Dead End?

"Maybe not."

As soon as Jasper mentioned that, Eve arched her brow, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced a him. 

Scepticism was clear on Eve's face. "What do you mean, maybe not?"

"You're looking at this from the wrong angle, my lady." 

Eve frowned. 

She was sure she knew what she was doing. 

Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Jasper continued, "What if the poison ingredients were smuggled in?" Jasper suggested. "Hidden among other goods? Something not officially recorded? I mean, who would be so stupid as to do that?"

Eve straightened as her mind began racing with thoughts. That would make perfect sense. If someone went through the trouble of procuring such rare and dangerous items, they wouldn't be brazen enough to declare them on a shipping ledger.

"So," Jasper continued, "those four merchants are still potential suspects."

Eve hesitated but nodded. "Alright, maybe you're onto something. Maybe it's not a dead end yet."

"Dead end?" a deep voice interrupted from behind them.

Eve turned to see Damian scrutinizing her with his silver eyes. His gaze shifted from her to the ledger on the counter, then back to her.

"So," Damian said, crossing his arms, "I left you all afternoon, and all you have to show is a dead end?"

Eve's irritation flared instantly. "Not all of us can wave a royal decree around to get what we want, Your Highness," she snapped.

Damian's lips twitched, though it was unclear whether he was suppressing a smirk or his temper. "Perhaps if you spent less time making snide remarks, you'd actually get somewhere."

"And perhaps if you spent less time breathing down my neck, I wouldn't be so distracted," Eve shot back.

Their voices rose, drawing the attention of nearby merchants.

"Careful, Evelina," Damian warned. "You're testing my patience."

"Good," Eve replied with a defiant smirk. "Maybe next time, I'll test your self-control too."

Damian stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "You're impossible."

Eve tilted her head, her smirk widening. "And you're insufferable."

No one spoke for a few seconds.

"You really don't know when to stop, do you?" Damian finally said in a deceptively calm voice.

"Why should I?" Eve countered, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You're clearly not used to being challenged. Consider this… character-building."

Damian took another step closer, his silver eyes glowing faintly. "You've got quite the sharp mouth," he said in a low, warning tone. "If you're not careful, Evelina, I might just silence it for you—with a kiss."

Eve's eyes widened for half a second before her face twisted into an expression of mock horror. "Oh, please. I'd rather kiss a frog than you." Her voice dripped with disdain as she crossed her arms, staring him down.

Damian chuckled softly, a deep rumble that sent a shiver down her spine despite her annoyance. "Careful what you wish for," he replied with amusement. "I might just grant it. Or better. You might just find yourself wishing for that kiss someday."

"Not a chance," she shot back. "Phenomenal douchebag," she muttered under her breath, turning to Jasper, who was attempting—and failing—to stifle his laughter. "Let's go. I've got more important things to do than entertain His Royal pain in the ass."

Ignoring his call, Eve walked past Damian and out of the merchant's shop. Jasper, unsure of what to do, stared between the prince and the retreating figure of Evelina. Taking a quick decision, he rushed out after Eve. "Lady Evelina… milady… you can't ignore the prince that way."

Eve paused only for a moment to retort, "I think I already did."

Relia's voice broke through her thoughts, teasing as always. "You're thinking about him, aren't you?"

"Thinking about how much I'd like to punch him? Sure," Eve retorted mentally.

Relia snickered. "That's not what I meant. You felt it, didn't you? The pull of the mate bond. The way your body reacted when he got close…"

Eve groaned internally. "Do you ever shut up?"

"Not when it comes to our mate, no," Relia replied smugly. "You can't run, Eve. You want that kiss as much as he and his wolf does. Take it."

Eve tried to focus on the busy market ahead, ignoring Relia, unsure of her destination, until a hand grabbed her wrist from behind. "Come with me," Damian said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"What are you doing?" Eve demanded, trying to wrench her hand free.

Damian didn't answer. Instead, he pulled her through the market, towards the palace.

"Hey! Let go of me, you royal tyrant!" Eve shouted, earning a few curious glances from passersby.

"You talk too much," Damian muttered.

As they entered the grand hallways of the palace, Eve noticed they were heading toward his chambers.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Your room? Again? What's this about?"

Damian didn't answer. He pushed open the doors to his chambers with a force that made them creak.

Before Eve could protest, he spun her around and pinned her against the wall. His hands braced on either side of her head, caging her in.

The sudden proximity sent a jolt through her body, and the mate bond surged between them like a live wire. "Damian," her voice wavered slightly. "What are you doing?"

His silver eyes locked onto hers. "Now tell me, where else do you have to run to, Evelina? Run away now if you can."

Eve's breath hitched as her back pressed against the cool wall. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, with a mix of defiance and something she didn't want to name.

Relia's voice purred in her mind. "Oh, this is getting good."

"Not helping," Eve hissed internally.

Storm growled in Damian's mind, egging him on. "Perfect. Now claim her. Show her who she belongs to."

Damian leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "You're so sure you wouldn't want me to kiss you," he murmured in a low and teasing voice. "Care to test that theory whether you'd truly prefer a frog to me?"

Eve swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She was acutely aware of every inch of him—the heat radiating from his body, the sharp planes of his face, the intensity of his gaze.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.

Damian's lips curled into a wolfish grin. "Then prove it."

Eve opened her mouth to retort, but her words faltered as he leaned in, the space between them shrinking. Her pulse raced, her body betraying her resolve as the mate bond pulled at her, urging her closer to him.

"You…" she began weakly, her mind scrambling for a coherent thought. "You wouldn't dare."

Damian's lips curved into a slow, predatory smirk. "Wouldn't I?"

Her body betrayed her, leaning ever so slightly closer. She wanted to push him away, to say something cutting, but her body refused to cooperate. The mate bond flared between them, electric and undeniable.

Damian raised a brow, his smirk deepening. "What's wrong, Evelina? You're quiet all of a sudden," he murmured. "Where's all that fire now?"

Her wolf howled in delight. "He's good, Eve. Just admit it—you're enjoying this."

Her lips parted, but before she could muster a response, the door swung open with a loud bang.

"Your Highness!" Jasper's voice rang out.

But before any of them could react to Jasper, the door smacked into the back of Damian's head, pushing him forward. The small distance between him and Eve vanished completely, their lips meeting in an unplanned, electrifying kiss.