Chapter 268: The Mystery Woman And The Morphs
Eve understood where he was coming from because she felt the same way.
Material things had never held much value for her; her memories were the only things that truly mattered. Memories of her late mother, and the memories she was making now. Whether good or bad, they all shaped a person into who they were today.
And whoever that woman was, she had dared to take those memories away from both her and Ivan, something Eve herself found deeply infuriating.
"I understand," she said softly. "I feel the same way."
Maintaining eye contact, she asked, "So what do we do now?"
"I want you to leave this to me. I need to speak to my father about this first, see if there was anyone who used to frequently visit both Versailles and Luminear," Ivan told her.
Eve nodded, then thought aloud, "That makes sense. Considering how easily she was able to get close to both of us to use that kind of spell, it could be someone close to us. Unless she was some stranger who used portals to go undetected."
Ivan shook his head at the theory and said, "Even if we were to believe she used portals to move quickly, I would only accept that if it were just Dracoria Palace. Back then, the palace was not surrounded by a barrier as strong as the one it has now. But the Palace of Light? That barrier has always been there.
Lumens are highly coveted by the dark forces. Whether they are strong or weak, their blood always entices the darkrots, so the barrier is permanently in place to protect the royals, who are known to possess far more potent blood than others. The same goes for all your extended family, anyone who carries royal blood or has direct links to it."
"So it has to be someone both families were familiar with, someone able to move around freely. Not to mention the fact that she was close enough to learn about the prophecy concerning both of us. If that was her goal in doing this in the first place," Ivan added.
"Right, the prophecy." A frown formed on her forehead as she added, "But if she knew about the prophecy, why would she say I am useless, that I have no powers?"
"Maybe it was to ensure you never even sensed you had them. She may have been trying to break your spirit from a very young age, so that you would not even attempt to use your powers to awaken them, continuing to believe that you never had them in the first place."
"That is so cruel, to do that to a child," Eve said sombrely.
"It is, and it only shows how heartless people can be when it comes to committing crimes," Ivan said gently.
Ivan knew he could not keep her away from the darker side of the world forever, especially when it was already circling Eve like a brewing storm. He believed it would be better for her to slowly begin seeing and becoming accustomed to that side, so that it would not traumatise her when she inevitably witnessed it in real life, just as she already had in her dreams.
Releasing a deep sigh at the thought, Ivan wrapped his arms tightly around her and tucked her beneath his chin. Closing his eyes, he listened to the soft rhythm of her heartbeat, which always calmed him, and Eve melted into his embrace.
They stayed like that for some time before she heard him ask, "So what were you up to before you fell asleep?"
Eve opened her eyes. "Oh, yes! I was reading a book I found on the bookshelves."
She pulled away and then, like an excited child, looked around to find the book lying on the floor. Still sitting on Ivan’s lap, she bent down and picked it up before holding it up for him to see.
Ivan read the title, ’Creatures of the Land,’ and raised a brow as he turned his wine-red eyes back to Eve. "I am guessing you found something that piqued your interest if you were reading this?"
Eve beamed at him, making his heart skip a beat.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she said softly, "Something did."
Then she flipped through the pages enthusiastically and pointed to the Chapter titled ’Shapeshifters.’
"I was actually reading everything about them, and as I did, I discovered many things I was not aware of. The Morphs who....take the shape of another person. Did you know about them?" she asked curiously.
"I do," he replied lazily, his eyes still tracing her features.
"Then....did you know that most of the time they go undetected? Also....were you ever able to sense them, since they, you know, use dark magic?"
Ivan thought about it for a moment before replying, "Hm....good question. I have come across some of them in the past. And although, because of their unique ability to adapt so well, I have not really been able to detect them through my powers the way I usually can. But there are always signs that give away their façade if you look closely."
"Really? So if you are unable to detect them, then it would be the same for me. What kind of signs are we talking about?" Eve asked.
"Depending on how well you know the person they have morphed into, you can usually tell when you are speaking to them," Ivan replied.
"So....it is like questioning them, just like the book mentioned. Are there no physical signs you can look for?" Eve asked, a small frown forming on her face.
"There are," he said, "but it is more about how closely you observe them. The more you watch, the more you start to notice that something feels off."
He paused, choosing his words carefully to explain better. "They tend to be more restless, more on edge. Because they have to consume the person’s blood at intervals, the closer that time gets, the more impatient they become, as if they are looking for an excuse to leave....or sometimes they will randomly start stress-eating."
Eve pressed her lips together. "But that could describe almost anyone. People rush around all the time, and some people just eat more than others. How would that be a clear sign?"
A faint twitch touched Ivan’s lips. "It is different than that, Eve. You would notice it if you paid close attention."
She hesitated, then voiced the worry that had been building in her chest. "But Ivan, does that not concern you? If they can slip through all the barriers around the academy and the palace, that is a serious security breach."
"They could, which is why not just anyone is allowed to enter the palace so easily. Everyone goes through an inspection. Spies do manage to sneak in at times, but they are usually caught before they can do any real damage," Ivan replied.
"Then....what about the academy?" Eve asked quietly.
Ivan pressed his lips together before answering. "The academy is strict about security as well. No one is allowed to enter without proper documentation, especially since nobles from different kingdoms stay there. The barrier itself was only placed recently, after the darkrots managed to capture you on the grounds. Even if someone does manage to slip through, they are usually caught by the hounds released at night."
"Hounds?" Eve asked. "Are you saying they can tell who is a shifter?"
"Yes," he said. "They can. They belong to a beast species, and while they cannot shift themselves, their senses are highly developed. They can tell when something is off."
"That is interesting," Eve murmured under her breath before looking up at Ivan, who was watching her intently in silence.
The corner of his lips curved up slightly, and in that moment, Eve forgot every other question she had in mind as warmth rushed to her cheeks once again.
Ivan lifted his hand to weave through her hair, gently playing with the strands, sending butterflies fluttering through her stomach.
As if in a trance, she leaned into his touch and asked softly, "So....what did you do when you went to the palace?"
Still playing with her soft locks, he wrapped a strand around his fingers, drew it closer, and pressed a gentle kiss to it, making her heart flutter at the sight. Warmth bloomed in Eve’s chest at the innocent yet intimate gesture, and without letting go of her hair, his crimson eyes lifted beneath thick lashes to meet hers.
’Ah... just look at him, enticing me like this. I do not think there is any woman out there who could ever resist such a beautiful man.’ But as the thought formed, she abruptly put a stop to it, clearly displeased with the direction her mind was taking, especially when it drifted towards other women.
She let out a soft sigh and realised he was still watching her, quietly observing every reaction she made, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Narrowing her own eyes in pretend suspicion, she asked, "Why aren’t you replying?"
Only then did Ivan lift his head and lean back once more, resting it against the sofa. A mischievous hint of a smile curved his lips as he replied, "What exactly do you want to know, Eve?"
He sounded playful, as though he could already guess the direction her thoughts had taken.
She pursed her lips, then lifted her chin slightly. "Everything," she said. "I want to know what you did while you were there."
