Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 206: Watching the Waves

Chapter 206: Watching the Waves

The moon glowed with an ethereal light that night, casting a silver sheen over the tranquil ocean. The night was appealingly calm as the couple took a leisurely stroll along the shore, the only sounds echoing were the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore. Hand in hand, they strolled along the sandy shore, barefoot, whilst the grains slipped between their toes as they enjoyed the tranquil of the sea.

Ivan’s pale features revealed no emotions, yet his eyes held a tender, unwavering, gaze as he watched Samantha smile to herself, taking note of her every little move. His affection for her was evident in every small gesture, every tender caress of her hand, and his lips curled slightly when she rested her head lovingly on his arm. Just like him, she was enjoying the sounds of the waves and the comfort they brought.

This was not their first time visiting this sacred place; the ocean held a mysterious allure that seemed to mirror the depths of their feeling, the very beginning of their genuine acceptance. Ivan could still remember when he had asked his little lamb right here if she would leave him if he did something treacherous to his family, and her response that night was the beginning of their acceptance for one another, even though they hadn’t realized what they were doing back then.

As they continued their nocturnal promenade, Samantha dared to break the silence. "Why do we always come here?" She asked, her voice soft and melodic, causing the nearby waves to momentarily hush. She lifted her eyes to look at Ivan who gazed ahead, and he squeezed her hands tenderly.

His expression remained impassive, but a glimmer of warmth touched his eyes when he eventually met her green ones. "We always come here in the sense that, just as the ocean is gentle and fierce, so too is our love." His voice, deep and velvety, reverberated through Samantha’s every being, and she could feel her cheeks warm up.

Her heart automatically raced, her pulse quickened, and she averted her eyes from the one responsible to stare at the ocean instead. She had come to love the tranquility of the walks they shared, the moment of stolen intimacy amid the vastness of the night. The ocean seemed to stretch infinitely before them, echoing the eternity that lay ahead for their new profound love.

"What drink did you serve to the contestants?" She asked Ivan, curiosity lingering in her tone as she looked at him once more. "From the way they glowed, It’s not an ordinary wine, is it? I was starting to worry about Maurice’s injury but they healed after he took a sip from the goblet you gave them."

"That is the purpose of the wine, to provide instant healing and give them strength." Ivan explained, "it is majorly used while in battle. My Father had a remarkable specialist from Vesunard who made them, and he only ever requests them when the time for battle is near. However, I felt I had to bless the contestants with something that will aid their recovery, so I had Lord Viktor make the request on my behalf before leaving for Fernwood."

"There’s a wine that is capable of healing?" Samantha’s interest was piqued as they stopped walking, and Ivan nodded to her timid inquiries.

"Yes, but it works faster on minor injuries. Too much consumption has its own negative side effects so it cannot be taken carelessly." He added, and Samantha couldn’t dispute since she had seen with her own two eyes what a little sip could do. If someone had told her her life would be entangled with so many mysteries and magic, she would outrightly call that person a daydreaming fool. Not to mention but the fact she wasn’t even human still haunted her, it brought a sense of dread to her poor heart, but whenever she looked at Ivan, or thought about Maurice and Lucy, she knew they would never abandon her, regardless of what she might be.

"Shall we sit?" Moving away from Ivan, Samantha’s green eyes reflected her eagerness as she stepped back. Stretching her hands forward in a way that made her seem she wanted to summon her powers, an emerald hue magically appeared on her fingers until healthy green vines began to protrude from under the sand. They grew larger and magically entwined themselves, crisscrossing till they formed a swing. The positive energy from her powers relieved Ivan, and an impressed smile tugged at his lips as he stepped back to have a good look at the lovely swing his little lamb had crafted.

"You can make anything with those powers of yours?" Ivan inquired, sounding seemingly interested, and Samantha nodded her head like an ecstatic child, her face beaming at the thought that she had fascinated Ivan’s attention. When she snapped her fingers to prove a point, bright red apples hung loosely against the swing she had made. When she took her seat on the swing, she effortlessly plucked one of the apples and showed it to Ivan.

"A little treat."

Ivan stepped forward to receive the apple, and when his handsome face bloomed with a charming smile, he took his seat beside Samantha on the swing she had magically crafted, and it felt surprisingly comfortable. They gazed into each other’s eyes, bearing the same warmth and love, but Samantha was the first to avert her gaze to the Ocean, whilst she let out a breath of satisfaction. After a moment, she laid down properly, resting her head on Ivan’s thigh and watching the waves that collided with the shore.

A gentle breeze whispered through her hair, and Ivan wished the night wouldn’t end so soon. She seemed content, her expression softening into a smile as she watched the ocean, as If tranced by it, and there were so many things that appeared beautiful at night. The ocean, the moon, a night full of stars, but he was looking at the woman who made his heart beat in ways no one else could.

When he caressed her hair and played with a strand, it wasn’t long before she fell asleep. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, Ivan knew she was exhausted from the journey, and the fatigue was only starting to hit her now. Her eyelids were closed shut, and her expression was harmless. Her breathing was normal, and Ivan couldn’t help but fall more in love with this woman.

"Little Lamb," he whispered, his voice drifting with the soft wind. "Under the watch of the moon and stars, I promise to make you happy, because you’re the reason I became a happy man." He moved a strand of her hair away from her face, whilst admiring her harmless profile while she slept.

—-

The next day at the Chevalier Palace, Agathe worriedly paced back and forth in her chamber, eyebrows creased in slight confusion. There was a look of uncertainty in her eyes, but also fear. If she doesn’t give Marius what he wants before the day elapses, then he will never help her, he might as well kill her for breaking the deal! But at the same time, Alistair was her son, even if he had a Chevalier blood coursing through his veins, he was still her SON!

"What do I do?" Agitated, Agathe moved to her dressing table to sit down, and when she did, her eyes inadvertently landed on the bottle of poison that peeked from her slightly opened drawer.