Lucy stormed ahead, her boots pounding against the cobblestone path, each step echoing her fury. She pulled Amelia along with an unrelenting grip, her fingers tightening as if she could physically drag her friend away from the truth she refused to accept."Lucy, stop!" Amelia's voice wavered, but Lucy didnât slow down."Lucy, please listen to me!" Amelia pleaded again, but her words were swallowed by the distance Lucy was trying to put between her and Ivar.The frustration in Ameliaâs chest coiled tighter until she finally yanked her arm back. "Lucy, let go of my hand! Stop dragging me!" Her voice was sharp, desperate.Lucy halted so suddenly that Amelia nearly stumbled forward. Whirling around, her dark eyes burned with betrayal. "I can't believe you are still seeing that man!" she spat, each word laced with disbelief.Amelia flinched at the accusation but stood her ground. "Lucy, donât get mad, please listen to me first," she pleaded, her voice calm but urgent.Lucy let out a bitter scoff, shaking her head. "I promised your mother that I will take you back home safe." Her tone softened just slightly, but the weight of responsibility still clung to her words.Amelia took a deep breath, knowing she had to make Lucy understand. "I know, Lucy. You care about me." She hesitated, then met Lucyâs gaze with quiet intensity. "But you are seeing me alive only because of that man."Lucy's expression shifted. Her anger faltered, replaced by confusion. Her brows furrowed as she processed Amelia's words. "What?"Amelia swallowed hard and continued, her voice low but firm. "He saved my life, Lucy. More than once."Lucy's eyes widened, the fire in them dimming just a little. A gust of wind rustled through the trees, but the silence between them was louder than the night itself."What are you even talking about?" Lucy asked, her voice quieter now but still laced with disbelief.Amelia clenched her hands into fists, struggling with how much to reveal. "There are things that you donât know, Lucy."Lucy took a step closer, her presence demanding the truth. "What is it more to know? What are you hiding, Amelia?"Amelia hesitated, the weight of secrets pressing against her chest. "I canât tell you everything, Lucy," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I will tell you someday." She paused, then took a deep breath. "Now please let me go. I need to talk to him."Lucyâs eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why, Amelia?"Ameliaâs throat tightened, but she answered honestly. "Because I donât know how he has been. I havenât seen him for months."Lucy's gaze sharpened as if she was piecing together a puzzle. "I can sense something hereâ¦" She studied Ameliaâs face, searching for something unspoken. Then her eyes widened with realization. "Wait⦠Is there something going on between you two? do you love him?"Amelia was taken aback, her breath catching in her throat. She stammered, struggling to find the right words. "No⦠I am not." But the hesitation in her voice had already given her away.Lucy stared at her, hurt flashing in her eyes. "Are we even friends?" she asked, her voice laced with quiet disappointment. "You are hiding things from me, Amelia."Ameliaâs heart ached at the distance forming between them. "Please, Lucyâ¦" she whispered, guilt creeping into her tone. "I had to. But I promise I will explain everything later."Lucy let out a deep sigh, crossing her arms. "Okay," she relented, though hesitation still lingered in her eyes. "But be quick. Iâll be waiting at the bonfire site."Relief flooded Ameliaâs face. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lucy. "Thank you" she whispered.Lucy stood stiff for a moment before sighing and patting Ameliaâs back. "Just donât make me regret this," she muttered.Amelia pulled away, giving her a grateful smile before turning on her heels and running. The night air brushed her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest, not just from the run but from the anticipation of seeing him again.When she finally reached the clearing, she spotted Ivar sitting on a fallen tree log, his back straight, his expression unreadable. The flickering glow of the bonfire cast warm hues across his sharp features. He must have sensed her presence because as soon as he saw her running toward him, he stood up.Amelia didnât stop. Without thinking, without hesitating, she threw herself into his arms.Ivar stiffened in surprise, his body going rigid. For a moment, he didnât move, unsure of what was happening. But then, slowly, he exhaled and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him.Amelia clung to him as if letting go would make him disappear. "I missed you so much," she admitted, her voice muffled against his chest. "I wanted to deny it so badly, but I failed."Ivar pulled back slightly, just enough to cup her chin, tilting her face up toward him. His eyes searched hers, gentle yet intense. "You donât have to deny it anymore, sweet girl," he murmured. "From now on, donât hide your feelings from me."Amelia bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Iâm scared, Ivar," she confessed. "Thatâs why I tried to ignore my feelings for you. I kept telling myself it was nothing more than a fleeting emotion." She hesitated before asking the question that had haunted her for so long. "Is it even possible for us to be together?"Ivarâs grip on her tightened ever so slightly. "If you choose to be with me, I will do anything to make that happen," he said firmly. "You donât have to worry about anything.""But what if you get hurt because of me?" she whispered, fear evident in her voice.Ivar let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Either way, Iâm doomed," he teased, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "So donât think about anything else. Just think about me, okay? Can you do that?"She stared at him, her heart pounding. Then, slowly, she nodded.A small, satisfied smile played at the corner of Ivarâs lips. But then his expression turned solemn. "Now that I know how you feel about me⦠if you walk away from my life, that will be the end of me," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Nothing could hurt me more than losing you, Amelia."Her breath hitched. She couldnât look away from him, couldnât ignore the depth of emotion in his gaze. The space between them seemed to shrink, the world around them fading into nothing.Ivarâs gaze flickered to her lips. He stepped closer.Amelia swallowed hard, her fingers trembling. "IâI have to go now," she stammered, breaking the moment. "Lucy is waiting. She⦠doesnât seem to like you very much."Ivar exhaled, his lips twitching in amusement. "That damn girl," he muttered under his breath.Amelia narrowed her eyes. "What did you just say?"Ivar quickly waved his hand dismissively. "Itâs nothing," he said with a smirk.She let out an exasperated sigh. "Iâll be going, then."He didnât respond, just watched her as she turned to leave. But before she could take a step, he reached out and caught her wrist.She looked back at him, her brows furrowing. "Ivar?""You canât leave me empty like this," he murmured."What?" she whispered.Before she could react, his lips were on hers.The kiss wasnât rushed or desperateâit was deep, slow, and filled with everything he hadnât said out loud. Ameliaâs breath caught in her throat. This time, she didnât resist, didnât fight it. Instead, she melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him back.For that moment, the world stood still. Nothing else existedâno fear, no doubts, no past or future. Just them.When Ivar finally pulled away, he didnât go far. His forehead rested against hers, his breath warm against her skin. "I canât let you go," he whispered. "I want more."Amelia's breath came in uneven gasps. She knew what he meant, and part of her felt the same. But reality came crashing back. "Lucy will kill me for sure," she muttered.Ivar chuckled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they laughed together.Finally, Amelia pulled herself back and turned to walk toward the bonfire.Ivar watched her leave, but he didnât stop her. Not this time. Because deep down, he knewâshe belonged to him. Only him.
Chapter 60: chapter 60
Beneath The Pale Blue Eyes•Words: 8230