Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 73: Very Observant...

Chapter 73: Very Observant...

Evelina’s feet skidded to a halt, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at Zade. His piercing golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim corridor, showing both curiosity and a hint of something gentler—something surprisingly warm.

"Running somewhere, missy?" Zade’s deep voice was calm but carried an edge of mischief.

Evelina took a deep breath, and straightened her posture. "Zade," she greeted evenly, sounding polite but detached. "Is there something you need?"

He smiled lazily and leaned against the wall, his golden eyes studying her with that same blend of amusement and something more profound. "You look... flustered," he said in a curious tone. "Is there anything I should be concerned about?"

Evelina shook her head lightly, her expression unreadable. "Just in a hurry. That’s all."

Instead of moving, Zade shifted to block her path with effortless grace. "In a hurry to see Damian, no doubt," he said smoothly. "You’re always in a rush when it’s about him, aren’t you?"

Evelina tilted her head slightly, offering a faint smile. "You’re very observant, Zade."

"It comes easily to me," he said with a smile, but his voice became softer. "It’s interesting... you brighten up when you talk about him. I can’t help but wonder what it is about Damian that has you so wrapped up."

Evelina gave a soft chuckle, sidestepping to attempt another path. "Not wrapped up, just focused."

But Zade moved again, blocking her with an infuriating ease. "You know," he pressed, "you don’t have to always look at him like he’s your whole world. Some of us wouldn’t mind being part of that world too."

His words made Evelina pause, though her expression remained calm. "Zade, I think you’re reading too much into things."

"Maybe I am," he admitted, tilting his head. "Or maybe you just haven’t noticed what’s right in front of you."

Before she could answer, another voice echoed down the hallway with a cold command. "What’s going on here?"

Evelina turned sharply to see Damian at the end of the hall, his silver eyes narrowed as they locked onto Zade.

Zade straightened, his easy smile returning as he stepped back. "Ah, Damian. Always impeccable timing." His golden eyes lingered on Evelina as he added, "We were just catching up. It seems your mate’s been in quite the hurry tonight."

Damian’s jaw tightened visibly as he walked toward them. "And now you’re done. Move along."

Zade chuckled, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Always so territorial, Prince," he drawled. "But fine, I’ll leave her to you... for now."

Before he turned to leave, his gaze lingered on Evelina once more, the mischief in his eyes softening to something almost fond. "Take care of yourself, Evelina. See you around."

As Zade sauntered away, Damian closed the distance to Evelina, his jaw still tense. "What did he say to you?" he asked in a low voice, barely containing his anger.

Evelina sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. "Nothing that matters. You don’t have to worry."

"I’ll always worry," Damian said quietly, his silver eyes searching hers. "Especially when it comes to him."

Evelina opened her mouth to reply but decided against it, simply nodding. Instead, she faced the reason she had been in a hurry to find him. "We should talk. It’s urgent."

Damian nodded, motioning for her to follow him.

With one last glance down the corridor where Zade had disappeared, Evelina fell in step beside Damian, her thoughts swirling as the moment replayed in her mind.

Once the door to Damian’s chambers clicked shut, Evelina turned to him with a serious and worried look. "You need to know something," she began.

Damian noticed the change in her tone; his silver eyes focused, and he adjusted his stance. "What happened?"

Evelina hesitated for only a moment before plunging ahead. "On my way back from the cabin, I overheard something. Someone from the palace—from this pack—was feeding information to an outsider. From his aura, I’d say he was a rogue."

Damian’s jaw clenched, and he stood even straighter. "Feeding what kind of information?"

"Maps of the palace, guard rotations, even hidden passages," Evelina replied in a low voice. "They mentioned using it for an attack, and..." She hesitated, swallowing hard. "They know about me. About how important I am to you. They said I’d be the perfect leverage."

Damian’s hands clenched into fists, his nails biting into his palms. "Did you recognize who it was?"

Evelina shook her head, frustrated. "No. It was too dark, and I couldn’t see their face clearly. I didn’t dare get too close—I didn’t want them to sense me."

Damian’s sharp gaze bore into hers. "Did you pick up any scents? Anything at all?"

"I... no," Evelina admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. "I was too focused on staying hidden and not getting caught."

Damian turned away, pacing the length of the room. "Someone inside this palace," he muttered. "Someone from this pack."

Evelina crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her mind racing. "What do we do now?"

Damian stopped pacing. "I’ll report this to the council tomorrow," he said firmly. "We can’t afford to let this go unaddressed. Whoever is working with the rogues needs to be caught before they act."

Evelina hesitated. "And what will you tell them when they ask how you came about this info? Are you planning to mention that I’m the one who overheard this?"

Damian turned to face her. "No," his voice was resolute. "I won’t mention you."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Why not? I heard them; I’m the one who—"

"I know," Damian interrupted gently, stepping closer. "But I won’t put you in that position. The council would use your involvement to undermine everything—your credibility, your safety. I won’t let them drag you into their games."

Evelina stared at him, her heart softening at his words. "So, what will you say?" she asked quietly.

Damian’s jaw tightened briefly before he answered. "I’ll say I have my sources," he replied simply. "Let me handle this, Evelina. Trust me."

She studied him for a moment. "Are you sure, Damian?"

"Do you trust me, Evelina?" Damian countered.