Ileus: The Dark Prince

Ileus came and sat with his wife on the swing while Aidan and Kaizan rushed to have food that was laid on a table on the side. The nanny took Alexander away and almost immediately Ileus was in his wife's lap. "Aren't you hungry, love?" she asked. 

"I am," he replied, as he ducked beneath her shawl, tugged her gown down and latched on her breasts. 

"Ileus!" she protested, but her wolf didn't leave before he was satiated. When he emerged from the shawl, he found that Anastasia had blushed to her roots while all others were watching him with a gaping mouth. He raised his eyebrow, shrugged shamelessly and then just walked to the table to serve food for himself and his wife. 

"Man, you got to hold yourself somewhere!" Kaizan growled. 

"Why should I?" Ileus growled back at him. He walked back to his wife on the swing and gave her the plate. "Feed me, wife!" he said and pointed to his mouth. 

A week later Olivia's parents came to Silver Vales. She had sent a letter to them that she wanted to meet them. She hadn't revealed Ara's pregnancy to them in the letter. Telling it to Kaizan was a little difficult because he was ready to adopt the baby and didn't want any further drama. 

When Vaarin and Kaia arrived, Nate and Ookashi gave them a warm welcome. While Kaia almost jumped in ecstasy to see Olivia, Vaarin gave his daughter a long warm bear hug. "How are you, Olivia?" he asked as she smelled her father's familiar scent and nuzzled in his chest. It was so comforting. 

"I am doing fine, father," she murmured. She wrapped her arms around his chest. "How have you been?" 

Vaarin chuckled. "We are waiting for your babies!" 

Olivia's lips curled up. Her parents were so looking forward to her babes. Even though when she just got married, Kaia was the one to tell her that she should seal the peace treaty with a babe, things had drastically changed. Now the peace treaty no longer needed a child. But a babe was needed out of pure love. "You both have just arrived. Why don't you freshen up and we meet for dinner?" she said, removing herself from her father's embrace. 

"That is a good idea!" Vaarin breathed. Having journeyed here almost nonstop, he really could do with a hot water bath. From the corner of his eye, he saw Kaizan and a young lady, standing right next to him, her features quite like Kaizan. "Is that your sister-in-law?" he asked.

Olivia nodded. She called Paige who came up a little hesitantly. She bowed to Vaarin and Kaia with a smile. There was so much awkwardness seeing them that she didn't know what to say. She just pursed her lips and stepped aside when Kaizan came up to Vaarin. The two clasped their hands on each other's forearms and then embraced like the men would. "Like Olivia said, take a bath and join us for dinner." 

Vaarin looked at his son-in-law and his chest filled with pride. "I will," he replied. 

After the pleasantries were exchanged, along with Kaia, Vaarin left to freshen up. Olivia walked to Paige. She held her hand and the two walked to the kitchen. Over the past few days, Paige was so busy with the orchards that she didn't have time to chat with anyone other than Olivia. Nate and Ookashi wondered if they had done something worse with their daughter. Paige was in a learning phase and she imbibed all the knowledge like a sponge. The two girls made quite a team. However, with Olivia's pregnancy, she would get tired easily. And Paige—she would always make up for her. "You don't have to be so hesitant in front of my parents," she remarked. 

Paige nodded with her eyes on the ground. "I really don't want to see the sadness on their faces that was caused by me…" 

"Hey, you are no longer a part of it, okay?" Olivia tried to ease her discomfort. "I really have to tell them about Ara."

Paige looked at Olivia and with a tender look on her face said, "I understand your decision completely, Olivia. But it is going to take some time for me to not feel uneasy. I hope you understand." 

Olivia took her hand to Paige's cheek. "I understand, Paige."

"Thank you," she replied with a faint smile. Then after serving herself lamb steaks and garlic bread, she sat down at the island table in the kitchen. She started talking about her plans for the orchards as she had her dinner. Olivia's parents came down and Paige excused herself again. 

Olivia thought of telling her parents about Ara, but they were both so deep in conversation with Nate and Ookashi that she stopped herself. They admired the way things were shaping up after the peace treaty. The trade path was devoid of the rebels and that is why the road was being constructed. There were no explosions or sabotages of buildings and inns and so the travelers felt safe. The trade was booming and more and more people were coming back into the mainstream. Vaarin was fervently planning on opening a university for higher education in the Whiteclaw pack in order to attract talent from across the kingdom. He was so enthusiastic while chatting with Nate, that he completely forgot about time. In the end, he asked Kaizan, "Can I have a meeting with the king?" 

"Yes, sure," Kaizan replied as he wiped his face with a napkin. "I will send him a request tomorrow." 

Vaarin smiled. He found that his wife was yawning and needed rest. "Gods Kaia!" he rasped. "Come, you need good rest." Saying that he got up. Olivia giggled as how her father tended to her mother but she loved it nonetheless. She could see that her father had changed in many ways only for the good. And that thought brought a doubt in her mind. What if she didn't tell them? She took a deep breath in and watched them leave hand in hand. 

In the morning Olivia got dressed early and came down to meet her parents. She wanted to be alone when she broke the news. She found Kaia and Vaarin in the front garden of the manor where Kaia was pointing at the climber roses that fluttered in the cool morning breeze. They saw their daughter and both smiled. 

"You have a beautiful family, a beautiful house and the best husband in this world!" said Kaia as she hugged her. 

A pale blush rose on her cheeks as warmth seeped in her heart. "Mother, Father." Her gaze darted between them. "There is something very important I want to tell you." 

Kaia frowned as she jerked her head back. "Everything okay at the home front?" 

Her lips parted and she exhaled raggedly. "It is about Luke." She stared at her father to see his reaction. 

Vaarin stiffened. His jaws clenched and a muscle feathered. Even Kaia became quiet as she searched Olivia's with shock in her eyes. After some time she asked, "What about him?"  her voice a mere whisper.. She clutched Olivia's forearms tightly.