Chapter 17: chapter 17

Amelia’s frustration was palpable as she glared at Ivar, her voice laced with exasperation. “I’m not going to make any decisions here. I came for help, nothing else. If you’re not going to help me, I’ll just leave.”Ivar’s piercing gaze met hers, his lips curling into a devilish smile. “You look stupid,” he began, his tone mocking yet oddly playful, “but you’re not as stupid as you appear, huh?”Amelia bristled, her cheeks flushing with anger. “No, I’m not stupid,” she shot back. “And I can see exactly what you’re trying to do.”Ivar tilted his head, his smile deepening. “Oh, really? Then tell me, my lady,” he said, his voice low and teasing as he leaned closer, his face mere inches from hers, “what exactly am I doing right now?”The air between them thickened as Ivar’s lips parted, inching closer as if to touch hers. Amelia’s breath hitched, her heart racing in shock. She stumbled back a few steps, her voice trembling with indignation. “You’re taking advantage of me!”Ivar chuckled, the sound dark and rich like a predator toying with its prey. “Taking advantage?” he echoed. “No, my lady, I’m not. Let me remind you—you came to me.” His smirk was infuriating, and the glint in his eyes suggested he was thoroughly enjoying the chaos he was causing.Amelia’s eyes welled with tears, but her voice was steady as she snapped, “Yes, and that was clearly my mistake. I expected help from you, but I see now that was foolish. I’m leaving.” She turned on her heel, ready to storm away from him and his maddening smirk.But Ivar wasn’t done. “And where exactly are you going, my lady?” he called after her, his laughter following her like an unwelcome shadow. “This forest is full of predators. Some might find you quite... irresistible.”Amelia whirled around, her face a mixture of fury and defiance. “That’s none of your business!” she shouted.Ivar’s expression shifted, his amusement still evident but now tempered by a hint of seriousness. “Be careful, Amelia,” he said, his tone softer but still laced with mystery. “This place isn’t as forgiving as you are.”She refused to give him the satisfaction of a reply, her footsteps echoing in the quiet of the forest as she walked away, her frustration mounting with every step.Amelia stormed through the forest, her feet pounding against the earth as though she could outpace her thoughts. She felt her heart racing—not from exertion, but from the anger and confusion that churned within her. She wanted to get as far away from Ivar as she possibly could."How can someone change so easily?" she whispered to herself, her voice bitter. "He felt like a completely different person now." The memory of his cold demeanor stung more than she cared to admit.She pressed on, weaving through the dense trees and brushing past the overhanging branches. The hours blurred together, her steps growing unsteady. Finally, she paused to catch her breath, and the unsettling realization struck her—she was lost. There was no river in sight, the very lifeline she had been following earlier.Amelia turned in every direction, her panic rising. Each path she took seemed to lead to nowhere. It was as if the river had vanished into thin air. Tears began to prick her eyes, and she wiped at them furiously. “It’s all my fault,” she whispered shakily. “I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have asked him for help. How could I humiliate myself like this?”Her self-pity was interrupted by a low growl. The sound froze her in place, her heart thundering in her chest. Her tear-streaked eyes darted toward a bush nearby, its leaves rustling ominously. Something was there.The creature emerged, and her breath caught. It wasn’t an ordinary wolf—it was massive, its glowing eyes fixed on her. The sheer size of it made her blood run cold. For a moment, she couldn’t move, paralyzed by fear. Then her survival instincts kicked in. She had to run.Amelia turned and sprinted, her breath coming in desperate gasps. The wolf’s snarls grew louder, closer. She didn’t dare look back, her focus entirely on escaping. Her surroundings blurred as panic consumed her.She was so focused on the beast chasing her that she didn’t see the danger ahead. The ground beneath her feet suddenly disappeared. A cluster of bushes had hidden the edge of a cliff, and she ran straight toward it. By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late.Her body pitched forward, and she fell, her scream echoing through the chasm. The wind roared past her ears as she plummeted, the jagged rocks below rushing to meet her. “So this is the end of me,” she thought, her mind spiraling into despair.Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she felt something—someone—catch her. Strong arms wrapped around her, and her fall slowed. With great effort, she forced her eyes open, her vision blurred.What she saw defied belief. A man held her, his arms secure and protective. Behind him, two massive black feathered wings beat against the air, keeping them aloft.Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but no words came out. She strained to focus on his face, and when she did, her heart jolted. It was Ivar.“You’re safe,” he said softly, his voice steady despite the situation.Amelia wanted to respond, but her strength failed her. Darkness closed in, and the last thing she saw was Ivar’s worried expression as he held her. Then everything went black.