Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Chapter 174

Amelia shifted her weight, her muscles tensing as she prepared to move. I

The man clicked his tongue, watching her with an amused expression. "Don’t bother. Your powers won’t work here."

Amelia paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. She glanced around the corridor. Everything looked exactly as it should, but something about the place felt wrong. The air was too still, and the uneasiness crawling up her spine refused to go away.

Her stomach tightened as the pieces fell into place.

The man noticed the change in her expression and smiled. "There it is. You finally figured it out." He tilted his head, looking almost impressed. "Tell me, Amelia, how did you not notice that we’d already left the Moonfist Territory?"

Amelia’s jaw tightened. She had been so focused on the information Caleb had brought her that she hadn’t paid attention and had walked into someone’s dimension.

They were inside a pocket dimension, one carefully designed to resemble the estate.

She looked back at him, refusing to let her uneasiness show any further. "This isn’t your dimension," she said firmly. "Whoever you are."

His smile widened. "You’re right."

He raised a hand to his face and caught hold of the skin covering it. With one sharp pull, he tore away the disguise, revealing a stranger beneath it. Amelia’s eyes settled on his face, and recognition quickly replaced her surprise. She had seen him before. He was one of the Underworld’s higher members.

"Correct," he said, tossing the stolen skin aside as though it meant nothing to him. "It’s my master’s dimension. And you’ve met her before."

Amelia’s lips pressed together.

"Yeah, I remember her," she replied, folding her arms across her chest. "That woman is really persistent. Or is she just obsessed with me?"

The man’s expression remained smug. "Why don’t you ask her yourself?"

Before Amelia could respond, a black portal opened behind him. The darkness twisted at its edges, spreading across the air like a wound, and someone stepped through it.

Amelia’s gaze moved to the newcomer, taking in the fitted royal robe that clung to her figure and flowed around her legs like liquid shadow. The woman’s presence was unmistakable, and the satisfaction on her face only made Amelia’s irritation grow.

Zelda.

Amelia let out a slow breath through her nose. "Long time."

Zelda smiled, her eyes moving over Amelia as though she were inspecting something she had finally managed to get her hands on. "I hope you haven’t been waiting too long."

"Not really." Amelia lifted her chin, refusing to give Zelda the satisfaction of seeing her unsettled. "Though I have to admit, I’m curious. How did you infiltrate this place without anyone noticing?"

"You should know the answer to that." Zelda took another step forward, her robe shifting around her ankles. "When panic spreads, plans become much easier to carry out. People stop paying attention to the little things, and before they realize what’s happening, it’s already too late."

Her smile deepened.

"After all, you taught me that lesson quite well."

Amelia stared at her for a moment before tilting her head. "I remember you being a spoiled brat. Seems like that hasn’t changed."

The amusement disappeared from Zelda’s face. Her eyes hardened, and the air between them seemed to grow heavier.

"I’m not here to trade insults with you, Amelia." She moved closer, her expression turning cold. "You’re going to come with me quietly. If you value your life, you won’t make this difficult. And if you have any concern for the lives of your lovers, you’ll think very carefully before doing anything foolish."

"You expect me to believe you’ll leave them alone if I cooperate?" she asked. "Since when have you cared about keeping your promises?"

Zelda gave a small, humorless laugh. "Believe whatever you want. It won’t change your situation."

She stopped in front of Amelia, her gaze fixed on hers.

"Because if you die now, you won’t be able to reincarnate anymore."

Amelia’s breath caught in her throat.

How does she know that?

The conditions of her bargain with the Moon Goddess weren’t something she had shared with anyone. Even the brothers had only learned the truth after witnessing her memories. So how had Zelda discovered it?

"Oh, I like that expression," Zelda murmured. "You look much more interesting when you realize you’re not the one holding all the cards."

Amelia’s gaze sharpened. "How do you know that?"

"I have been doing quite a lot, actually." Zelda’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "You’d be surprised how much changes when you’re the one in charge. I’ve learned things, uncovered secrets, and gained access to information you probably thought would remain hidden forever."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice as though sharing a secret between old friends.

"And now, you’re going to make such a grand guest for my people."

Zelda stepped aside and extended one hand toward the swirling black portal, a mockingly polite smile playing on her lips.

"After you."

Amelia glanced at the portal, then back at Zelda. Every instinct she had told her not to take another step, but she knew standing there wouldn’t get her anywhere.

Amelia drew a slow breath and started walking. When she reached the edge of the portal, she stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"My lovers will find me," she said, meeting Zelda’s eyes. "And when they do, they won’t spare any of you."

Her her smile widened, and the amusement in her eyes made Amelia want to wipe it off her face.

"I’m counting on it."

Amelia’s brows drew together. "You’re counting on them coming after me?"

"Of course." Zelda clasped her hands behind her back, looking far too pleased with herself. "What would be the fun in keeping you all to myself? I’d love for them to see exactly what we have planned for you."

Zelda tilted her head toward the portal. "Go on. We wouldn’t want to keep your lovers waiting."

Amelia’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t give Zelda another response. She turned back to the swirling darkness and stepped through, keeping her expression steady even as the portal swallowed her whole.

Zelda followed, with the higher member close behind her.

The moment the last of them disappeared, the black portal shrank inward and collapsed without a sound. The corridor returned to its eerie stillness, the familiar stone walls and tall windows standing undisturbed as though nothing had happened.

Not a trace of Amelia remained.