Chapter 69 — AT WHAT COST?

Sarah left Amara in the room as she waited for Ethan’s arrival. Amara kept pacing left and right, looking for the words to say to Ethan when he arrives. She didn’t want to be too direct. She just wanted to see how he was doing.

She waited for a little while longer before she heard a knock on the door downstairs. She immediately rushed to open the door, but saw that Amara was already there, door opened, and a familiar face staring at her. It was Ethan Blackwood.

His face looked paler than usual, but he kept his composure and his graceful look. Before Sarah could even usher him into the house, Amara ran and threw her arms over him. Tears streaming down her eyes.

“You are okay. Thank goodness you are okay, because God knows what I would have done if you had died trying to revive me,” she said hugging him tightly. Ethan didn’t object. Months ago he would have hated this, but instead he melted into Amara’s arms and returned the hug, a very intimate moment.

Amara took Ethan to her room, and started to examine him for any injuries sustained from last night.

“I know some first aid, maybe I can help you,” she said, but Ethan took her hands and shook his head, telling her not to worry.

“I am fine, and I have always been,” Ethan said.

Amara furrowed her eyebrows. She noticed that the more Ethan spoke, the more weak he sounded. She had no other option but to be direct with her questions.

“Ethan, just what exactly did you do to save me last night? Why me?” she asked, but there was a cold silence that followed closely after.

Ethan said nothing. In fact, he did not want to say anything at all. Amara was already this worried for about his well-being. If he should rely everything that had happened exactly, she would worry even more, and he had no intention of making Amara waste her time away worrying about him. He hated when people looked at him with pity. So he kept quiet saying nothing.

Amara tensed at his tight lips, “say something please. I was supposed to be dead, but surprisingly I wasn’t. When I woke, you fell right beside me. Did you know how much was going through my head that time?”

“Amara,” his voice dragged out her name, “there is nothing to be worried about.”

Amara became frustrated. She placed her hands over his, “Ethan, I know you have always been holding secrets more intense than this.”

Then she cupped his cheeks tenderly, “I was supposed to die last night from that blast, but you saved me. I just only want to know, what did it cost you?” she asked, her voice soft and warm.

“I was just repaying a debt. You almost died trying to save me, so I did what I could to save you.”

Amara frowned, she knew that this was getting no where. No matter how much she tried, Ethan would always remain an enigmatic man to her. So in other to understand him. She had to find out somethings by herself.

Ethan laughed amidst her thoughts, “you are thinking of finding out yourself?”

Amara abruptly shook her head, but it was evident that, that was what she was thinking about.

“Let it go Amara, the past is in the past. You saved me and I saved you. So can we not draw out this topic?” Ethan said.

Amara nodded, her hands still cupping his face. His fierce grey eyes which always held power was now dim and warm. The look he gave Amara made her stomach dance. It had been a long time since she had felt her heart burn for Ethan at just how beautiful the man in front of her looked.

“Do you want to know why the potion didn’t work on me?” she asked, eyes still fixed on Ethan’s.

Ethan already guessed that because she had Arcata’s blood running through her veins, it made sense why the love potion lay dormant.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I think my love for you was greater,” she answered.

There was a brief silence between the two. Ethan knew that, that was what Amara thought since she had no full knowledge of her connection to Arcata, but her voice made his heart burn.

Amara’s revelation hung in the air like a charged thunderstorm, and the room seemed to pulse with a newfound intensity. Her words, admitting that her love for Ethan had exceeded the power of the love potion, echoed in both their minds. It was a declaration that lay bare the depth of her feelings.

Ethan’s gaze bore into Amara’s eyes, searching for any hint of doubt or hesitation. What he found instead was a fiery determination that mirrored his own. She had been through so much, and yet here she stood, unyielding in her love for him.

Without another word, he closed the gap between them and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. It was a kiss that held the weight of their shared experiences, their unspoken emotions, and the undeniable connection that had grown between them. Amara responded eagerly, her hands tangling in Ethan’s hair as the kiss deepened.

For a moment, the world outside faded away, and they were lost in each other. It was a kiss that spoke of longing and desire, of a love that had overcome the odds. It was a kiss that promised a future together, no matter the challenges that lay ahead.

When they finally broke apart, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, Amara looked into Ethan’s eyes, her heart laid bare. “I love you, Ethan,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Ethan’s gaze softened, and he caressed her cheek with his thumb. “As do I,” he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.

As they held each other in that moment, a sense of peace washed over them. Ethan couldn’t help but draw Amara into another lingering kiss.

The kiss was an unexpected rush of emotions. Amara felt her heart swell with a mixture of joy and confusion. She had always known that her feelings for Ethan ran deep, but this kiss was a revelation, a confirmation of the intensity of their connection. It was as if a dam had burst, and all the emotions she had been holding back came flooding forth.

Ethan, too, was taken aback by the surge of emotions that overcame him. He had always been the stoic and composed one, never allowing his feelings to show. But now, in this tender moment, he couldn’t hold back any longer. The taste of Amara’s lips was like a balm to his weary soul, and he found himself losing himself in the kiss, savoring every second of it.

Amara couldn’t help but smile. It was a smile filled with warmth and affection, a smile that spoke of a deep connection that went beyond words.

“Wow,” was all she managed to say, her eyes locked with Ethan’s.

Ethan chuckled, his own eyes filled with a newfound vulnerability. “Wow, indeed,” he replied, his voice tinged with emotion.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching the room. It was Sarah, who had grown impatient waiting downstairs. As she entered the room and saw the two of them, she raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Well, it seems like I missed quite the reunion,” she quipped, a teasing smile on her lips.

Amara blushed, while Ethan cleared his throat, his composure returning. “Sarah, we were just catching up,” he said, trying to sound casual.

Sarah’s grin widened. “Sure, catching up. Well, I’m glad to see you’re both in good spirits.” She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone becoming more serious. “But we do have some important matters to discuss, especially if we’re going to delve deeper into the supernatural world of Silverwood.”

Amara and Ethan nodded in agreement, the reality of the situation settling back in. While their kiss had provided a moment of respite from the unknown, they were well aware that there were many unanswered questions and challenges ahead. Sarah began to rely she and Frank’s encounter with the man in the shadows.

Ethan’s gaze never left Amara’s during the discussion. He couldn’t deny the depth of his feelings for her any longer. She had become an integral part of his life, and he was willing to do whatever it took to protect her. But he also knew that the challenges ahead would test their newfound connection, and he was determined to stand by her side.

As they wrapped up their conversation, Sarah couldn’t help but express her concerns. “I still think we’re diving into the unknown here, and it’s dangerous. We don’t even know who we can trust in this supernatural world.”

Ethan nodded, acknowledging the validity of her concerns. “You’re right, Sarah. But sometimes, you have to take risks to uncover the truth. We can’t live in ignorance any longer.”

Amara looked at Ethan with a newfound sense of admiration. She could see the determination in his eyes, the strength of character that had always drawn her to him. “We’re in this together,” she said, her voice filled with resolve.

Sarah sighed, realizing that she couldn’t dissuade them from their path. “Fine, but promise me you’ll be careful. And if things get too dangerous, you’ll retreat.”

Ethan and Amara exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement. They knew the road ahead would be filled with challenges, but they were prepared to face them together.