Ileus: The Dark Prince

When Anastasia and Ileus came out, they found that the fortress was a buzz of activity. The fae and the demon soldiers were everywhere. It was easy to make out that several men and women in heavy armor, bearing swords, bows and spears were guarding the premise on the boundary. Things were happening as if they coordinated. As they walked through the lichen and moss strewed corridors, the smell of smoke and wax wafted through the air. 

The fae soldiers bowed to the royal couple, as they passed and Ileus' expression was tight. 

"How did they find you, Ileus? I mean I thought you had come alone!" Anastasia asked as she realized the curious expressions of the soldiers when they saw her. She knew that they all wanted to know more about her. 

They entered a large courtyard, which was now getting cleaned by a few faes, who were pulling out the weeds and thorny bushes that had spread all over the stony floor and filled the cracks. "Your father sent a hundred soldiers, led by Yion with me, the moment we came to know that you were spotted in the Mountain of Tibris." 

"But you came alone!" she said with a surprise in her voice. She heard horses neighing somewhere on the left of the courtyard. 

He snorted. "Once we crossed Sgiath Biò, I didn't want them to slow my pace. So I left them and travelled to his place. Had I waited for them, I would have reached only a few hours back and would have seen Kaizan fighting alone to protect you." He shuddered. "I can't imagine Kaizan dead!" A muscle in his jaw feathered. 

Anastasia stopped in her tracks. Ileus also stopped as he felt a jerk in his hand. "What happened, sweetheart?" he asked with a frown. 

Slowly she took a step towards him and then planted a kiss on his lips. "You have me for today and for always." She looked in his twin golden flames and the intensity of emotions was so overwhelming that Ileus wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again at the corner of her mouth. 

"I have no intention of leaving you, love. It is something I can't bear." He leaned his forehead against hers. "I was on the verge of getting insane without you." He held her hand and then asked a question that was on his mind. "How did the fae soldiers find their way to this place? Tibris is an enchanted realm." 

Anastasia said, "You forget that faes and demons came from the same line. If demons can stay here, so can the faes." 

They walked through the courtyard, which had become silent. In fact, the entire fortress seemed too silent and Anastasia realized that though they all wanted to, the soldiers were trying hard not to look in their direction. Anastasia's cheeks singed. She held her breath and Ileus only wrapped his arm around her shoulders showing his proprietary shamelessly. She belonged to him. 

They walked through a narrow set of stairs that creaked as they climbed and then entered into a hall. A fire hearth was burning in the corner giving the place a soft glow and much needed warmth. Three torches burnt on either side of the walls. In the center was a large wooden square table around which Yion, Arel, Iona, Rolfe and Kaizan were sitting. 

As soon as Yion saw Anastasia, he got up and bowed to her to his waist. "Casti mi je upznti vas, princezo Anastasia." It's an honor to meet you, Princess Anastasia. 

Anastasia nodded to him with a smile. She knew that Yion was one of those men who had sworn to be loyal to the throne and he remained loyal even after her father was overthrown. In their language, he said, "I have come to take you back to the kingdom, but there is a pressing matter that General Arel would like to speak about. And we should listen to him." 

Anastasia's brow creased. She sat down opposite General Arel after Yion rushed to pull the chair for her. The attention was unnerving. 

They looked at Rolfe and silent greetings were exchanged and they couldn't help noticing how close he was sitting to Iona. But Ileus already knew that Rolfe was Iona's mate and such behavior was natural. Even though his brotherly instincts to protect her were at its peak, he didn't want to needle the demon's rage. 

Arel didn't waste time and looked at Iona. She nodded and said, "I will be your translator for the evening." A smile curved her lips up. She looked at her brother and threw a bargain. "If you cook a nice vegetable stew for me for dinner, I will translate correctly. Else—" she shrugged. "And I would like all the seasonings in it. And I will not share it with anyone. And if you won't cook, I will go and tell our mother and father that you didn't take care of me." 

Ileus stared at his sister without blinking his eyes. The girl hadn't changed a wee bit. "You are still so bloody nasty, you brat!" he chided her. 

"Man, you are such an ass!" Kaizan chimed in. "She is only asking you to cook, not go and lift a mountain!" 

Rolfe, who was visibly irritated for not being able to understand them, couldn't help but hold Iona's hand. "Are they threatening you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at Ileus. 

Iona giggled. "No, I just blackmailed my brother into cooking food for me." 

Jealousy flared and stabbed him like a thousand shards. He didn't say anything but… 

Arel smiled at the siblings and then coughed in order to draw their attention. He started. "I think you are already aware that Prince Rolfe is the youngest son of Edyrm Cranon Aramaer, the King of Galahar. Unfortunately, he has been exiled by his father because he believes in the benefit of his people whereas the king is only interested in taxing them heavily. Our kingdom has been thrusted into poverty and dark ages. And all this happened because of one woman… Etaya." Arel took a deep breath and exhaled his hatred out for her. "She had convinced the king that she would fight for him, and that she was born again only to fulfill the wishes of her father, the first demon king, to reunite the fae and demon kingdoms. When Edyrm refused to help her, she threw in a better deal at him—she said that her plan was to rule the Lore." He looked at Iona to translate. 

Iona's lips quivered at the mention of Etaya. Rolfe placed his hand on hers. Feeling reassured, she translated it. 

Arel continued, "However, after I have had a talk with General Yion, I came to know that Etaya is being held in the celestial prison and that your parents are back as the king and queen of Vilinski. This is fantastic news, which might or mightn't have reached the ears of our king. We can take advantage of it. Moreover, we all know that Iona is Prince Rolfe's royal mate. And that is something huge. We haven't had a royal mate in thousands of years. And now Prince Rolfe can claim Galhar legally. No one can stop him." 

When Iona translated this to Ileus and Anastasia, Ileus' eyes were wide with excitement. "Then what is the problem?"