Ileus: The Dark Prince

Anastasia circled his skin lazily as she lay on his chest. "No. But I can learn very fast." 

"Why do you want to go for it, love?" he asked, tracing a line on the insides of her wings. He pulled the wing gently towards his face and kissed it. These days her shoulder muscles were developing well. He was making sure that she had the proper diet to develop those muscles. After every session of teaching her weaponry and furthering her training as a warrior, he would personally massage her shoulders and back with a special healing oil that he had got from the Mountains of Tibris, from the bark of a tree found especially there. 

"It will be a good opportunity to meet your grandparents and also to learn a few things." She was aware that his grandparents had promised Lila to him. 

"Cora and Pierre would be biased against you. And I don't want you to be the target of their hatred. Pierre had gone to live in the Mountains of Tibris for a long time, but he has returned and is back with Cora." 

Anastasia intertwined her fingers and put her hands on his chest and rested her chin over it. "I know it, Ileus, but there has to be a start." She sounded impatient. 

"It's just been five days since you have come here, Ana. Don't you think you are rushing a bit?" he said, taking her silky hair in his palm and then letting them fall through his fingers. 

She worried her bottom lip and glanced away. Seeing how dejected she became, he said, "Okay, you can go, but the moment you sense trouble, you are going head back to Draoidh. I will ask Darla and Kaizan to be present there at all times. Remember Lila is a witch, so stay away from her. I will ask the treasure to assign you with one bag of gold." 

"Really?" she said with a gleam in her eyes. She got up and crossed her legs to sit beside him. 

"Hmm," he replied and tugged her back to him, but she was too excited to lie down, so she sat on his thighs and straddled him. "There are tons of books in the library where you can read about gems. In my opinion, that's where you should start from." 

"I will," she said as she pressed her hands on his belly. She skimmed her hands to his navel and then traced the line of hair that went further down. She looked in his golden eyes that were watching her with renewed interest and said, "Do you think I should go under disguise?" 

"I don't think so," he said, rising up. But she pushed him back. Then she fondled with his already hardening shaft. "And I will come with you." 

A smile tugged her lips up and the wings behind her rustled. He squirmed beneath her in anticipation. "Great," she said and kissed the crown of his shaft. He hissed and bucked his hips for her to take him. Anastasia turned her head towards the clothes that were lying in a heap and waved her hands in the air. She willed them to come to her. Since her gown was ripped apart by him, she planned on wearing his shirt. She sighed when she couldn't adjust her wings in it. 

"What are you doing?" he asked, looking at her with a frown.

"Wearing your shirt," she replied sweetly.

"No, no, no, no!" He pushed his erection to rub against her sex. "We are in the midst of doing something very important." 

"That's right," she said again very sweetly. Then she turned her head towards the armoire and waved her hand again. The wooden armoire opened and an olive green dress floated out. It came to her and she wore it. 

"Anastasia!" he cried. "You can't leave me in this condition!" 

Her smile became broad and she got up from the bed. Like an eager child, she said, "I have a lot to study darling!" With that, she walked to the bathroom to take a good bath. 

"Anastasia!" he growled and called her, but the girl was gone. 

An hour later she was in the library. The table in front of her had a pile of books on various types of gems and how to identify them. Being a voracious reader, she read through it all. The wizard who was the keeper of the books, Fionn, already knew who she was. His idea of a fae princess was someone who was ultra spoiled, very rude and very arrogant. However for the whole time as he sat there he watched the young girl studying… and studying hard. Her husband, the crown prince, had come to see her but she hardly paid attention to him. He shuffled around her and then murmured something in her ear but she swatted him away. The wizard librarian laughed internally. At present the crown prince was sitting on the opposite side with his legs on the table and watching her with a ruddy face while the princess… she was deep in her research. 

Ileus had to leave in the middle because his mother had called him. Anastasia sat there until it was time for dinner and before leaving she picked up a book and walked back to her bedchamber. The royal guard who used to offer her extra fruits that he would get from his home, followed her devotedly. In fact the guard who had changed the duty had now started following her around like she was the most precious person in the world, like she was a goddess… When they reached the door of the bedroom, the guards were reluctant to leave. 

Since Ileus hadn't returned, the room was quiet. But as soon as she closed the door, her handmaidens appeared with a tray of food and kept it on the table in front of the couch. "Your Highness, Prince Ileus is with Her Majesty," they informed. "He will join you later." She nodded and they disappeared. When Ileus came, he had a sad expression. 

"Mother has asked me to visit the kingdom of Yardraks tomorrow!" 

"Why?" she asked, tilting her head as she placed the book on the table. Her gaze went to the food, which had become cold. 

"Because they didn't attend the meeting today." He sat beside her and chanted a spell to warm the food. He took a plate and served meat pie, strawberry flavored yoghurt, sesame sprinkled bread and fruit salad. 

"Can I go to Silver Vales tomorrow?" she asked. 

He jerked his head back. "What? Why?" he asked. 

"I want to find out about the best jewelers out there. Kind of do preliminary research…" She opened her mouth for the meat he offered her. 

They had a long discussion, but in the end he just had to agree to her. "You will be taking the royal guards with you from here." He set his condition. "And once you are in Silver Vales, you will not roam without Kaizan and Darla's company." 

"Okay," she replied, chewing the succulent meat. When the dinner was over, Anastasia walked to the bed and continued reading her book. He helped her change her into soft, lacy lingerie. He wrapped his hand around her waist and slept. 

Next morning Anastasia got ready to go to Silver Vales unaware of the dangers lurking there.