Ileus: The Dark Prince

Draven now actually looked like a fool in front of so many council members. He hadn't seen a girl carrying this kind of attitude and having the perception of a ruler at such a young age. But how could a misogynist man like him agree to what an eighteen-year-old had said. It was below his dignity to accept advice from her or be lectured. "Thank you for your wisdom, fae princess," he scoffed, mocking her. On the inside he realized that she was not an idiot. 

"Oh, I am not finished," Anastasia said and continued, "Draoidh's queen is a legend to people outside her kingdom, and trust me when I say this—she is known as a generous ruler and who has served her kingdom magnanimously. At Vilinski we were all fed with wrong information about the kingdom of Draoidh, and I was expecting to see a dilapidated and ruined place, but when I came here, I was astonished. Draoidh is a beautiful place and I haven't even visited outside the palace. So, please think carefully before you accuse the queen or the royal house for being selfish." With that she took a deep breath and sat back. Her hands shook as anxiety ran down her heart. The thunder on the outside seemed enticing than the weight of the emotions pressing her down. 

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Did she go too far? She didn't know. But she felt Draven's accusations were terrible. She also acted a little selfishly. She needed the support of the council members to help her free her parents. If they became hostile right in the first meeting, it was possible that the sentiment may only percolate deeper in others too. She had to nip it in the bud. And for that she couldn't wait for the queen to answer them.

Her eyes went to the old man sitting opposite her. Isidorus was staring at her with… admiration? She pursed her lips and then looked down in her lap where she was fidgeting with her fingers. 

For what seemed like an eternity, the place was silent as if people were absorbing all that she just said. The silence broke when Adrianna spoke. She looked at Murtagh and said, "Even if the attack on Anastasia was done in collusion with the dark witch, I demand to know how all of Lila's activities were swept under the rug. Did you not suspect her on one single occasion?" 

Murtagh shifted in his place. "How could I?" he countered. "Lila was promised to Ileus, and it was Cora and Pierre who had promised her marriage to Ileus. How could I keep a vigil on someone as important as her?" 

Ileus knew that Murtagh was trying to circumvent his way through this mess. "You had come to meet us in Óraid, Murtagh," Ileus interjected. "You were aware that I was marrying Anastasia at that time. So why are you feigning ignorance? The way you are speaking, it is as if you didn't know about our relationship. You were present in the forest of Óraid when Haldir transported us to Evindal. Don't you know that?" The anger of his voice boomed in the room.

Murtagh stabbed his fingers in his hair with a snort of dismissive laughter. He blew out a noisy breath and shook his head. "With all due respect, Your Highness, Haldir didn't tell me where you two had gone. How would I know what you were up to? You are a crown prince and you are allowed to have as many lovers as you like!" 

"Murtagh!" Ileus rose to his feet as shadows peeled off him in wispy smokes. "Don't cross your limit!" There was a sudden stillness on his face but tension was visible in his tight jawline. The crown prince was so powerful that he could single-handedly destroy a kingdom. No one wanted to be in his bad books. But the council members knew that he was bound by the laws, by his mother's commands and so they could test the limits. 

Except Adrianna and Isidorus, everyone in the room flinched. 

Murtagh also got up on his feet. His emotions were that of satisfaction and fear. He had successfully roiled the man he never liked. "It is not my fault that you never revealed that you were going to marry her." He leaned forward and put his hands on the edge of the table with his forearms' muscles bulging. 

The room heated up with the tension in the room. A small chuckle from the side penetrated the heaviness of the air. Murtagh whipped his head in Anastasia's direction. "What's so funny, fae princess?" he asked with a dark expression. 

Anastasia smiled and then rose to her feet. She touched her husband's arm urging him to retreat his shadows. Ileus gave a warning look to Murtagh and collected his shadows. Anastasia tilted her head and said, "You very well knew that I was Ileus' mate, didn't you?" 

Murtagh couldn't refute her statement, but he didn't agree to it either. He continued to stare at her and she met it with ferocity under the soft chuckle. He clenched his jaws. He recalled that it was Kaizan who had announced when they were all waiting for Ileus and Anastasia to come to have lunch with them. 

"Didn't you?" she asked again, this time seriously and a little louder. "And I was told that you were promised to Iona." What she meant was that there was a possibility that he was associated with the dark witch. 

He wanted to deny it because no one who was over there at the time it was revealed was present here. However, he felt compelled to tell the truth. Adrianna. His chest rose and fell visibly and he ended up saying, "Yes, I knew." He hated that Adrianna had cast the truth spell on him. The pressure of the truth spell gripped his mind so strongly that his neck muscles strained. 

"And can you tell me what happens when vokudlaks find their mates?" she pushed. "Nije li to ekiva baraku?" She spoke in fae language, 'Isn't it the same as being married?' And somehow without her having to explain it, everyone in the room understood what she said. 

A strange look crossed Murtagh's face. He swallowed because how could he understand what she just spoke. "Strange things are happening in the kingdom," he murmured. 

"That is not the answer to my question!" Anastasia said with a fierce look. 

"Having mates is equivalent to being married, but sometimes mates are rejected for the benefit of others," he said. "It was possible that the prince could have rejected you." 

"It wasn't possible, it is what you were hoping," said Anastasia as irritation flashed across her features. "Also, strange things aren't happening. A change is happening and that too for good, whether you accept it or not!" 

Murtagh stiffened. He arched his eyebrow at her. Before he could say another word, Adrianna retorted, "I will not take your nonsense anymore Murtagh. So shut your mouth, else I will be compelled to hold you as my prisoner." She had swept his entire cell while he was talking to Anastasia and Ileus and she was horrified that none of his memories were about her daughter despite the fact that he was betrothed to her. "I am appalled at how you are feigning ignorance about the whole thing." 

What she said next shook the people in the meeting.