Eve shifted her gaze back to Ivan and said, "The locket? I was told it was given to me by my mother since birth. Why?"
He continued staring at her locket and said coolly "Just curious."
She pursed her lips as she studied him for a moment before glancing back down at her locket. Then, in a small voice, she asked, "Do you think it cracked because of the heat from your power?"
Now it was Ivan's turn to look at her. He replied in a calm and collected voice, "That locket is no ordinary locket. I can sense divine energy in it, so no, Princess, it wouldn't crack from a little heat."
Evelyn locked her gaze on him and said "So..what else could be the reason?"
"Do you remember doing anything unusual in the potion making class?" he asked, studying her expressions closely.
She shook her head, "No, whatever I remember, I've already told you everything. Why? Did I do something?"
She was starting to get worried by how many times Ivan questioned her instead of giving a straight answer.
Ivan sighed and then told her in a concise manner, "It's likely that your dormant powers awakened in response to mine during the potion-making class."
He narrowed his eyes, his at her and continued, "Believe me when I say this, Princess, I don't know how or why you did what you did. But if I had to guess, that outburst of yours might've been strong enough to fracture the stone in your locket."
He withheld the details about how she had managed to suppress his powers and touch him without getting burned. As he had not figured that part out himself.
But one thing was clear, if she could control his powers with such ease, she posed a potential threat. Whatever her intentions, Ivan wasn't about to take chances. He would keep her under a close watch until he uncovered the truth.
He also considered the unusual closeness between her and his cousins. 'Seems like I'll need to warn them as well, to be careful around her and not spill anything unnecessary.'
Even though Ivan trusted his cousins to be sharp enough to avoid getting involved with troublesome people, he knew it was always better to be on the cautious side.
While Ivan was mentally raising red flags for Eve, she on the other hand was in the middle of a full blown internal meltdown.
'Wait…what? I have powers? Since when?! And they activated because of him? No No.. this can't be happening. I've never had powers! Oh god, what now? Nobody ever trained me, no one even believed I'd get any, because I wasn't supposed to! What if they show up again and damage something or someone by sneezing wrong? Maybe I can ask a Lumen in the Academy on how to use them. But wait...did I break my locket? It's cracked. My mother's locket. The only thing she left me. Do I take it to a jeweller?
Ivan watched Eve turn paler by the second and thought, 'What's happening to her? Is she going to faint again? Maybe I should've just left her in the infirmary.'
He then got up from the bed, walked over to the table where a water pitcher was kept with some glasses. Pouring a glass of water and walked back to Evelyn and held it in front of her.
Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts, surprise flickering in her eyes, as she heard him say, "You look like you're about to faint again and I'd rather not deal with another episode in my room."
She took the glass with slightly shaky hands murmured softly, "Thank you."
After taking a few sips, she took a deep breath and began to calm down. But just as she steadied herself, another realisation hit her, Ivan mentioned she was in his room.
She slowly looked at him and asked cautiously, "How did I end up in your room?"
He glanced at her, amusement flickering in his eyes, "I brought you here."
'Yeah I figured that part out! The why is the real mystery?!' she thought.
She narrowed her eyes and asked, "And why is that, Your Highness?"
He stated with a straight face "Because I don't know where your room is."
Eve stayed quiet and just blinked at him, waiting for him to continue.
He stared right back at her, expression flat, "I took you to the infirmary. The doctor said you could rest in your room, I was heading this way, so I brought you. I didn't know where your room was, so this was the most convenient option. Simple as that"
The corner of Eve's eyes twitched as she stared at him, baffled. 'Was he serious?' She did wonder if maybe this vampire prince had some screws loose as he just logic his way into this.
She got up slowly and gave him a polite bow and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for all your help. I should probably head back to my room. I shall see you in class tomorrow."
As Eve turned to walk to the door, Ivan suddenly reached out and held her wrist. Startled, she stumbled back, her back pressed against his firm chest. Her heart rate suddenly picked up and a gasp escaped her lips.
He then said in a low voice, "Did you think a simple thank you would suffice, Princess, after I went out of my way to save you today?"
Blood rushed to her cheeks and her heart thudded wildly in her chest when she felt his warm breath against her ear. "Saved me?" she whispered.
She turned, slightly confused to look at him…perhaps a mistake, because Ivan was already facing her. Their breath barely inches away from each other and their eyes locked in an intense, unyielding stare.
Their eyes held each other in a silent stand off, with tension crackling between them. Her lips parted ever so slightly, an unconscious reaction to his close proximity and that little movement instantly had Ivan's gaze shift to her rosy, plump and perfect lips.
He didn't move back or look away, he said in a voice that was almost a whisper, "Did you really think I attacked that filth without a reason?" His gaze moved back to her eyes.
Evelyn blinked, snapping out of the trance, just enough to speak. In a low voice she asked, "Then why did you?" Her gaze wandered across his face, taking in his striking features. She couldn't not look away or move away.
Ivan let the silence stretch between them for a little longer, before he finally spoke "She aimed the acid at you. I stepped in and took the hit." To prove the point, he released her wrist and stepped back, slowly, deliberately and then turned to stand with his back facing her.
Evelyn was so confused on what he was trying to do, until her gaze fell on his back. She noticed tiny, burnt holes marred the fabric of his shirt. Her eyes widened and she rushed forward to take a closer look.
"Oh god! The acid drops fell on you? Did.. did it heal or do you need medical attention?" She asked in a worried voice, knowing that vampires healed much faster than any other species didn't reduce her concern.
"I have healed now. But yes, it did burn my skin." He turned back to face her, his expression unreadable as he added, "So, Princess, how exactly do you intend to repay me for saving you?"
Her throat started to feel a bit dry and she asked nervously. "What.. what would you like me to do?"
Ivan took a step towards her, then leaned forward slightly and asked, "What can you offer, princess?" The corner of his lips twitched slightly as he watched her squirm.
Eve gulped and asked slowly, "I.. I could do your homework for this semester?" When he raised an unimpressed brow, she rushed to add, "No? Okay, how about I buy you a new set of clothes, since these are ruined and your wounds are already healed?"
Ivan continued to stare at her, his lips twitching into a lazy, mocking smirk. "Homework? Do I look like the kind of a guy who would let someone else touch my work, Princess?"
Eve blinked, flustered. "Well, I mean…it was only a suggestion…"
He stepped closer again, his eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. "And clothes? You think a few yards of fabric is a fair compensation for third-degree acid burns?" he drawled.
Evelyn's face flushed deeper and she cleared her throat, lowering her gaze as he stood too close to her. "Okay, that sounded worse out loud. I didn't mean.."
He let out a sexy chuckle under his breath, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Relax, Princess. I'm not going to ask for your blood."
She exhaled in relief.
"Yet," he added smoothly.
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. "What?!"
Ivan tilted his head, quietly studying her. "Hm..I'll save my request for later…when it's time."
Her mouth dropped open again, but she had no response, her mind already spiraling at the thought of what he could possibly mean.
He gave a slow, almost wicked smile. "Don't worry. I'll eventually collect my dues."
Eve was so thrown off guard by his wicked smile that she failed to form a response. Then she heard him say, "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to rest, unless you plan to join me through out the night."
Her eyes widened, "Goodnight, Your Highness" she blurted then rushed out of the door like a killer was hot on her heels.
She stepped out and took a few hurried steps forward, eager to put as much distance as possible between them, when she realised her room was right next to his.
Ivan stepped out of his room and leaned against his doorframe, spotting Eve just a few steps away from his door.
She turned to him with a nervous smile, "Guess we're neighbours."
When he narrowed his eyes at her, she quickly opened her door, and shut it with a loud thud.