Anastasia found herself surrounded by dark shadows that swirled fiercely around her, trying to keep her safe while traveling with her at lightning speed. A shriek of fear emanated from her throat. She was suspended between those shadows, which in turn were encompassed by blinding white and yellow light. She felt as if she was slipping through a greasy tunnel and that she had no control over what was happening. She closed her eyes hoping that whatever was happening was going to be right.
She didn't know for how long but she was hurtled out of the tunnel at a speed that even the shadows couldn't handle and she was thrown on the ground over a softened bed of leaves, twigs, beetles and cicadas. Anastasia screamed as she rolled on the crunchy leaves. Every part of her body ached with pain when her knees cracked off the ground. She opened her eyes to pitch black night.
The shadows became corporeal and Ileus emerged out of them. "Anastasia!" he shouted and ran to her side. He scooped her in his arms and sat on the ground with her in his lap and pressed her against his chest. "Gods, gods, gods!" he looked up at the sky and wanted to howl with satisfaction and joy. "I found you!" He couldn't believe she was in his arms. "Shh." He knew she was in pain, but he rocked her back and forth with him, as if trying to catch the comfort that had eluded him for two weeks. He whimpered as his wife moaned and cried in his arms. She clutched the shirt on his chest while he wrapped his arms around her as if he would never leave her, as if he was trying to merge her with him.
The agonizing two weeks had wreaked havoc on his mental and physical health and he didn't know what she must have gone through. "I need you so bad," he whispered. "I— I can't breathe."
"Ileus…" Her shoulders racked with sobs. "You found me…"
"I told you—I will find you from the depths of hell," he said as he continued to rock her.
She buried her head in his chest and only… cried. After what seemed like eternity, he picked her up and made her sit on a saddle. He gathered his arms around her to hold the reins of the horse as she simply settled between his thighs and once again rested her head on his chest. There were no words spoken till Ileus rode to the place where his group had camped.
She didn't know for how long they rode, but she felt safe in this wild darkness through the jungle because she was in his arms. It felt so good to lean on to him, for him to navigate through the forest and take the worst of it, to lean onto him and let loose. She had craved for his touch so much that she thought closeness to Ileus was a figment of luxury she had only for a few days. Now… Now she knew it was real.
When they reached, Ileus carried her in his arms inside a warm tent. She heard excited voices of Kaizan and others. And once again, relief poured in her. This wasn't a dream. She had come back. She didn't know what time it was or even wanted to know. He set her on a soft mattress and lied down beside her. Smell of burnt candles and lavender wafted in the air and she felt comforted. She cradled her head on his shoulder and he wrapped her with his arms and legs. Together they just… slept… being too far tired… in each other's lush scent masking the stench of the demon world she had just come out of.
Next morning when Anastasia stirred awake, she was hoping to find Ileus next to her in the bed. When all she felt was coldness, in panic she jerked open her eyes and got up with a start. Was it a dream? Was she still in Zor'gan?
"You've been out for a long time."
She whipped her head and found Kaizan sitting in the chair in the corner of the tent. A shaky breath left her as her hopes to see Ileus dashed. "Where is Ileus?" But on the other hand, the sight of sun-kissed tanned familiar werewolf, tugged her lips up.
"It's nice to see you too, princess," said Kaizan with a smile. "I had started wondering where you had been. Looking at the demonic tattoos on your arm, I can make a guess."
Anastasia's glance went to the tattoos that were painted all over her body. She needed a nice long bath. She hated the gray paint of her.
Ileus walked in and sat beside her. His golden eyes were full of concern. And for the first time she noticed that he looked… thin. There was stubble worth at least two days on his face. His eyes were sunken and had dark circles below them. He looked weary.
"Where were all these days Anastasia?" asked Kaizan.
Ileus said, "You can ignore his question because you need a bath and you need to be fed on an urgent basis. You look pallid and underfed." He removed her sheet and pulled her out of the bed.
Kaizan frowned and then got to leave. "We have to talk about it princess." He walked to the exit flap when he turned back and said, "Congratulations on your wedding, and welcome to the clan."
Anastasia grinned, realizing that it was the first time she was meeting them all after the marriage. "Thanks." She felt… belonged.
As soon as Kaizan left, Ileus said, "We need a lot to catch up."
She brought her hand over his stubble and brushed him over there as she stared into his golden yellow eyes. "Yes…" She noticed that the medallion was back on his neck.
"Never steal that medallion again," he said as he leaned in her hand and kissed her palm.
She chuckled. It was good to be back. "I think I hate that medallion."
When she walked out of the tent with him, her eyes became wide with surprise.
