Ileus: The Dark Prince

It was almost evening by the time the new treaty was drafted and signed by the Yardraks and the king of Galahar. The royal seals were stamped and copies were given to each party. 

"Stay with us for tonight's celebration," said Rolfe as he shook hands with Kahn. 

"Thank you, King Rolfe," Kahn said. He pointed at the two men in his group. "These two are going to stay for the internship program. We will take leave since we have to go and deliver our services elsewhere." There was a smug look on his face. 

Rolfe didn't insist. "Sure." The meeting was over and the two Yardraks were taken to their new quarters by a councilman. The royal family went to the palace, where the girls were waiting along with Adrianna and Dmitri.

"What are the plans now?" asked Anastasia. She looked at Ileus. "Can I stay here with Iona for the next one week? I will come after that?" 

His face became taut with tension. "No," he replied harshly. It was better to nip that request in bud. Last time he had been tortured to hell when she had gone to her parents' place without him. No more. 

Anastasia sighed as her shoulders drooped. It was expected. The next day, Ileus returned with her to Draoidh while his parents stayed behind. 

Four months later:

Ileus was standing in front of the labor room of the palace. Anastasia was shrieking in pain from the past seven hours. Her waterbag broke just after they were walking back to their room after dinner. And soon after labor pains started. Dread skittered down his spine. He didn't know that making a baby was so easy but delivering one was so difficult. When the midwife took Anastasia to the royal labor room, he called everyone he knew—Haldir, Kaizan, Aidan, Darla, Inyanga and even Isidorus. Aidan and Darla couldn't come because Darla had delivered their baby girl a day back. She was resting at home and Aidan just couldn't leave their side, totally smitten by his daughter. 

Adrianna and Áine had rushed to the labor room as soon as they heard that Anastasia was in labor. Áine had come to Draoidh along with Ian only three days back. Adrianna and Dmitri returned from Galahar two months back and they had to go back because Iona was to deliver in a month's time. 

Ileus looked so nervous, it was as if he was having a baby. He was pacing the corridor outside the labor room. He would peek inside sometime only to see his wife, but the moment he would see her face scrunched with pain, he would run away from there, lean on a pillar and then start breathing. He would pray to every deity, every wolf spirit of his kingdom and all other kingdoms that she stayed fine. 

Haldir was standing along with Inyanga with his hands crossed across his chest. Inyanga too was inside, helping Anastasia with the delivery. She had come out to tell them that the crown had formed.

"What is a crown?" asked Ileus, his eyes wide. He started cruising through his thoughts as to what was crown when delivering a baby, but all he could think of was the crown his father wore. Gods, did that mean they had clamped her with iron down there? 

Inyanga smacked her head. "It means the baby will come out soon." She turned her head to look at Kaizan, who hadn't moved from his place from the last two hours. He stood next to a pillar, his eyes fixed on the door and every person who came in and out, forgetting to blink. He was so frozen that if they didn't know it was Kaizan, he would have passed off as a statue. Inyanga shook her head and then went inside. 

Kaizan was remembering that it was just yesterday that they had crossed Sgiath Biò with Anastasia. She was a little girl, who had found her mate, her lover and her husband. And now—now she was giving birth to his child. Goosebumps had lined his skin. He couldn't wait to see the child of his best friend and that of the woman he would always defend with life. 

As soon as she went in, Haldir's shoulders drooped and he let out an exhale. "I don't think I am going to have another baby!" he said. 

"But I heard that Inyanga is two months pregnant," Dmitri commented from the chair he was sitting on. 

"What?" Ileus' eyes were wide like planet earth. "You fucking just had a baby! You bigot, you hypocrite!" 

Haldir narrowed his eyes and shot a pointed look at Dmitri who only shrugged. He went back to his chess game with Ian who was supported heavily by Isidorus, and yet Dmitri was winning. "Bloody hell!" Isidorus gritted his teeth. 

The guards had placed several heavily cushioned chairs in the corridor along with a table. From the last seven hours the two would-be grandfathers were only swearing at each other and playing chess. They had placed heavy bets. Gold on Dmitri's side was rising steadily. 

Yet another shriek sounded from inside the labor room and Ileus darted inside, muttering curses to Kaizan for being so useless. 

"Push!" Adrianna urged Anastasia. "You can do it!" The healers were already holding Anastasia's hands to help her sit up. She was panting. Sweat trickled down her forehead. 

"Come on, baby!" Áine urged. "Push." 

As soon as the next ripple of pain came, Anastasia pushed with all her might. And then—a soft cry came. 

Adrianna caught the baby in her hands as the midwife cut the umbilical cord. The queen lifted the baby in the air. "The heir is born!" she declared proudly, her lips quivering. 

The grandfathers rose and ran inside and whooped. 

Ileus was stunned. He froze in his place when he saw the little child in his mother's hands. Slowly, very slowly, he stepped towards his baby, fearing every breath he took. When he came up to his mother, he saw the baby crying. "I got a baby boy," he whispered. "I got a miracle." Tears ran down his eyes. His wife had given him the most beautiful gift of his life. The earth stopped rotating when the baby opened his eyes. "He's got golden eyes, Ana." The baby was a chubby, pink bundle with a tuft of golden hair just like his, and looked like… him. Of course! Ileus giggled. He touched his boy's hand and found that the child gripped his finger immediately. "Gods!" he rasped. And then he laughed more out of those tears. 

All other men had already come inside and there were congratulations and cheers in the air while Ileus looked at his wife, his mate, his Anastasia. He walked to her and sat beside her. He kissed her forehead and said, "Please don't hate me, love. We won't have another child." He couldn't bear to see her in pain again. 

Anastasia chuckled. "I love you too," she said and he kissed her on her lips. 

"You are gorgeous, you know?" 

"I am," she giggled. 

The midwife brought the child to them and gave him to Anastasia. All wrapped up in a blue flannel, he appeared comfortable in his mother's lap. Kaizan came to stand beside Ileus and looked at the child. "Can I be his godfather?" he asked. 

"There's no one else who I can think of to be his godfather," said Anastasia. 

Kaizan's throat bobbed. "I have built a special room in my home for the babies," he said in a hoarse voice and Anastasia knew that it was Kaizan's gift to her child. 

"I love you, Kaizan," she said despite the growl from her wolf. 

"I love you too, Ana," Kaizan breathed despite another growl from the wolf. 

--- 

A month later.

Adrianna had come back to Galahar for her daughter's delivery. Over the past few days, she had been running everywhere in Draoidh palace to oversee the servants and prepare the best menu for Anastasia because she was breastfeeding her grandson, who they had named, (Please suggest a name, readers).

Iona was about to give birth and Rolfe was worse than her son. He was shouting at everyone, even disappearing somewhere for not being able to see Iona in pain. At the end of it, he just sat down in front of the room where she was birthing with his hair in his hands. And Adrianna knew that he was trying not to cry. He was too guilty for putting his little wife in so much pain. Iona was in labor from almost thirteen hours now and Adrianna was under stress. The crown wasn't forming. With Anastasia there was everyone, but with her daughter only she and Dmitri were there. Áine had returned to Vilinski after telling her that she was expecting, and had also asked her to keep it a secret. 

"Iona, baby," Adrianna said. "Please baby, push, okay?" 

Iona shouted and pushed as hard as she could. Half an hour later, she delivered a baby girl. And when the little one cried, Rolfe came in, all mussed up emotionally. The mighty demon cried as he took his daughter in his arms. And he was a goner. "My baby," he rasped. He laughed through his tears. "I love you baby," he said softly as he stroked her soft cheeks. His eyes went to his wife. 

Adrianna took the baby from him with a large smile and gave her to the midwife to clean. She felt as if her life had come full circle. Dmitri came in and circled his arms around her shoulders affectionately. They watched Rolfe kissing Iona and thanking her for making him a father.. Adrianna and Dmitri stayed with their daughter for a month before leaving.