Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 70: We Need to Leave...

Chapter 70: We Need to Leave...

The cabin door slammed open, letting in the cold night air as Damian rushed inside. His silver eyes sparkled with urgency, and his usual calmness was replaced by a distinct unease that set Evelina on the edge.

"Pack your things," he commanded.

Evelina blinked, startled.

She had barely processed his sudden appearance before his words registered. "What? Damian, what’s going on?"

"We need to leave. Now," he said firmly, glancing toward the window as though expecting danger to barge in after him. He held the hilt of his sword tightly, his entire body tense

Evelina stood her ground, folding her arms. "You’re not making sense. Why would we leave? What’s happening?"

Damian’s gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, the storm in his eyes softened. Then his words dropped like a thunderclap. "My father has ordered your death."

Evelina felt the air leave her lungs. "What?"

"He wants you out of the picture, Evelina," Damian said, his voice filled with anger. "He was responsible for your disappearance, and now he wants to get rid of you for good. I’m not sure why, but I think it’s because he wants me to forget about you and marry Selene instead."

Evelina understood the seriousness of what he was saying, but she tried to remain composed. "So you believe running away is the solution? Do you realize how guilty I’ll appear if I do that?"

Damian stepped closer to her, clearly frustrated. "You don’t have a choice. If you don’t leave, you’re walking right into his trap."

"And if I leave, it’s as good as an admission of guilt!" Evelina shot back, her voice rising. "Think, Damian. The moment I disappear, they’ll say I ran because I’m guilty. That I poisoned you, then tried to seduce you and make you abandon your duties to the pack and kingdom."

"They already believe you’re guilty!" Damian snapped. "Every second you spend here, you’re a target. Staying in the palace isn’t safety—it’s suicide."

Evelina shook her head, defiance flashing in her eyes. "I thought you said you’d protect me. Are you giving up on that now?"

His fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment, he was silent.

When he finally spoke, his voice was softer but full of genuine emotion that struck her to the core. "Because I’m not invincible, Evelina. What if I can’t protect you? What if... I lose you?"

The vulnerability in his words took her by surprise, momentarily stealing her response.

She had seen Damian in many forms—cold and calculating, naughty and playful, warm and protective—but this uncertainty was new. It wasn’t weakness; it was the extent of his responsibility and fear of failure.

Evelina softened slightly but refused to back down completely. "You won’t lose me, Damian. But running won’t solve this," she said gently. "We have to face this head-on. Together."

Damian took a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair. "Okay, we’re in this together," he said after a moment. "But if we’re going forward, you need to stick by me. No more taking risks, Evelina. No more going off on your own."

She agreed with a nod. "Alright. But if we’re going to face this together, we have to be smart about it. No careless actions, Damian."

He smirked faintly despite the tension. "Coming from you, that’s ironic."

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Just promise me we’ll figure this out."

Damian held her gaze, his silver eyes steady. "I promise. Because if I don’t figure out how to protect and keep you safe, I might..." He hesitated, his voice trailing off as his jaw tightened.

"You might what?" Evelina prompted gently, her voice softening.

He exhaled shakily, his shoulders slumping slightly as though the weight of the world rested upon them. "I might lose you," he admitted, the raw vulnerability in his voice catching her off guard. "And I don’t think I could survive that."

Evelina blinked, stunned by his admission. "Damian..." she whispered, taking a hesitant step closer.

He turned his head away, his face showing clear frustration. "I’ve always understood my responsibilities—to my kingdom, my pack, and my people. But this connection, Evelina..."

He looked back at her, his eyes filled with an intensity that was hard to bear. "This connection has changed everything for me. It’s no longer just about duty. It’s about you."

Her breath hitched, her heart pounding at his words. "I never asked for this bond either," she said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion. "But here we are. And I’m scared too, Damian. Scared of what this all means. Scared of losing myself. Scared of losing... you," she added the last part quietly.

The space between them felt charged, their emotions raw and unguarded. Slowly, Damian reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. The simple touch sent a spark through Evelina, grounding her in the moment.

"I’ll protect you, Evelina," he said softly. "Even if I have to fight the entire kingdom to do it."

Something broke within her—some wall she had built to shield herself.

Without thinking, she closed the distance between them, her hands reaching to cup his face. "I know," she whispered.

And then, before she could second-guess herself, she kissed him.

The kiss was soft, tentative, and filled with unspoken feelings. But it quickly deepened as their emotions surged, spilling over in a way neither could control.

Damian’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, while Evelina melted into the warmth of his embrace as their lips moved over each other.

Evelina placed a hand on Damian’s chest to steady herself as his tongue slid past her lips. His taste was intoxicating, and she lost herself in the sensations. Her head was spinning, her heart pounding in her ears.

The heat between them intensified, and their kisses became more desperate. Damian’s hands moved over her body, touching and exploring her curves as their breathing grew ragged.

They were lost in the moment, forgetting about the world around them and their worries. All that mattered was the connection between them, the feeling of being so close and connected.

The need for air eventually forced them to pull apart, and they stood, gasping and staring at each other with a mixture of wonder and desire.

Damian rested his forehead against hers, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Did we just have a moment?"

Evelina chuckled, leaning her head against his chest as her pulse gradually slowed. "What moment?" she asked, her heart pounding against her cheek as she breathed in the comforting scent of his skin.

"This," he teased, leaning in to brush her lips with another kiss. "Us. That kiss. The one you just gave me."

"You just had to ruin the moment with your question," Evelina retorted, though her tone lacked any real bite.

"So it was a moment," Damian said triumphantly.

Evelina rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. "If you keep talking, it won’t be anymore."

He laughed softly and sincerely, then led her to the bed. "Come on," he said. "You need to rest. And from how much you enjoyed that moment, I don’t trust you not to run off again."

Evelina raised an eyebrow as she slid under the blanket. "Run off? And leave you to all this?" She gestured playfully to him, her tone dripping with mock sarcasm. "You won’t last a day or two."

Damian scoffed and let out a little chuckle, "I’ve been doing just fine even before you came along."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying his claim. "You wouldn’t survive a day without me."

"I could say the same about you, Evelina." He flashed her a charming smile, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Just admit it," she teased, sliding to one side and patting the empty space for him to join her. "You’re lost without me."

Damian smirked, settling beside her on top of the blanket. "Who would’ve thought you’d agree to share a bed with me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll pounce?"

"I’ll take my chances," Evelina replied dryly, stifling a yawn.

They lay there in comfortable silence for a while, the earlier tension replaced by a light-hearted ease. Damian watched as Evelina’s breathing grew slower, her eyes fluttering shut.

As sleep claimed her, he whispered, "Goodnight, Evelina."

A sleepy murmur was her only reply, but the faint smile on her lips was enough to make Damian’s heart ache with a strange, newfound warmth.

***********

Morning sunlight streamed into the cabin through the wooden shutters, creating a cozy light in the small room. Evelina woke up, rubbing her eyes and noticing the stillness beside her.

She turned her head and saw that Damian was still asleep, his face at peace in a way she rarely saw.

His usually serious and intense expression looked rather gentle as he slept, making him look almost boyish. His dark eyelashes lay against his cheekbones, and a few strands of hair fell over his forehead.

Evelina couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

"He looks good when he’s not scowling, huh?"