Chapter 233: What Happened Three Days Ago
Ivan gave a small nod, offered her another spoonful, and murmured softly, "You really worried me back there, you know."
Guilt filled her eyes, and she murmured softly, "And you really worried me back then."
They held each other’s gaze in silence before he replied, "I know....forgive me for not being more careful."
Eve shook her head lightly. "It’s not your fault....evil will do evil things, remember?"
A small smile tugged at Ivan’s lips as she repeated his own words, "Yes..."
"To answer your next question, I was the one who brought you here. That much is obvious, since no one else knows about this place," Ivan continued.
Eve opened her mouth to ask the next question, but he interrupted gently, "After the next bite," and brought another spoonful of soup to her lips. Pursing her lips, but she ate it without protest.
"You passed out after that last display of your powers and the confrontation with King Solan." Ivan’s eyes hardened as he spoke Solan’s name, and Eve noticed it immediately.
When he realised she was watching him quietly, he let out a low sigh. "A lot happened after that, Eve. Why don’t you finish your food, and I’ll take you back upstairs where it’s much warmer, and I’ll tell you everything?"
"But you said-" Eve protested, and Ivan cut in, "I know, baby....it’s just that a lot happened, and I don’t want to rush through things only because I’m worried about your health, especially when it’s colder here than upstairs. Would you prefer a quick summary instead of hearing everything in detail?"
"No! I want to know everything," Eve replied almost immediately.
"Then finish your food and have your elixir, and I’ll tell you, alright?" Ivan said calmly.
Knowing he truly would continue worrying otherwise, she let out a soft sigh. "Fine."
"That’s my good baby," he murmured with a small smile before continuing to feed her.
When she finally finished the soup, bread, and light porridge on the tray, she felt a bit of vitality returning to her. Ivan then gathered her in his arms and carried her upstairs to the room she had woken up in. As they entered, she realised it was indeed much warmer than downstairs, and she made a mental note to listen to him about such things.
He tucked her gently under the soft, cosy blankets before removing his shoes and picking up a small bottle filled with green liquid, which she assumed was an elixir. He climbed onto the bed beside her and opened the bottle, handing it to her. Eve drank it without question, gulping down every drop. As soon as she did, the heavy fatigue weighing on her body lifted, fading away as though by magic.
"Feeling better?" Ivan asked as he observed her carefully with his dark crimson eyes.
She gave him a soft smile. "Yes, thank you."
With a quiet hum, he lay down beside her and extended a hand. Wordlessly, she placed her hand in his, and he gently tugged her closer. She settled happily into his arms while he pulled the warm blanket over them.
Now lying face to face, Eve noticed the faint dark circles beneath his eyes. Lifting her hand, she traced lightly under them and whispered, "You look....tired."
Ivan, on the other hand, loved the feel of her touch....loved that she was finally awake and well.
"Hm....just lacking a little sleep, that’s all," he replied without moving, his eyes still admiring her face.
"A little sleep? It doesn’t look like a little to me," she said, her brows drawing together. "I know vampires don’t need much sleep to begin with... so this can’t be just that."
At her comment, Ivan pressed his lips together. When her wide blue eyes continued to search his in question, he finally admitted, "It’s....sleep and blood."
"Blood? You haven’t fed yourself for three days?!" She tried to sit up in shock, but Ivan gently held her down and reassured her, "Eve, I’m alright, I assure-"
"Why? Why didn’t you feed?" she cut him off, her voice sharper now.
"I was worried about you when you didn’t wake up for days, especially with all those wounds on you. I am alright, okay?" Ivan tried to explain gently.
"You’re alright? You fed me while you starved! How is that fair? Maybe I should’ve asked you this before eating like that!" Her face twisted with both displeasure and worry.
Then, without another word, she swept her long brown hair aside, slipped her nightgown down to expose her soft, pale shoulder, and said firmly, "Take it....now!"
Ivan was left completely speechless by the ferocity in her eyes, and he wondered if it was because her own personality and Solaira’s were beginning to merge. Yet he couldn’t find a single thing to complain about. He would embrace all of her.
Watching her clear blue eyes, filled with worry for him and silently urging him to take her blood, he let out a soft sigh before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.
He then leaned over her exposed shoulder, and Eve thought he was finally listening to her, so she closed her eyes, which only heightened her senses. She felt his warm breath against her skin, sending goosebumps rippling over her. Next, she felt the tip of his nose brush up and down as it always did, as though he were inhaling her very essence. Then she felt him part his lips, and she waited in anticipation, expecting the familiar sting of his fangs.
Seconds passed before she felt Ivan press his warm mouth into the crook of her neck and kiss her. Before she could process it, a different kind of pain bloomed where his mouth lingered. He sucked at her skin, drawing a sharp breath from her, before his hot tongue soothed the spot, making her feel dizzy with need. Pulling back, he looked at the spot where he had just left a fresh hickey and then to the lovely blush colouring her face.
She opened her eyes, her brows knitting together. "Wait! Why didn’t you-"
"Eve," he called her in a low voice, so full of love that she instantly stopped. He lifted a hand, caressed her cheek, and continued, "I promise I’ll take your delectable blood when you’re well rested. Until then, Arthur has already packed some for me. I’ll have that later, alright?"
"And how would I know you won’t starve yourself again?" Eve shot back.
Ivan’s lips twitched as he fought a smile threatening to break free. "With you finally awake, I don’t have much to worry about anymore. I’ll have it. I give you my word. You trust me, don’t you, baby?"
Eve searched his eyes for a heartbeat, and when she found no sign of deceit, she finally relented. "Fine. You’d better finish everything and then take my blood later, alright?"
"Deal," he replied with a smile.
She slid her arms around his neck and slipped one hand inside his shirt, where the top few buttons had been left undone. "Will you tell me now what happened after I passed out?"
"Hm," Ivan hummed in response before beginning, "Three nights ago, when you suddenly collapsed, we were all worried your body might have suffered damage from using too much power. We called your name again and again, but you didn’t respond at all....as though you’d fallen into a deep slumber. I was about to take you away from there when-"
A heavy footfall echoed from the far side of the ruined courtyard. Every head snapped in that direction. Surprise flickered across each of their faces when they spotted a sickly man with light brown hair and pale green eyes. He was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, with a velvet green robe bearing the royal crest of Dartmouth draped over his shoulders.
One look was enough for everyone to realise it was none other than the King of Dartmouth himself, King Alaric Kaine.
As his dull, pale green eyes swept over the devastation left behind by the unfolding events, whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Wait, isn’t that the current king?" one nobleman whispered.
"What is he doing here? Wasn’t he gravely ill, which is why the wicked queen ruled in his stead?" another murmured.
"He wasn’t ill....that wicked woman confessed to poisoning him!" a noble lady hissed angrily.
"That’s right! But I heard he couldn’t even sit up, let alone walk! What’s going to happen now?"
The murmuring continued among the nobles, while the rest fell silent, watching as the king took slow steps towards them.
Once he reached the spot before Ivan, he looked at him with tired, emotionless eyes before doing something that shocked everyone present. Without anyone’s help, he lowered himself onto one knee and bowed before Ivan in absolute reverence.
Shocked gasps spread through the air at the sick king’s action, while Ivan regarded him with unfathomable eyes.
"It is my honour to finally meet you....oh divine one, or should I say....Prince Ivan Ignia de Ashen." He paused briefly to catch his breath, "Please accept these humble greetings from this servant before you," his weak, trembling voice carried across the courtyard.
"S-servant?!" someone gasped in disbelief at the way the king addressed him.
