Chapter ~ Words of Love

“Ugh…” Belinda opened her eyes, her eyelids feeling incredibly heavy.

“You’re awake?” Luca’s voice brought her attention to him.

“Luca? How long have I been asleep?” she asked.

“You’ve been asleep for two days. Your energy was completely drained, but the magic healers worked to restore it,” Luca said, flashing her a gentle smile.

“What about you, Luca? How are you doing?” Belinda inquired.

“Me? I’m perfectly fine. My body regenerates on its own, so all my injuries heal naturally,” Luca replied casually.

Belinda furrowed her brows, trying to recall what happened before she lost consciousness. Her body still felt weak, but the pain that had consumed her was now much more bearable. She glanced at Luca, who was sitting beside her, looking calm and radiant as if he hadn’t been injured at all.

“Are you really okay? Not a single wound?” Belinda pressed, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She knew Luca often downplayed his own condition.

Luca chuckled softly, his smile as carefree as ever. “Trust me, Bell, I’m fine. My body is made for this kind of thing. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Belinda let out a deep sigh. Though somewhat reassured, she still felt uneasy. “But you used so much energy too, Luca. I saw what you did back then... you protected me.”

Luca reached out and gently held Belinda’s hand, his fingers warm and steady. “You’re my wife. No matter what, I’ll always protect you. Don’t feel guilty about that.”

His words left Belinda speechless. Her eyes began to sting with unshed tears, but she held them back. Deep down, she knew Luca was sincere, and the sense of safety he gave her was incomparable.

“Can I ask you something, Bell?” Luca said suddenly. “Honestly, I can’t quite understand this, nor do I know what kind of emotion this is.”

“What do you mean?” Belinda asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Bel, the Ravis race was created without emotions. We’re like wild beasts that only know how to hunt and mate. But ever since I met you, I’ve felt so many unfamiliar things. I’ve lived on Earth before, blending in with humans. I’ve learned about sadness, tears, and happiness. But this emotion I feel now... it’s entirely different.”

“What kind of feeling is it?” Belinda questioned, her brows knitting together.

“At first, I wanted you to be my pet, my plaything. But the more you resisted and fought back, the more I felt challenged to conquer you. Not as an enemy but as someone I wanted to claim and keep for myself. When you were in a coma, I was restless, unable to control myself. I was so afraid of losing you that nothing else mattered—I just wanted you to wake up.”

Belinda stared at Luca intently, her expression softening.

“Bell, I don’t know what this feeling is. I don’t know what kind of emotion I’m experiencing. But one thing is certain: please, never say again that you’d die with me. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Luca’s words brought tears to Belinda’s eyes.

“Why are you crying?” Luca looked alarmed as he noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks. He gently wiped them away with his hand.

“Did my words hurt you?” he asked, his tone tinged with concern.

Belinda shook her head slowly, but her tears continued to flow, trailing down her cheeks. "No, Luca... Your words didn’t hurt me," she said hoarsely, trying to hold back the storm of emotions in her chest.

Luca continued to look at her with confusion, his fingers pausing as they wiped her cheeks, uncertain. "Then why? Why are you crying, Bell?" he asked again, his voice softer this time.

Belinda took a deep breath, gathering the courage to express her feelings. "Don't you realize, Luca? What you just said... all of it, that's love. You love me."

Luca froze, his eyes widening slightly as he processed Belinda's words. "Love?" he murmured, more to himself than to her. "Is that true? Is love the emotion that makes me fear losing you? That makes me want you to always stay by my side?"

Belinda nodded, a small smile breaking through her tears. "Yes, Luca. That’s love. And I’m crying because... I love you too. Hearing how you feel... it makes me incredibly happy."

This time, it was Luca who fell silent, his face slowly shifting, as though discovering something new and wondrous. He touched Belinda's face gently, his eyes locking onto hers.

"So... this is called love?" he whispered softly. "If this is love, then I want to hold you close. I want to protect you, love you, and never let you go."

Belinda couldn’t hold back her sobs anymore, but this time, her tears were not born of sadness, but of happiness. Luca leaned closer, pulling her into a warm embrace, letting the emotions they had long suppressed flow freely.

"I love you, Bell. I love you..." Luca whispered.

Belinda remained still, her heart trembling at Luca's confession. His deep voice was soft but carried an undeniable honesty. The tears that had stopped now flowed again, soaking her cheeks.

"Luca..." Belinda murmured, her eyes gazing into his. There was warmth in his gaze, something she never imagined she could find in someone like Luca—a Ravis being she initially thought only knew power and dominance.

"I love you, Bell," Luca repeated, his voice firmer this time, as if ensuring Belinda fully understood. His hand lifted, gently caressing her face with tenderness. "I don’t care about what the Ravis were created for. One thing I know for sure—my heart belongs to you."

Belinda smiled through her tears, warmth filling her chest. "Luca… I love you too," she replied, her voice trembling but full of sincerity. "From the moment you entered my life, I always felt connected to you, even when I didn’t want to admit it. Now… I won’t deny it any longer."

Luca gazed at her with newfound tenderness. Without saying anything more, he leaned in and softly kissed her forehead, sealing their shared feelings.

"We’ll face everything together, Bell. No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side," Luca promised again, his voice like an eternal vow.

Belinda nodded, her hand gripping Luca’s tightly. She knew that from this moment on, their lives would never be the same. But she was ready, because with Luca, she felt no fear of anything.

***

"All of Danica and Arsy's forces were driven back by Zenon and the elite troops?" Luca asked.

"Yes. Zenon discovered the truth from Sein, who finally confessed. Danica and Sein made a dark contract with the demon Zeos. They were promised immense power and dominion over planets, as long as Zeos could obtain the power of the Bloodmoon Goddess. That’s why they held a master alchemist who knew the intricacies of the Bloodmoon Goddess's power," Orion explained.

"So, the reason they incited conflict and provoked us into destroying and conquering Earth was for the power they sought and their alliance with Gordon?" Luca asked.

"Exactly, Luca. They have become stronger recently because Zeos's power was channeled into their bodies. But when you and your wife killed Zeos, they were utterly defeated by Zenon's elite troops and the Northern Region's elite forces under your command," Orion replied.

Luca nodded slowly, processing Orion's explanation. "So, it all came down to the power of the Bloodmoon Goddess," he muttered, his expression serious, though a hint of relief flickered in his eyes. "If Zeos is dead, then their threat is over. Every region just needs to tighten security and ensure no demons or Gordon beings infiltrate our planet."

Orion nodded with respect. "You’re right. Given the heavy casualties, the Gordons wouldn’t sit still. We must remain vigilant."

Luca took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to Belinda, who sat nearby, listening quietly. "What are you thinking, Bell? If there’s something on your mind, just say it," Luca said.

Belinda gave a faint smile, though her body still felt weak. "What about the book and the Ravis beings involved with the dark power?" she asked.

"I can ensure no Ravish beings have on Earth. To confirm, I’ve sent surveillance birds to Earth to check the situation and ensure no further massacres occur," Orion replied.

"That’s a relief," Belinda said, feeling a wave of calm.

"As for Danica, Sein, Arsy, her daughter, and everyone involved, they will be executed two days from now at Zenon’s castle. Even August has agreed to Zenon’s decision because Sein is truly guilty," Orion added.

"Zenon has personally sent me an invitation. He wants Belinda to attend the event and begin the ceremony to replenish the sacred lake and flow its power across Mars with the Bloodmoon Goddess's strength," Luca said, turning to Belinda.

"But I haven’t responded yet, Bell. I want to ensure you’re fully recovered before using your power again," Luca said.

"I’m fine, Luca. I’ll do it," Belinda replied with a sweet smile.

Orion gave a small smile as he watched them. "You two are remarkable. The combination of Ravis' power and human courage like Belinda’s... I believe this is the beginning of great change in the universe."

Luca’s gaze hardened as he looked at Orion. "Great change or not, what I know is that I won’t let anyone threaten Belinda or those I care about again. If Danica, Sein, or anyone else tries to defy us, they’ll face a far greater force," Luca declared.

Orion nodded, satisfied with Luca’s resolve. "I’ll ensure the soldiers stay on guard. I’ll also continue investigating if any remnants of Zeos's power still linger."

Belinda looked at Luca, her gaze filled with confidence. "We’ll face this together. No matter how big the threat, I won’t back down."

Luca took her hand, holding it tightly. "And I won’t let anyone hurt you again, Bell. We’ll protect everything, together."

Suddenly, Darish entered the room.

"Forgive my intrusion. But someone is here to see Queen Belinda, my lord," Darish said.

Luca’s sharp gaze shifted to Darish, his expression unreadable but intense. "Someone wants to see Belinda?" he asked coldly, his tone laced with caution.

Darish nodded slowly, clearly trying to steady himself under Luca's piercing gaze. "Yes, my lord. They insist on meeting Queen Belinda personally."

Belinda, intrigued by the statement, turned her attention to Darish. "Who is it, Darish? Did they give their name?"

"They didn’t, my queen. But they claim to have information about the Bloodmoon Goddess," Darish responded cautiously.

Luca’s eyes narrowed, the energy around him shifting ominously. "Who is this person? Are they a threat to Bell?" Luca’s possessive tone was unmistakable, and the air around him seemed to ripple with blue energy, a manifestation of his fiery magic.

Belinda placed a gentle hand on Luca’s arm, her touch calming. "Let them in. Perhaps they bring important news," she said softly, reassuring Luca.

Luca remained silent for a moment, his expression stern as he weighed the risk. Finally, he gave a sharp nod, though his posture remained defensive. "Very well, Bell. But I’ll be with you. I won’t take any chances."

Belinda smiled warmly, her trust in him evident. "Thank you. Let’s meet them together."

Darish nodded and quickly left the room, leaving the couple to prepare for whatever revelation was about to unfold. Luca moved closer to Belinda, his protective instincts sharp, ready to shield her from any harm that might come her way.