Ileus: The Dark Prince

Ileus stared hard at Olivia. He had purposely left Vilinski out. Reason—he didn't want to go to that place because then he would have to be extremely proper and at his good behavior in front of his wife's people. He won't be able to take on his wife when he wanted. And honeymoons for wolves were… sacred. Not that he needed, but he felt that, "Kaizan is obligated that I will come with him for the honeymoon." 

"What?" Kaizan snapped his head. "I would be obliged if you don't. Remember it is me who just got married and not you!" 

Ileus then whipped his head in Kaizan's direction and shot him a dark glare as if trying to communicate that he had conducted treason against a kingdom. 

Anastasia got up from her chair. She walked to Olivia and the two hugged. Olivia loved the feel of her feathers on the wings and she lightly brushed them, unable to keep her excitement. Anastasia laughed, sensing her touch. She unfurled one wing and wrapped it around Olivia. 

"Gods!" Olivia gasped. She was so enchanted by it that her breath lodged in her throat. She touched the feathers and said, "This is so beautiful!" 

"Thank you," Anastasia replied with a smile. "They are very sensitive to touch." 

"Oh sorry!" Olivia removed her fingers from the inside. 

"You should see them when we have sex. They pulse with silvery veins," Ileus said with a sigh. "It's magical… always." 

"Ucuti, vokudlak!" she snapped at him. The man had no restrain. 

Olivia turned beetroot red while Anastasia only glowered at her husband for, she had become pretty used to his open admiration of having sex with his mate. It was like he would tell everyone existing in the Lore that Anastasia was his to cherish forever. 

Kaizan coughed. He too was used to Ileus' shamelessness. But he understood Olivia's concern. "Back to the topic of honeymoon. Olivia wants to go to Vilinski, so we shall go there." 

"I veto!" Ileus added immediately. "Vilinski is out of question. Anastasia just came back from there and she can't go back so soon. Her parents will think that she has quarreled with me and that is why she has come back." 

The three stared at Ileus intensely, but the man was chewing succulent steaks. He looked at them, shrugged and then popped a salty piece of carrot in his mouth. 

"Ileus, will you stop?" Anastasia said. "Our honeymoon was over five years back. We are parents of two kids! Right now," she waved hands at Olivia and Kaizan, "we are talking about these two." 

"I am also talking about these two," he replied nonchalantly. "And our honeymoon will never get over."

Olivia giggled and walked to sit at the table, when Ileus patted the chair next to him and said, "Come here." Her lips curled up. She loved the way Ileus showed his proprietary over Kaizan and now she was included in this little circle. There was so much warmth and love and fun amongst these people that it was infectious. She thought she was going to get ruined. Back in the Whiteclaw pack, things were different. She never experienced such close friendships. Hell, even her own cousin sister planned on breaking up her marriage. She wondered what Bernice might be up to these days and her heart seized with gloom. She quickly shoved those thoughts from her mind and sat next to Ileus. However, the moment she sat next to him, Kaizan sat next to Anastasia. The two werewolves looked at each other as if they were going to murder each other in an instant. But they poised control over their beasts. 

As Olivia served her plate, Ileus said, "I have this assortment of two beautiful caves in the valley of Silver Vales, next to the lake. Those caves have the best amenities. My father took my mother over there for their honeymoon and then I went with Anastasia and now all of us are going to go. Trust me Olivia, that is the place to go because you would want to be alone. At Vilinski, you will be under the scrutiny of every person. It is too crowded!" 

"Olivia, do what you want to do. This man is trying to brainwash you," Kaizan interrupted. 

Ileus growled. "You don't know what is good for you, wolf. So shut up!" 

Anastasia exhaled a sharp breath. She just focused on eating and served herself a large portion of stir fry vegetables and steamed asparagus with cream dip. 

Kaizan growled back. "And you are not going with us!" 

Ileus' eyes flew wide. "Did I ask for your permission?" 

The way he said it, Olivia burst into laughter. When she stopped, her fingers wiped the water that came out of them. "Why do I feel you both are like randy teenagers?" 

Anastasia shook her head. "My thoughts exactly." 

While Ileus and Kaizan were entangled in their staring match, Olivia said, "Tell me more about those caves." 

Ileus turned his face to her and grinned. "With pleasure." And for the entire breakfast, he explained the benefits of going to the cave instead of going to Vilinski. "And if you want to go to Vilinski, you can go anytime. Ana makes her annual visit over there. You can always accompany her." 

At the end of the conversation, Olivia looked at Kaizan and said with excitement, "We are going to the caves!" 

Anastasia and Kaizan sighed as Ileus looked proudly at the two of them as if telling them that they were ants in front of his persuasive powers. But in reality, he needed to escape from the daily humdrum of Draoidh and Silver Vales duties, and going with Kaizan was the perfect choice. His mother and father would never stop him, because he was going to throw a bone in front of them. He would visit Rolfe and Iona too along with Kaizan and Olivia. 

"So, when are we leaving?" Kaizan asked, resigned to Ileus' plan. 

"You just pack your things," said Ileus. "Not that you would need anything. You won't even need clothes. Like when do wolves need them? I will settle a few things in Draoidh. We can leave in two days." 

"And what about Alexander?" Anastasia asked, gritting her teeth. 

"We will take him with us." 

--- 

Tasha had come to meet Kaizan and when she saw the royal carriage standing outside, she turned back. There was no way she was going to meet Kaizan in front of the crown prince. 

She had scrubbed herself properly and taken a long bath in aroma oils so that Murtagh's smell washed away. She had to talk to the General and then she was going to meet the leader of the rogues in the trade path that stretched between Whiteclaw pack and Silver Vales. She had to deliver Murtagh's message. And that was the main reason why she had to stay low and never be noticed by the royals. 

Tasha came back in the afternoon when the prince and princess had left. She was informed by the servants that the General and his wife had gone to the groves. She dismounted from her horse. It was better to walk to the groves instead of taking the horse.. That would give her an opportunity to spy on them.