novelblue
Chapter 91: Instinct
Chapter 91: Instinct
Warlord Ch 91. Instinct
But before he could so much as lean closer, Evelyn's eyes snapped open. Her instincts kicked in like a spell firing off on reflex. In a heartbeat, she'd thrown off the blanket, her body shifting as she moved with lightning speed, flipping him onto his back and pinning him to the bed with a fierceness that made his head spin.
He barely had a second to process what was happening before her hand crackled with magic.
"It's me, Evelyn. It's me," he blurted out, his voice a mix of surprise and a bit of pleading. He was half afraid she might actually blast him with a spell just for startling her.
Evelyn blinked, her expression softening as the sharp edge in her eyes faded, replaced with recognition. Her hand relaxed, the magic dissipating as she shook her head, her posture unwinding. "Damian… you startled me," she said, her tone carrying a trace of apology. She pulled herself off him, taking a deep breath as she settled back onto the bed.
Damian rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up his cheeks. "Uh, yeah, sorry about that," he mumbled, averting his gaze, because telling her why he'd gotten so close was definitely out of the question now. He mentally kicked himself for even thinking that sneaking up on her had been a good idea. Clearing his throat, he quickly pivoted. "How about we, uh, head to breakfast? I want to get ready before I go to train at Cassius's place, and you could use some food."
Evelyn tilted her head, watching him with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, like she was trying to figure out what he was hiding. "You sure that's all?" she asked, a small smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Yup, breakfast. Just breakfast," he said, forcing a grin and hoping it masked his flustered state. "Can't face a day of training on an empty stomach, right?"
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eyes, but she didn't press him. Instead, she offered, "I'll make something for us, then. How about it?"
Damian's guilty conscience kicked in instantly. "Nah, I'll handle it," he said quickly, holding up his hands. "Let me take care of it. You've been doing enough as it is."
A slight smirk crossed her face. "Alright, if you insist."
"Perfect," he replied, feeling a rush of relief as he headed downstairs.
Once in the kitchen, he decided to keep things simple—a sandwich with a twist, something he'd learned back in Nullis world. The ingredients came together fast. But as he stood there, finishing up, he realized Evelyn hadn't come down yet.
Minutes ticked by, and the silence in the house began to feel heavy, the kind that creeps in when something is off. Curious, he set down the plate and made his way back upstairs, moving quietly. He was just about to call out her name when he stopped in his tracks. She was standing by the desk, her back to him, perfectly still, her gaze fixed on a closed book.
There was something in her stance, a kind of stillness he rarely saw in her. The book lay there, untouched, but her expression… it was almost haunted, a flicker of nostalgia mingled with something else, something he couldn't quite place. He didn't need to see the title to recognize it—it was Kaelan's book, one he'd always felt held more secrets than met the eye.
'I knew it—that book's different from the others,' he thought, watching her, trying to gauge what she might be feeling.
After a long moment, he finally decided to approach, his voice soft as he called her name. "Evelyn?"
She turned at the sound, her face immediately shifting, the haunting look disappearing behind her usual calm mask. He opened his mouth to speak, to maybe ask what she'd been thinking about, but before he could get a word out, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a quiet, steady hug.
Surprised, Damian hesitated, his own arms slowly moving to return the embrace. "Evelyn… what's wrong?" he asked, his voice gentle, laced with a concern he couldn't keep out.
For a moment, she didn't answer, just held him, as if drawing strength from his presence. Then, she pulled back, her gaze unreadable, and shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go eat," she said, her voice calm but carrying an edge that told him this wasn't the time to press her further.
They walked downstairs together. They sat down to eat, Damian couldn't help but notice how unusually attentive Evelyn was. Every now and then, he'd catch her glancing at him, a flicker of worry passing over her face before she masked it with her usual calm expression.
She seemed restless, fidgeting with her food more than actually eating it. A few times, she poured him water or reached out to offer him tea, as if she wanted to keep busy, to keep herself grounded. Damian took a bite of his sandwich, chewing thoughtfully as he watched her.
He finally cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. "So… when did you get any sleep?" he asked, keeping his tone casual, trying not to push too hard.
Evelyn paused, setting her glass down, her gaze dropping to the table. She took a breath, as if bracing herself, then looked up at him, her eyes softer than he was used to seeing. "I didn't sleep much," she admitted quietly, her fingers toying with the edge of her plate. "And when I did… I had a dream."
Damian leaned forward, watching her carefully, the way she seemed hesitant to continue.
"What… what kind of dream?" he asked gently.
She hesitated, her gaze flicking to his, as though debating whether to share it. Finally, she sighed, her expression clouded with something he couldn't quite name. "It was a war," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. "A war that took you away from me."