Ileus: The Dark Prince

For the next one hour, Ileus devoured his mate. He had gone only for a day but it seemed like eternity to him. Anastasia was panting and sweating by the time he left her. She was so tired that she had curled on his body and dozed off. 

It was in the evening that the two came out of the guest house and noticed that Kaizan was pacing in front of the porch with his hands clasped at his back. When Ileus stepped out, he was met with murderous glares shooting from Kaizan. "Pierre and Cora have sent hundreds of messages that they want to meet you," he said gruffly. "I couldn't pass the message to you because of that thick barrier that you have put around the guest house! Do you know what that means? Now they are suspecting that the two of you have a secret affair going on!" 

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Ileus' one eyebrow shot up. He looked at his wife who was again wearing the same headdress in order to hide her pointy ears and said, "I think it is time that I reveal her identity to Grandfather and Grandmother." 

"No! That would jeopardize her security," Kaizan retorted. "I will not advise you to do that." 

Ileus held Anastasia's hand in his and started walking towards the manor. "Kaizan, I don't want to keep my grandparents in the dark. They will understand." 

"Cora would never understand until she exorcizes herself of the ghosts of Lila. She is too much into Lila and hates the faes. As for Pierre, you will have to first sense his stance on faes. Maybe you should tell them that Anastasia is a fae, but not reveal your relationship with them." 

Ileus didn't say anything for a long time until they reached the manor's ornate door. The guards were behind them all the time. He turned to look at Kaizan and said, "I will consider your advice." He turned to the door and entered the main hall. What he saw stunned him. 

Cora was sitting with Lila who was visibly looking fresh and sweet and coy. Cora handed her a cup of green tea lovingly. As soon as she saw Ileus, she got up and exclaimed, "Ileus! Come here!" 

Anastasia was just as stunned. What was Lila doing there? When her eyes met with Lila, she found something sinister lurking behind them… something she couldn't point… or was she just imagining? 

Ileus walked to Cora and she hugged him tightly. Then she held his hand and tugged him to sit next to her in a way that she was sitting in between Lila and him. Feeling uncomfortable, Anastasia went to sit on the opposite sofa. She wondered as to what was going on.

"I have decided!" said Cora, as she continued to hold Ileus' hand. "We are planning on moving the date of your wedding with Lila to an earlier date. Lila over here has been so sweet that she has agreed to it." 

"What?" Ileus' voice boomed in the hall. 

Anastasia blanched and when she looked at Lila again, she found her blushing with a smile. 

Cora laughed. "I know that you are flustered but that is natural. Do you know how well Lila managed that traitor Paiter? She got in his cell and dug out information about every witch and wizard who conspired against the treasury. And now they are all in the prison at Silver Vales." 

What Lila had done was to arrest Paiter and take him to the jail of Silver Vales. After that she had sent orders to catch two witches and two wizards who were her enemies and had questioned every one of her moves. It was so easy-peazy! Not only she regained her honor back, she removed Paiter and her enemies with one simple move. And now it was Anastasia's chance. She had to get rid of her. For that she poisoned Cora's mind and subtly gave her a hint that Ileus was having an affair with Anastasia and that was why she was given the task of seeking a jeweler for gifts. 

Cora was instantly provoked. So, when Anastasia came along with Ileus to see her, her suspicions solidified. Now it was Cora's task to make Anastasia see as to who was the real queen.

"We are planning on moving your date to next week," said Cora. "I will convey this message to Adrianna and Dmitri, and Pierre has already agreed." 

"Grandmother, you are going too fast!" Ileus said. "I don't want to—" 

"Oh hush, Ileus!" Cora chided him. She lifted Lila's hand and put it in Ileus' hand. Then she looked up at Anastasia and said, "See? Don't these two look lovely together?" 

Anastasia's heart was filled with jealousy and fury. Magic thrummed in her heart and she felt like releasing her fury. She willed it to back down. She didn't agree nor did she disagree. 

"Don't you like their union?" asked Cora with a frown. 

Anastasia gulped saliva down her dry throat. She let out a heavy exhale and barely nodded. 

Ileus retracted his hand from Lila's. He was about to get up when Lila said, "Cora, please stop. I think you have really shocked Ileus. Can I have a word with him?" 

Cora's face was red with anger. She said, "I would like to have a word with him first. Why don't you take Anastasia outside for a walk?" 

Lila blinked her eyes and nodded. "Yes, sure." She turned her face to Anastasia and said politely, "There's a beautiful view of the mountains in the north from the end of the gardens. Come, let me show them to you." 

"She isn't going anywhere," Ileus said like a warning. 

Lila stopped and peered at Cora for help. 

"Lila, I would like to talk to my grandson. Please take her away from here," Cora said curtly. 

Lila turned her pleading gaze to Anastasia. She extended her hand and in a very soft voice said, "Please dear Anastasia, will you be sweet to grace the honor of walking with me?" 

Cora was so proud of Lila that her admiration for her rose to the next level. The girl knew that Anastasia was having an affair with her grandson, yet she was so sweet with her. 

Anastasia got up and with one last look at Ileus walked out of the door. Lila followed her. As soon as they were out of the door, the guards surrounded them. Kaizan and Darla walked right behind them. 

"Where are you taking her?" asked Kaizan, just as shocked as Ileus to see Lila walking out with Anastasia. 

"We are going to see the mountain view from the end of the gardens," she replied with a gentle smile. 

"But there's a chasm right next to it!" Darla said with worry.

"Didn't you know that a rail was built a few days back at the periphery of the gardens?" Lila informed as she guided them all towards that side. 

Darla shook her head with confusion. Still, she couldn't let Anastasia go alone. 

When they reached the gardens, Anastasia's nerves calmed when the sweet aroma of night-blooming flowers reached her nostrils. She was hardly listening to Lila who was yapping about how Cora loves her like her daughter. However, she still couldn't shake off that ominous sensation she felt from her. As soon as they reached the rails at the periphery, several guards moved from the shadows and surrounded them.