Ileus: The Dark Prince

Lila glanced at Anastasia. She had glamoured the gems with her magic to trick the people into making them look real. She had not thought in her dreams that Anastasia would be able to cut through her glamour. And now she was facing the wrath of Pierre, who in his son's absence was the Alpha of his pack. Worse, he was Ileus' grandfather. Her position as Ileus' promised, was crumbling faster than a sand castle—all thanks to the fae bitch. "Pierre, trust me, they appeared real to me." She pointed at Paiter and gritted her teeth. "He must have taken help of magic to put glamour on the gems! Otherwise, there was no way I couldn't discern and original from an artificial!" She had to wriggle out of it and the best way was to make Paiter the scapegoat. 

"Are you mad?" Paiter countered. "You were the one who had glamoured them," he said in an exasperated, shaky voice. However, as soon as those words tumbled out of his mouth, the room fell completely silent and he pressed his lips with his hand. He had just acknowledged his infraction of the law. 

For a moment Lila was stunned at his words. When she recovered from the stupor, she went to him and struck him hard across his face. "How dare you pull me into it? My father is the minister in Draoidh. Do you think I am going to stoop to this level? I have been promised by Pierre and Cora to marry Ileus. Do you think I am going to get into a situation like this? Have you taken me for a fool?" 

Paiter stared at Lila. He was aghast at her lash out. Disbelief marred his brain as he pressed his hand on his cheek that was burning with pain. The woman had been doing this for the last two years and all of a sudden when a situation like this arose, she pushed the blame on him. The punishment for cheating Draoidh's treasury were severe. His bladder became tight and he thought he would piss right over there. Over the last two years, he had made a lot of money in connivance with Lila. It was Lila who had suggested this idea to him. She was the one who introduced him to her friends. They were together looting the money easily because everyone trusted Lila. After being a partner in crime for such a long time, she was trying to put the whole blame on him. "You are a liar!" he shouted. "You were with me all the time. Who would put glamour on the gems if not you? I don't know any witches. I don't know magic. I did things as you directed. And now that you have come under such a strong scanner, you are abandoning me? I will pull you down with me!" 

Lila's body quivered with terror. If Paiter spoke more, she would be in dire straits. "Shut up!" she zapped her finger towards him and his mouth sealed. "You are a cheat. You took advantage of my innocence, my trust and my position." She turned to look at Cora. "You know it, don't you?" she said it with puppy eyes and expression. "You trust me Cora, don't you? I have never been in such kinds of shenanigans." Tears streamed down her eyes, but they were not of guilt, they reeked of fear. She went and sat down in front of Cora and held her hand. 

Cora's expressions softened as her eyes became blurry. "I don't know what to say my dear…" she said in a shaky voice. 

Paiter mumbled through his sealed lips. His face became red with strain. 

"You have to believe me," Lila said in a soft, gentle voice. She had to make Cora believe her. She tried to get in her cell, but it wasn't possible. Something was guarding her—a thick shield. 

"Why should we believe you?" a thick, brogue voice from behind echoed in the hall. 

Startled, everyone in the room turned their head towards the source of the voice. They were in for a shock. Ileus was standing on the door. Wearing a black shirt with black pants and a gold cape that was pinned on the shoulders, Ileus looked terrifyingly handsome. Slowly, he walked inside the hall as he continued staring at Lila. 

"I— Ileus…" Lila murmured. She got up from her place. "Al…" 

"Who gave you the permission to call me Al?" he said in a voice dripping with anger and danger. "I am 'Your Royal Highness' for you!" 

Lila froze. "Y— yes."

Every person immediately bowed to him. Anastasia rose to her feet and so did Darla and Kaizan. Anastasia had sensed his presence in the manor. It was as if her whole body was tuned to his. 

"Ileus!" Cora exclaimed. 

Ileus nodded at his grandmother and grandfather. He returned his gaze to Lila and said, "Why should we trust you? The treasure has given you a bag half filled with gold coins and a bag brimming with silver coins and that too according to your demand. Are these gems so expensive?" 

Lila's throat became dry. She swallowed saliva down. Was it Ileus who wasn't allowing her to enter Cora's cell? Fear slid down her spine like a snake. Her eyes traveled to Anastasia—the bitch responsible for this fiasco. If only she got one more chance, she would take her revenge. "Ileus, you have to believe me," she said as tears streamed down her face. "It was him who did it all. I am sure he is in collusion with someone. We must investigate who he is conspiring with. Then only you my name will be cleared. Please let me take him to the prison. Over there I am going to use my methods to question him. He will definitely spill the truth. If you want you can send one of your royal guards with me. You can also send Murtagh with me if you like." Her lips quivered as she spoke. 

Pierre stepped forward and placed a hand on Ileus' shoulder. "That's right Lila, we will send Murtagh with you, and you can take Paiter to the prison in Silver Vales. Once you have questioned him, he will be taken to the wizard prison." 

"Mmmm! Mmmm!" Paiter thrashed his head in protest. 

"Thank you, Pierre," Lila said as relief coursed through her body. "I am indeed grateful and I will not let you down." Then she turned to walk to Anastasia. She held her hand and said, "You have opened my eyes, Anastasia. If it hadn't been for you, I would have never known. You have saved me." 

Anastasia was stunned and her mouth opened into a wide gape. She stared at Lila who was still crying. 

"I will never forget how you saved us from being cheated. Draoidh and Silver Vales will always be indebted to you." She wiped her tears. "Would you please let me show my gratitude to you? I have realized that you are the best friend a person can ever have." She took Anastasia's hand to her heart and said, "See how it beats. I am so nervous, yet so happy." 

Anastasia was dumbstruck.