Ileus: The Dark Prince

Ileus' forehead creased. His muscles corded with tension when he looked straight into Daryn's eyes. "There I will have people who will always protect her. I can keep a watch on her. Aed Ruad is going to think twice before attacking us and by the time he attacks us, we are going to be ready." 

"That isn't the permanent solution, Ileus," Daryn pointed. "People out there are so against Anastasia that they will do everything in their power to eliminate her. You have to think of a solution that is going to be effective." 

"The only solution that I think is effective is that Anastasia goes there under a different name and acts as Ileus' girlfriend," Dawn interjected. "That way she won't be facing the wrath of the subjects and you can protect her." 

"Never!" Ileus said. "I will not hide her identity." 

"But that is a nice temporary solution, Ileus," Daryn pointed. "If you are too bothered about her protection, then she has to stay hidden under an alias until the situation becomes better." 

"What makes you think that the situation is going to become better soon? It will worsen if they find out about her true identity," Ileus countered. "I am not going to take the risk!" 

Daryn exhaled a heavy breath. He looked at Dawn. He was well aware what kind of complex situation Ileus and Anastasia were in. "Then you should continue to stay in Ixoviya as long as you want," he offered. "I promise that I am going to protect you with everything I have." Daryn was a powerful sorcerer.

Ileus replied, "Aed Ruad already knows that we are in Yelgra. It will barely take him a few days to find out that we are here in Ixoviya. He might attack you. Moreover, Dawn has just dethroned Sedora as the queen. She must be having her supporters here. According to Anastasia, Sedora was Aed Ruad's ally. Who knows that her supporters might attack Anastasia? It is too risky."

"Look Ileus, I am ready to battle for you," said Daryn. "Not even once you should think that I wouldn't stand up for you." Ileus had helped Dawn in the fight against Sedora. "I can never forget how you helped Dawn. And that is why I am going to help you with whatever it takes. Besides, you are my cousin. Your enemy is my enemy. Let Aed Ruad send his forces, I am ready!" There was a glint of excitement in his eyes when he said that. 

Ileus stared at him. Brothers in arms. His admiration for his brother increased. Daryn was one of the most ruthless, cunning and brilliant businessmen in the human realm. And he would have been an equally great king of Ixoviya but he gave up the throne to his elder brother Caleb. "Daryn, I don't doubt your abilities to fight Aed Ruad. But you are not his enemy. My people should fight for me. Why should I use your men to battle for something they don't even know or would support? It would be a halfhearted battle."

Anastasia agreed. She looked at Daryn and said, "That's right. Battle between two kingdoms is between their rulers and not between its people. It's the common people who get crushed like ants. However, if the people are with their king and queen, they will fight for them willingly for their cause. If the cause is vague, which in this case would be for Ixoviyans, they might end up hating you." 

Daryn pursed his lips. For an eighteen-year-old, Anastasia spoke like a true princess. "Then what do you want to do?" he said. "I would strongly recommend that you don't spend your time in Yelgra." 

"How about we go to find Iona?" said Anastasia. "You said that we would go to find her when we were in Evindal." If they found Iona, then her name would be cleared immediately. 

"I am afraid that you are too vulnerable. With your wings unshackled, you have become an easy target. It would not take Aed Ruad more than a few hours to follow your trail. And that is one of the reasons I wanted to go to Draoidh," said Ileus. 

At the mention of her wings, a silence followed. None knew what to say. 

Anastasia lowered her head to look at the stew that was now cold. When her wings were shackled, it was her personal problem, and now that her wings were free, they had become everyone's problem. Should she get them locked again? The thought sent shivers down her spine. She felt so complete with them that she didn't know how she lived without them. 

"Anastasia?" Ileus said softly as he cupped her cheeks. "I love that your wings are free. Don't ever think that I am complaining about them. My intentions are to keep you safe." 

She looked into his golden yellow eyes that were now warm like honey. A sense of security wrapped around her mind and she felt comforted. "What do I do, Ileus?" she asked in a low voice. 

"We are going to figure that out together, okay?" he replied gently. 

She nodded, lowering her head again. Ileus took the bowl from her and chanted, "Teplo." The stew became hot and he gave it back to her. "Have it." 

Dawn, who was sitting with a bowl of blueberries, extended it to her. "Here, have this instead." She gave her a dimpled smile and Anastasia's mood immediately lifted. 

Daryn looked at his wife and his chest swelled with pride. Then his gaze shifted to Ileus who was looking at his wife, his mate with concern that he had experienced only a few days back. He understood that emotion very well. He said, "Since we haven't reached any conclusion, I will insist that Anastasia stays in Ixoviya until she has recovered. The wound that the spirits gave her was ugly. It was Anastasia who could bear the brunt of the wound. Had it been anyone else, it would have killed him or her. The spirits had left a shred of their being, a wisp of cloud, attached to her flesh. It took a lot of time for me and Ileus to capture it."

"Really?" Anastasia asked with wide eyes. 

"Yes!" Daryn answered. "Next time, be careful when you get into similar situations."

Anastasia nodded. There was something in her mind, a sliver of a memory that flashed across. Someone was watching her when she was fighting with the spirits. Or was it a figment of her imagination? She shoved the thought and said, "I accept your offer, Daryn. We will stay here for a while and then we are going to go to the Tides of Bromval." 

"Anastasia?" Ileus said with exasperation. "I just explained—"

She placed her hand over his mouth. "We are going to think about it, okay? We have to find her eventually."

"We do have to find her but not at the cost of your safety!" he retaliated. 

Daryn pursed his lips. He got up from the chair and then looked at Dawn. She smiled and said, "Anastasia, we are going to leave you two now. Whatever you guys decide, we are with you." 

Anastasia's lips tugged up in response. Daryn waved his hand and the yellow orbs of soft light appeared around her. This time they floated around Ileus too.