"Why?" she asked, shocked at his sudden command.
He didn't reply to her and just pulled her.
Anastasia didn't question him and then ran. When they reached near the camp, she was drawing deep breaths. "What was it?" she asked.
"A fae spy!" he rasped as he slowed down the pace. "We need to get out of here now!" He started going towards Kaizan's camp to wake them all up.
"Ileus, wait!" Anastasia called him. "If that was a fae spy, then you should have stopped. I wanted to investigate, rather see my traits."
He frowned. "What traits?"
"As a fae even I should also convert into shadows."
"And you think now is the time to discover those qualities?"
She stared at him blankly. "I have to do it some time," she replied exasperatedly and followed him.
"Right now let's just focus on leaving this place," he said and rushed to awaken everyone in the camp. "If you hadn't left, this situation wouldn't have arrived."
"Oh, now you are blaming me?"
"Then please tell me if this is any different. If you would have listened to me and not strayed, then we would have been resting."
She stopped feeling utterly frustrated. "If you want to hear more, then listen to this," she shouted. "I will not stop going out of the camp to find respite from you."
Ileus looked up at the sky and exhaled. He walked back to her, held her hand and said, "I know that. Now come."
"And you are so infuriating that I won't stop fighting with you."
He glared at her with his golden orbs. "Don't test my patience Anastasia," he growled. "I am extremely worried about your safety." His chest was heaving.
"And I am worried about yours," she replied, staring in those luminous orbs. He looked so handsome when he was angered and when he wanted to show his dominance over her. She took her hand to his chest and then to his cheek. "Please don't become silent. I hate it."
Ileus stared at her for a moment. Suddenly he curled his hand around her neck and pulled her closer. When there was no distance left between them, he picked her up and crashed his lips on her. The way he kissed her, it was so urgent and so passionate that she let him explore her till he was out of breath. He rested his forehead on hers and said, "What am I going to do with you?"
The group began the journey in the middle of the night. Anastasia was with Ileus and she noticed that Darla was with Aidan. He had held her too close to his chest. Her head was cradled in the crook of his shoulder. Kaizan was behind them and he appeared extremely flustered.
"How many were there?" he asked. "I am surprised that you guys love midnight adventure so much."
"About fifteen," Ileus replied, as he gathered his arms around his wife and pulled her closer. "But together we killed them all." There was pride in his voice. He had wrapped her with a cloak in the front because the night air was cool.
"I killed seven!" Anastasia pointed. "And I can take care of myself," she gritted.
Ileus adjusted her cloak and tucked her better.
"With just a little dagger, Anastasia?" said Kaizan.
"That dagger is worth two swords and you have no idea what I can do!" she snapped, leaning against his chest. She was going to rest completely on him.
Ileus shook his head and when she rested herself completely on him, he kissed the crown of her hair. "Don't be so touchy, sweetheart. We know that you are a warrior girl." He teased her.
She slapped him on his forearm and angrily said, "I would like to ride with Guarhal!"
"Why not with me?" Kaizan asked.
Ileus growled and Kaizan immediately made a hundred and eighty. "Oh, I forgot, my horse is not in a good condition."
"My horse is actually limping because he needs a new horseshoe!" Guarhal shouted from somewhere in the front.
Anastasia blinked at them with disbelief. No one wanted to ride with her? Ileus' hands went to her thighs. "I am the only person who you will have to ride with, sweetheart," he leaned and said with a sigh and smile she didn't notice.
She fell silent and soon her eyes became heavy-lidded for the want of sleep. She yawned and looked at the fields in front of them under the moon and stars. The deep blue skies were covered with thousands of pinpricks of silver. Wild serenity filled every moment. The grass and wildflowers swayed in the strong gusts of wind. "I am sorry sweetheart," she murmured when she looked at the cavalcade in front of them. Because of her they all were riding when they should have been sleeping.
"Sleep princess," he whispered. He lightly rubbed her belly.
She felt warmth all around her and her eyes closed. She drifted off into deep sleep. When she woke up again, she found that they were running along the riverside.
—
In the Kralj Palace, Etaya was pacing her chamber. She had sent many spies across Yelgra to find Anastasia. Not even one had returned. The dark wizard was taking way too many precautions to conceal her. All of a sudden, the royal guard posted outside her chamber's door announced, "A man is here, Your Royal Highness."
Etaya's forehead creased. "Send him in."
An hour later, she was in Maple's chamber readying her to go to Yelgra. "They were found going south towards Ixoviya. According to my calculation, they must have already cleared their campsite. I am sending ten people with you and four faes. You have to get her this time!"
"Yes Mother!" she replied as Nyles was dressing her up.
"Can I come with you, m'lady?" Nyles asked in a whisper. "I can't wait to kill her or see you killing her."
Maple nodded. "You may. We are leaving within an hour. But mind it, it is going to take four days through portals to reach there."
"I will pack accordingly, m'lady." Nyles was dying to go and take her revenge. It was burning like fire in her chest.
