Lilia’s lips parted slightly as she watched Zethan, searching his face. He looked sincere—serious, yet calm, as if what he had just said didn’t involve death.
"It’s getting late, wife. Let’s go. You need plenty of rest," Zethan said gently.
He stood up and offered his hand, helping her to her feet. Their fingers intertwined naturally.
Lilia’s mouth opened, but no words ca out. She simply stared at him, overwheld.
It was like she wanted to say sothing, but the words just refused to co out.
As they began to walk, she suddenly stopped. Zethan paused too, turning to her with a questioning look.
Then, in a quiet voice, Lilia finally spoke.
"Zethan... I don’t want to leave for the land of the dead anymore."
He knew exactly why she said that—because she was scared. Scared she might never see him again once she woke up.
It was too early for that... She hadn’t even spent much ti with him yet.
Zethan was silent for a mont before speaking softly.
"Our stay here is limited," he said. "I only have three days. If we don’t return to the land of the living by then... we’ll be stuck here."
Lilia shrugged and nodded slowly.
"Of course I wouldn’t mind that," she whispered. "As long as we’re together, it’s fine. After all... this place is no less than ho."
There was a hint of panic in her voice, a crack forming like a warning before tears. Zethan moved toward her and gently scooped her into his arms.
Lilia pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him with a look that said:
’And you’re so calm after all that?’
Zethan chuckled lightly as he began walking down the mountain stairs.
Lilia reached for her hair, pulling it in front of her face to hide.
Zethan chuckled again and murmured, "Don’t. I want to see your pretty little face, wife," he said honestly.
She shook her head, then spoke in a quiet, trembling voice.
"Are you telling you really would...?"
She bit her bottom lip hard, her voice nearly breaking.
"Yes..." he spoke softly, studying her face. He had thought deeply about this. He didn’t want her to worry too much, but he decided to tell her the truth. She was his wife, and she had the right to know. He promised himselfnot to keep anything from her—whatever it was, they’d face it together.
"No, you won’t. It’s better we stay here than for to let you go searching. And what if—"
"Do you trust ?" Zethan interrupted gently.
She hesitated, then nodded.
"I do... but this decision... I don’t think it’s safe."
"Oh, my wife, you worry too much," Zethan said with a smirk, his tone light and teasing.
"Yes, I have to worry. I need to worry. You’re my husband and I... I can’t stay without you. This past week when you weren’t around, it felt like a part of had died. I don’t think you should do this. After all, this place is beautiful, don’t you think?"
Zethan smiled warmly, clearly taken aback by her sweet words. It seed his wife was beginning to fully open up to him about her feelings, and he was loving every inch of it.
Lilia glanced at him, clearly troubled, while he looked completely unbothered.
"Oh, wife. I know you’re saying this because you don’t want to d—"
"Shhhh," Lilia interrupted before he could finish. "Don’t say that word, okay? It’s forbidden. I forbid it until we reach ho successfully," she said in a serious tone.
Zethan chuckled. Lilia’s eyes widened. Was he mocking her?
"’Successfully,’ you say?" he echoed, laughing again. If only she knew how funny she sounded.
Lilia frowned deeply. "How can you act like this doesn’t an anything? You’re so unbothered—and that bothers !"
Zethan shrugged casually as the wind blew Lilia’s hair back. She pushed it lightly behind her ear and looked up at him as he carried her. The sun was already setting, nightfall approaching.
"Why should I be bothered, wife? There’s nothing wrong with it."
Lilia stared, wide-eyed, then a thought struck her. She opened her mouth, then whispered shakily,
"You’re a vampire... you’re immortal. You’re immortal... you’re immortal..." she repeated the words, growing more excited each ti. She had forgotten—her husband couldn’t die. Oh... thank heavens.
Her voice cracked with disbelief, the words a fragile chant. Then she paused.
"So... does that an a normal knife couldn’t... so you will not...?"
She trailed off, her thoughts tangled, overwheld. He could see she was breaking inside. He didn’t know the full depth of what she was feeling, but he knew she didn’t want this at all.
He moved closer, speaking gently.
"Oh, sweetheart... it’s not just any kind of knife. It’s... the Rhondr knife. A different kind. The sa type you were given."
Rhondr knife..
At that, Lilia’s eyes flew wide in realization. The knife... the old lady... that old woman who had emotionally manipulated her with magic, making her think she was her older self.
Lilia gasped. "That day... the knife..."
She bit her lip, slowly turning her face toward him, the mory hitting like a wave.
He looked at her and said softly,
"So... trust ."
Lilia stilled, lost in thought. Did he et that lady? she wondered. She couldn’t think clearly. Finally, she whispered,
"Zethan... once you do that, does it an I’ll see you again in the land of the living?"
Zethan nodded. "Of course you will. That was just the price for coming here, sweetheart."
’Price?’
Lilia looked at him, worry in her eyes. Her voice ca out soft and hesitant.
"Now you’re making scared, Zeth..."
Zethan smiled gently. "Don’t be scared, wife. Look—just like I’m carrying you now, and you’re already feeling comfortable and safe—that’s the kind of trust I want you to have in ."
Lilia frowned and muttered, "Put down."
Zethan laughed, his chest vibrating as the sound sent sweet shivers through her. Her hands rested on him for support, though they didn’t help much—she had just realized that.
He laughed softly again.
"Oh, you forgot I was carrying you until I reminded you. Just admit it, wifey—it wouldn’t hurt, wouldn’t bite, wouldn’t pain to say I’m right," he teased.
Lilia rolled her eyes with a grin.
"Of course you’re not right—I’m your wife. I’m always the right one," she said, giggling.
Zethan smirked, heart full.
"Yes, you are... my wife."
After a few more steps down the path, Zethan ca to a gentle stop. He glanced at her and asked quietly,
"Would you like to carry you all the way to the castle?"
Lilia shook her head with a small smile. Zethan chuckled, then carefully lowered her to the ground, steadying her so she wouldn’t stumble.
He reached for her hand, and without a word, they began walking side by side toward the castle, the silence between them calm and comforting.
After a while, Lilia’s voice broke the quiet.
"For so reason... why do I feel like I’ve known this place even before I ca here?" she whispered. "It’s like I’ve been here before, but I don’t know how or when."
Zethan didn’t interrupt. He just listened—quietly, patiently—letting her process what she was feeling.
She finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It happens."
Zethan nodded silently in agreent, his expression calm.
Then she turned to him, eyes glinting with a flicker of excitent.
"Once we get back to the land of the living... promise you’ll answer all my questions. Every single one of them."
Zethan t her gaze and gave a solemn nod.
"I promise."
Lilia smiled widely, her cheeks flushing just as they finally reached the castle gates.
The guards bowed and opened the gates without a word.
As they stepped inside, Lilia looked up at him and spoke softly,
"Have you been here before?"
Zethan’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smile as he turned to her.
"Oh, Loris... what if I said I already have been?"
They exchanged glances as Lilia shrugged softly, replying,
"I wouldn’t mind. I wouldn’t be surprised, honestly. It seems like... when I was caught between worlds, the lady once said sothing about your na being forbidden."
She paused thoughtfully.
Zethan nodded. "Very true. And yet, I managed to pass through. Isn’t that interesting, my wife?"
Lilia looked at him with narrowed eyes, impressed.
"You’re really sothing. It’s like... you make your own rules."
Zethan chuckled. "Exactly. That’s why I’m your husband—because anything you want, I’ll make it possible."
Lilia rolled her eyes at his words, even though she knew he wasn’t joking. Deep down, she believed him.
They continued walking in silence, the echo of their footsteps filling the long corridor. As they neared the chambers, Lilia spoke softly.
"This hallway... it gives a strange feeling. It’s almost like... it resembles the description from...i think the Black Book."
And just as those words left her mouth—Zethan’s body stilled as he stopped in his tracks.
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