Chapter 53: chapter 53

Amelia was confined to her chamber, forbidden from setting foot in the mortal world. After her failed escape, Ivar had ordered his men to keep her within these walls, knowing that Caspian’s men were searching for her everywhere. This realm was the only place Caspian could never reach—his power did not extend here.Ivar did not wish to imprison her, but she had no idea of the forces at play, the war waged in the shadows, the greed and hunger for power that had trapped her in its web. She had become a pawn in a game she did not even know existed. And that weighed on him. She deserved the truth. Even if it meant dragging her deeper into this abyss, she had the right to know why she was suffering, why the world seemed to be against her.Tonight, he would tell her everything.The moon hung high in the sky when Ivar reached Amelia’s chamber. A single lantern flickered beside her bed, casting long, wavering shadows on the walls. Her maid, Daisy, had made a small resting place on the floor. At the soft knock on the door, Daisy stirred, her brows drawing together in confusion. She rose quickly and opened the door, her breath catching at the sight of him."My lord," she whispered, bowing her head. "Lady Amelia is asleep."Ivar’s gaze flickered past her to the bed where Amelia lay, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. He did not wish to wake her abruptly. His voice was calm but firm."You may leave now, Daisy. Return in the morning."Daisy hesitated, her lips parting as if she wished to object. Her gaze met his briefly before she quickly looked away. Silently, she gathered her belongings and left the room, closing the door behind her.Ivar turned toward Amelia. She lay on the bed, her face relaxed, her breathing soft. The glow of the lantern illuminated her features—delicate yet striking, as if she were a being sculpted by the divine. There was something almost otherworldly about her.For a moment, he allowed himself to look at her, to admire the peacefulness she carried even in sleep.Then, suddenly, Amelia stirred. Her brows furrowed slightly before her eyes fluttered open.She blinked, her breath catching.At first, she thought she was dreaming. His figure stood in the dim light, tall and commanding, his pale-blue eyes watching her intently. But no… this was real. The weight of his presence filled the room."You’re here," she whispered, her voice still heavy with sleep.Ivar took a step closer. "Yes."She pushed herself up, the silk sheets slipping from her shoulders. "What are you doing in my chamber at this hour?"Ivar didn’t answer her question. Instead, his expression remained unreadable as he asked, "Did you sleep well?"She frowned at the abrupt shift in conversation but answered nonetheless. "Yes… I did."A smirk played at his lips. "Good. Do you want to go somewhere?"Amelia’s brows drew together. "Where?" she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice. "You really think I'll go with you after what you did last night?"Ivar simply turned away, striding toward the large windows. When he reached them, he stepped onto the windowsill with effortless grace. Then, without hesitation, he crossed over, standing on the narrow ledge outside.Amelia’s breath hitched as she watched him. The moonlight bathed him in a silver glow, his dark attire blending into the night. He turned slightly, looking at her over his shoulder, and extended a hand."If you want to go, then follow me," he said, his tone both commanding and teasing.Her heart pounded. The sight before her was both dangerous and mesmerizing. "Is he serious? He is insane," she muttered under her breath.But something in his gaze—something magnetic—drew her in. She hesitated only for a moment before slipping out of bed and stepping cautiously toward him. When she reached the window, she stared down at the dizzying height."Ivar, this is madness—""Trust me," he interrupted, his hand still extended.A strange pull in her chest urged her forward. She swallowed hard and, against every rational thought, placed her hand in his.The moment her fingers touched his palm, something impossible happened. Two massive black wings erupted from Ivar’s back, unfurling like a beast awakening from slumber. The wind caught their edges, sending a powerful gust through the chamber.Amelia’s eyes widened in shock. She barely had time to gasp before Ivar wrapped his arms around her waist and, with a single powerful leap, launched them into the sky.A scream tore from her throat as the ground fell away beneath her. She clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulders."Please don’t drop me! I don’t want to die like this!" she cried, her voice trembling with sheer terror.Ivar let out a low chuckle, pulling her even closer to his chest. "Stay still, you foolish girl. I’m not going to drop you."Despite her fear, his voice held a certainty that steadied her just a little. She buried her face against him, squeezing her eyes shut as they soared higher.After what felt like an eternity, the furious rush of wind began to calm. Amelia dared to open her eyes. Below them, the vast landscape stretched endlessly, bathed in moonlight.Before she could fully grasp the surreal beauty of it all, Ivar tilted their descent. They landed smoothly atop a towering mountain. Amelia’s legs nearly gave out as they touched the ground, and she stumbled slightly. Ivar caught her before she could fall.The solid ground beneath her feet finally steadied Amelia, though her heart was still racing from their flight. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to Ivar, and for the first time, she truly saw him.His wings—large, feathered, and impossibly dark—shimmered under the pale glow of the moon. The way the light caught the edges of each feather made them look almost unreal, like something crafted from shadows and starlight. The sight before her was nothing short of mesmerizing.Drawn in by curiosity, Amelia hesitantly reached out, her fingers barely grazing the soft, smooth feathers."So it was your feather I found beneath my window…" she murmured, her voice laced with wonder. "How do you even hide them? They’re so massive."Ivar’s lips curled into a small smile. "I don’t hide them," he said, leaning in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But I can make them invisible."His warm breath brushes against her ear, sending a strange shiver down her spine. Before she could dwell on the feeling, Ivar turned and started walking, his wings vanished into thin air.Amelia followed, questions pressing against her lips. Finally, she asked, "What are you?"Ivar paused mid-step and turned to her, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "What do you think I am?"An angel?" she guessed, though doubt laced her tone.A deep chuckle rumbled in Ivar’s chest. "Have you ever seen an angel with black wings?"Amelia’s brows furrowed. She had only heard of celestial beings in stories, and in every tale, their wings were always pure white."Then…  devil?" she asked.Ivar laughed, the sound rich and unrestrained..She bit her lip, unsure how to respond. He was neither angel nor demon, but something else entirely.Reaching the edge of the mountain, Ivar sat down on the thick trunk of a fallen tree. He patted the spot beside him, gesturing for Amelia to sit.Hesitant but curious, she stepped forward and settled beside him."I am a fallen angel," Ivar finally admitted.Amelia sucked in a breath, her heartbeat quickening at his words.Before she could ask, he continued, his voice quieter now, edged with something that sounded almost like pain."My mother was an angel. But my father… he was human."She turned to him, surprised. "That’s possible?"Ivar’s expression darkened slightly. "No. It was forbidden. A sin." He exhaled slowly, looking up at the moon. "And I was born from that sin. That’s why my wings are black."Amelia listened intently, her chest tightening at the weight behind his words."Your mother… where is she now?" she asked gently.Ivar’s gaze remained on the sky. "She’s dead." His voice was calm, but there was something hollow underneath. "This land was hers. She was the queens of this realm. And when she was gone, the realm passed to me as her heir."Amelia’s throat tightened. "And your father?"This time, Ivar’s eyes met hers. The amusement from before had completely vanished, replaced by something colder."He was killed," he said. "By your king."Silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken. The wind howled through the trees, but Amelia barely felt it. Her mind reeled, trying to process the weight of his words.Amelia lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress. The world had always seemed simple—good and evil, right and wrong. But now, that certainty was fading. There were forces at play beyond her understanding, blurring the lines she once thought were clear.