Ivan's Queen
Chapter 7 - Hope

A month has passed and all my personal belongings have been transported to the castle. Ivan and I, along with some guards, had traveled back to Berlin around the same time my family arrived there also. He explained the situation to my parents and let me make the decision of whether I wanted to stay at home or go back to the Lycan Kingdom with him.

It was tough for me to leave my family and home behind but I knew that I made the right decision by coming back with Ivan. We are mates and I want to give us a chance. And thankfully, we’ve been making progress.

Ivan and I have fallen into a routine now. Every morning, he disappears at the crack of dawn but returns to have lunch with me. We have it in his office where he completes some paperwork with me before leaving again. He returns in the evening and we spend the rest of our day relaxing.

Although he spends his time reading a book, I can always feel him watching me while I paint or draw for hours on end. We haven’t talked all that much, he isn’t much for conversations. However, the times where he does speak, I discover many things about him.

For example, his favorite color is dark green and he loves his father’s cooking which he made me swear not to tell his mother. He tries to commit to water sports at least once a week but work makes it hard. He doesn’t like messy surroundings which I noticed myself when he would tidy up after himself almost immediately.

Another thing that I’ve noticed that I don’t think he realizes he does is that he doesn’t like people getting near him. If he feels uncomfortable with the closeness, he inconspicuously moves away. The only people that I’ve seen him not do this with are his family, close friends and me.

I’ve discovered all the little quirks and traits of Ivan Romanov but I have yet to discover what made him the way he is, reserved, quiet and cold. Ayla let on that after he returned from the Great War when other species tried to take over the throne, he was never the same man who was full of life. Something had changed him.

I’m brought out of my thoughts when I hear the door slam shut and footsteps making their way to the kitchen. Ivan rushes in with his dark hair sticking up wildly and a panicked look in his eyes that disappears as soon as he notices the plate of pasta I hold out to him.

“Thank you!” He sighs contently before taking a seat beside me.

“No problem.” I chuckle as I run my fingers through his hair so I could smooth them down. “Do you need to get back after lunch?”

“Yes.” He nods before taking a sip of water. “I’m visiting the villages again to see if there’s anything else the people need and to check up on the houses being built for them. I might be back late tonight so don’t wait up okay?”

“Okay.” I nod, understanding that the people who have been wrongly attacked need a lot of help and support right now. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“I will.” He replies, finishing his food and rushing to the sink before cursing when somebody honks the horn from outside.

I smile and shake my head in amusement before taking the plate from him. “Go, I can do it.”

“Thank you!” He quickly puts his suit jacket on before running out of the kitchen with me following behind.

“Ivan!” I call, watching him turn to me in confusion. I hold out the important files he needs to take with him, giggling when he facepalms himself.

He walks up to me and takes the files out my hand before opening his mouth to speak but growling in annoyance when someone honks the horn again. Unable to control my laughter over his frustration, I squeal when he cheekily pokes my side in a playful manner. He rolls his eyes when someone yells for him before running out the door and shouting orders to someone.

There’s been a lot of surprising moments over the past month. Ivan has loosened up slightly and sometimes he forgets to keep up that brooding, silent act of his. I don’t want to change him or anything but I like how comfortable he is around me now and prefer this side to him. He’s especially sweet when the weather at night worsens because he slips into bed beside me and holds me until I fall asleep. I’ve given up on reminding him that I only get scared when there’s thunder and lightning. But I can’t deny the fact that I’ve grown used to falling asleep in his arms.

He’s been swamped with work ever since we first arrived at the castle and most of the time, he forgets to take care of himself. So, I make sure he isn’t missing any meals and gets some rest every night. However, he isn’t a big fan of me chasing him out of his office ever since I scolded him for being up working past three in the morning. That memory puts a smile on my face as I dry my hands, remembering how stubborn he was that night. We had a full-blown argument but eventually, he went to bed.

“Thinking about him?” A voice makes me jump and turn to see Ayla standing there with a knowing smirk.

“N-No.” I stammer before groaning lowly when she chuckles at my lie.

Ayla has been teleporting a lot between her home and the Lycan kingdom as Ivan asked her for help with the situation. Apparently, last year something similar happened in the Vampire kingdom so she has been advising him on how to handle everything carefully.

“It’s okay. I know how you feel.” She winks with a smirk on her lips as she gestures for me to follow.

I walk out of the kitchen to replace two men standing in the foyer and dressed in all black gear. Immediately, I assume that they’re guards and it’s confirmed when I spot the various weapons strapped on them. They both seem very friendly however, despite appearing dangerous.

“Amelia, this is Benno.” She gestures to the dark brown-haired male before pointing to the black haired one. “And this is Hendrix. Ivan appointed them as your personal guards.”

“It’s nice to meet you both.” I smile as I shake their hands.

Benno has rough features and two scars on his face, one by his green eyes and another on his jaw. He looks like he’s been in way too many fights but when he starts talking to me, he’s full of jokes and is overall a cheerful person. Hendrix’s blue eyes are dark and stormy but he makes me feel comfortable with a warm smile and his sarcastic remarks. He has angular features, light freckles smattered across the bridge of his nose and his hair is very curly. Although they appear to be boyish and approachable, they look like they can pack a punch.

We move to the sitting room to talk a little more and I learn that Benno is also in charge of training the warriors. As he talks about the training, it reminds me of dad waking me up in the mornings and doing some similar exercises. I start to feel a little homesick and wish that I could see my family again. But I chase it away because I know I can’t go back yet. Not until the situation with the villages is handled.

“I bet Amelia could learn a thing or two from you! She used to train almost every day back home.” Ayla grins at me.

“Would you?” I perk up in excitement, only for my hope to diminish when both men shake their heads.

“We wouldn’t want to be killed for harming the Queen.” Benno chuckles and shrugs apologetically when I sigh in disappointment.

“You won’t, it’s only training.” I protest, huffing when they refuse yet again.

After realizing that they won’t give in, I let it be. I’ll just have to try harder next time, I think to myself slyly. We talk some more before Ayla receives a video call from Asher and she slips away to her room. I decide to spend the rest of my evening painting so I head up to the studio Ivan had set up for me.

He had remembered that I loved to draw and paint when I was younger and one day, surprised me with a room where I had all the materials I could ever want. Opening the doors, I walk in and hear Benno sink into the couch with a content sigh whereas Hendrix wanders over to the large window that overlooks a vast amount of land.

Propping a blank canvas onto the easel, I adjust my seat and bring over the materials before starting to paint. My humming echoes in the room and we spend hours talking and laughing. I have never become so comfortable around people this fast and it surprises me a little. Both my guards make me feel safe and comfortable. Hendrix even tries to paint at one point! But no matter how many times I encourage him to finish it, he refuses and tells me that he’s ruined it already.

Around nine at night, their eyes glaze over and both bid me goodnight. Telling me that Ivan has arrived and will be up shortly, they leave the room after making sure I’m okay. I continue to paint, thinking that he has gone to have dinner first. But I’m proven wrong when three, sharp knocks sound on the door and it opens.

I look up to see Ivan leaning against the doorframe with his hands in the pockets of his pants. His eyes are troubled and there’s a frown on his lips which instantly makes me want to cheer him up. I watch him expectantly and my gaze follows him as he makes his way to me and crouches on the floor. His hand cups my cheek and his thumb caresses my skin as he stares deeply into my eyes. I almost blush at the intensity of the moment but dare not to spoil it by speaking.

“Can I take you out on a date, Amelia?” He asks eventually which makes my eyes widen in response.

“A date?” I repeat as if wanting to confirm that what I heard was in fact true.

“Yes.” He smiles slightly as his expression becomes tender. “We are mates after all and…I’m sorry, I know I haven’t been trying. I would like to make up for it, if you will let me?”

“Of course, I would love to.” I smile, trying to contain my excitement.

“Thank you.” He smiles gently, his voice equally soft. “Tomorrow afternoon, I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

He brushes his lips against my knuckles and the kiss is feather-light but it evokes all kinds of emotions within me regardless. Wishing me sweet dreams, he makes his way to the door and looks back at me one last time as I sit there with a dazed expression. And then he’s gone, leaving me craving for more.

Oh Ivan, what are you doing to me?