Chapter 568
Amelie waited, her heart hammering against her ribs for him to speak, but Gabriel simply offered a small, weary smile. “Shall we have our supper first p>
“Yes, of course,” she replied, matching his calm despite her curiosity. They rose in unison and walked toward the dining hall. As they exited, Ashna moved quietly into the bedroom to take her post by Noah’s crib.
At the table, a maidservant began to serve the meal, but Gabriel dismissed her with a sharp, silent gesture. He clearly needed absolute privacy; the secrets he carried weren’t meant for the ears of palace staff. He began to eat, though his mind seemed miles away.
“Eat more,” Gabriel urged, ladling a generous serving of chicken soup into Amelie’s bowl. “I’ve noticed your appetite has been fading lately p>
“That’s not true at all,” Amelie murmured, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I’ve actually gained weight, and I have your constant doting to thank for it p>
“You are diligent with your daily exercises, and you’re returning to your original shape and strength,” Gabriel countered, his eyes softening as they swept over her. “But there is no rush. You look beautiful in every way, Amelie. Never doubt that p>
Amelie chuckled, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. “You certainly have a way of flattering me at just the right moments. But let’s go for a run tomorrow? Selene is restless; she wants to be out in the forest and run alongside Valko p>
For a moment, a shared memory flashed between them, a vision from their past lives where they covered vast, emerald grasslands in their wolf forms, two shadows moving as one under the moonlight.
“Even I feel the pull for a long run with you, Ame,” Gabriel admitted. “Valko misses her as much as I miss this. We will definitely go tomorrow, I promise you p>
After finishing their meal, they retreated to their bedroom. Following their nightly routine, they prepared for sleep in a comfortable silence. Amelie sat at the dressing table, the rhythmic stroke of the brush through her hair the only sound in the room, before she finally set the comb aside. As she turned, she saw Gabriel already settled under the duvet, his gaze fixed on her as he waited.
“You should have slept by now,” Amelie told him.
“I have yet to tell you what I’ve found out,” he murmured. “Besides, I like watching you like this p>
She moved across the room keeping a smile on her face and switched off the main lights, leaving only the amber glow of the bedside lamp before sliding into the duvet beside him. Gabriel immediately pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her in a protective embrace.
“I met someone… Someone I didn’t realize was watching over me all this time,” Gabriel began, his voice low and contemplative. His fingers traced idle patterns through her long tresses while his eyes remained anchored to the ceiling above.
“Who?” Amelie asked, a small frown tugging at her features.
“The one I yearned for most in the past,” Gabriel replied softly.
The realization hit Amelie instantly. “Your mother p>
“Yes,” Gabriel agreed, his chest heaving with a heavy sigh.
“But how? How could she still be alive after all these centuries? Is she a—” She broke off as Gabriel shook his head.
“The Moon Goddess,” Gabriel revealed, widening Amelie’s eyes at once. “I am the son of the Moon Goddess, Amelie. Because she conceived me with a mortal, she was punished by the heavens. And because of that divine blood, I along with my mate, was forced through that devastating destiny p>
His eyes, dark with a centuries-old grief, reflected the weight of the wounds he had carried since his return. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto Amelie’s with a look of profound apology. “And the punishment was forced upon you, too. You became my mate, and because of me p>
“Don’t say that,” Amelie interrupted softly, pressing her fingers against his lips to silence the self-reproach. “Do you even know how delighted I was the moment I first realized you were my mate? Not just in this life, but in the one before as well. It doesn’t matter who your mother was or what title she held. It was a blessing to me that you were the one who walked into my life, Gabriel p>
She leaned closer. “Even now, you are my greatest blessing. Words will never be enough to tell you how much I adore you. Our bond isn’t a curse, it’s unbreakable and divine. I would undergo a thousand more hardships if it meant I got to be by your side. Those trials seem like nothing as long as I am with you p>
Gabriel stared at her, the tension in his shoulders finally beginning to dissolve under the heat of her devotion. He reached up, catching her hand and slowly lowering it from his mouth. His gaze drifted to her lips before he leaned in, connecting them in a deep, lingering kiss.
As their lips parted, their minty breath mingled, and their tongues intertwined with the same desperate, familiar rhythm as their fingers, locking them together in a promise.
Wanting to catch their breath, they both pulled away, though their faces remained inches apart. Gabriel pressed his forehead against hers, his breath hitching slightly as the weight of his revelation finally settled into a sense of peace.
“I love you, Amelie,” he whispered, his voice thick with a vulnerability he only ever showed to her.
“I love you too, Gabriel,” she answered back softly. She rested her palm against his cheek, her thumb grazing his skin as she offered him a warm smile.
Comforted by her words and her presence, Gabriel shifted, lowering himself back down and pulling her firmly into his side. He wrapped his arms around her, tucking her head under his chin in a protective embrace.
The grueling weariness took over him almost instantly. Within minutes, the steady rhythm of their breathing synchronized, and both of them fell into a deep slumber.