Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 45: The Dragon Pearl...

Chapter 45: The Dragon Pearl...

Evelina took a deep breath and tried to calm down, gripping the dragon pearl tightly in her hand. A soft light was coming from it, matching the rhythm of her heart.

She could clearly see the memory in her mind—the face of a man she recognized but didn’t expect to see. His image lingered in her thoughts, unsettling her.

Relia’s voice cut through her thoughts. "The pearl... it’s amplifying your powers," her wolf murmured curiously. "You’re seeing things more clearly now, aren’t you?"

Evelina gave a slight nod as she pondered. Something told her he wasn’t the mastermind or the one behind the poisoning. Someone must have put him up to plant the vial in her room. But who?

Evelina frowned, her grip tightening on the pearl as she exhaled sharply. "Why now?"

Relia hummed thoughtfully. "The pearl responds to intent. It’s connected to your emotions, your focus. And you’ve been consumed with figuring out the truth about Damian’s poisoning."

Evelina didn’t respond immediately, her feet carrying her almost on autopilot toward the dining area where she had agreed to meet Zade.

Zade stood as Evelina entered the room, his emerald eyes lighting up as he motioned toward the seat across from him. "You’re right on time," he said with a charming smile.

"Barely," Evelina murmured, slipping into the chair. She set the dragon pearl on the table beside her, its smooth surface catching the warm glow of the chandelier above.

"I took the liberty of ordering," Zade said, nodding toward the spread of food that included roasted pheasant, seasonal vegetables, and fresh bread. "I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I went with a variety."

Evelina managed a small smile, though her thoughts were far from the meal in front of her. She glanced at the pearl, the image of the young man’s face flashing in her mind once more.

"Zade," she began cautiously, picking up a piece of bread but not eating it. "About this..." She gestured toward the dragon pearl. "Where did you get it?"

Zade’s brows lifted slightly at the question, and he leaned back in his chair, his gaze flicking to the pearl. "Ah, the dragon pearl. Beautiful, isn’t it?"

"It is," Evelina agreed, her tone measured. "But it’s... unique. Special. I’m curious where you found something like this."

Zade’s expression softened as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His gaze turned nostalgic as he looked at the dragon pearl, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"I found it in the Dragon’s Keep." His voice was low, as if recalling a distant memory. "It wasn’t easy to retrieve, I’ll tell you that. The place is swarming with traps, wards, and beasts ready to tear you apart."

Evelina blinked, startled by his words. "The Dragon’s Keep?" she echoed, her fingers unconsciously brushing over the pearl’s smooth surface.

"Yes." Zade’s emerald eyes gleamed with a hint of pride. "You... well, you asked me to prove myself. To show my love." His tone softened as he leaned forward, his gaze steady on hers. "And I did."

Evelina swallowed hard, her heart pounding. She forced herself to nod slowly. "Yeah... you did," she dragged out. Her voice was steady, but her thoughts whirled in chaos. That was before I became Evelina, she added silently.

Zade’s expression turned wistful. "You were always a challenge, Evelina. But I didn’t mind. If anything, it made me want to try harder."

Evelina gave him a slight smile, but she felt a deep sense of guilt inside her. She didn’t know how to respond to the depth of emotion in his words, so she quickly shifted the topic. "There’s something else I wanted to ask."

Zade tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Go ahead."

Evelina hesitated, then described the guard from her vision as best as she could. "He had dark hair, sharp features, and a scar running along his cheek. Do you know who he might be?"

Recognition flashed in Zade’s eyes almost instantly. "You must be talking about Brenick," he said in a thoughtful voice. "He’s one of the palace guards. A loyal one, at least from what I know."

Evelina’s chest tightened. "Brenick," she repeated, committing the name to memory. "What can you tell me about him?"

Zade leaned back, crossing his arms as he thought. "Not much, honestly. He’s a quiet type, keeps to himself most of the time. But he’s competent—one of the best in the guard." He paused, his expression darkening slightly. "Why do you ask? Did he do something?"

Evelina hesitated. He planted the poison... but did he act alone? Or was he following orders?

She shook her head slightly. "I just... saw him somewhere. He seemed suspicious."

Zade raised an eyebrow. "If something’s bothering you, Evelina, you can tell me. I’ll help however I can."

Evelina’s lips parted as if to respond, but no words came.

Instead, she looked down at the pearl glowing faintly under her touch. "Thanks," she said softly.

The rest of their dinner passed in relative silence, but Zade kept a close eye on Evelina, clearly intrigued. Evelina, meanwhile, couldn’t stop replaying the vision in her mind. Brenick. Who are you really?

*************

Damian’s room was quiet as he walked to the bathroom, running a hand through his hair. His body still buzzed with a mix of satisfaction and lingering tension from the day’s... ’event’.

Storm, however, was far from quiet. The wolf’s voice rumbled in Damian’s mind, smug and unapologetic. "That was the best you’ve ever had, wasn’t it? Admit it."

"Shut up, Storm," Damian muttered aloud, though his lips twitched with a reluctant smile.

"You don’t want me to," Storm countered, his growl playful. "Evelina is ours. You know it. Her scent, her body—it was perfect."

Damian closed his eyes, gripping the sink to steady himself.

His wolf’s pure excitement stood out against the growing discomfort in his mind. The aphrodisiac... it wasn’t an accident. It couldn’t just be there in their drinks. Someone had drugged them.

"Who would do that?" The question lingered, and Storm fell silent, as suspicion filled the space between them.

Then it hit him.

Jasper’s words from earlier.

Twice, Damian had cut him off, unwilling to hear what he had to say. And both times, the name Selene lingered on the edge of Jasper’s lips.

Damian’s silver eyes flashed in the mirror as realization dawned. "Selene."