On the other hand, Queen Viva Kaine felt goosebumps run down her spine at the sight of such beauty. As her pale green eyes settled on Princess Evelyn, the pure-blooded Lumen princess, her red lips curled into a sinister smirk at the thought of bathing in her blood. But that wasn’t all, she wanted Evelyn to become part of her collection. ’Yes, that’s right,’ she thought. ’She would be the most prized possession of them all.’ Even as she smiled outwardly, her mind was already scheming how to make her son hand this one over to her as soon as possible.
While the mother and son were lost in their own wicked plans to claim Evelyn for their sick, twisted desires, Ivan felt sick to his stomach as he could feel their filthy emotions while they blatantly stared at his Eve. Darkness coiled tightly in his chest, and his bloodlust surged, a fierce urge to protect his woman and burn every one of them to ashes.
As Eve steadied herself on the ground, she didn’t look at anyone else. Her deep blue eyes immediately sought Ivan’s. She could feel the darkness stirring within him, seeing it swirl in his molten gaze that grew stronger by the second. Stepping closer, she raised her hand and touched his cheek gently, and asked in a soft voice, "Are you okay?"
Her actions were performed so openly before all the royal delegates of Dartmouth that it left everyone momentarily stunned. It especially snapped Queen Viva and Prince Valen out of their twisted musings as they watched the princess, who was promised to him, caress the vampire’s cheek so tenderly, as though their presence meant nothing at all.
