Anastasia couldn't stop thinking about where Kaizan was or what they had done to him—the sounds of swords against swords, flesh tearing and bones snapping. Over the past two months she had fought a lot, the memories of which would stay with her for a long time. Right now, she was focused on calming Iona as best as she could, even though she felt like vomiting. The exhaustion stemmed from not only the lack of sleep but from everything that was happening from the moment they arrived at the fortress after defeating King Edyrm. She knew that Ileus had to be more exhausted than her because he had gone to find Kaizan in the treacherous nights of Tibris. Heaviness settled in her chest. When the knock pounded on the door, she said, "Come in!" hoping that it was the second healer with blood.
The messenger opened and announced, "Queen Siora is here." He was looking flustered at the new development. Anastasia could feel his nervous energy leaking out of his body.
Surprise radiated from her in waves as she went blank for a moment. She stared at the messenger and her brows creased. Iona too looked at the messenger with a stunned gaze.. Her brows lifted in doubt. Where had she gone after the fight that had erupted in the throne room? And now she appeared out of nowhere?
Anastasia and Iona exchanged confused glances and then Anastasia looked at the messenger and said, "Please ask her to come to the main hall. I will meet her there." The opportunity was too good. She couldn't let it slip.
As soon as the messenger closed the door and they heard his receding footsteps, Anastasia said, "This is amazing, Iona. I think she has come here to help Rolfe!"
"I highly doubt that," said Iona with narrowed eyes. "Where was she all this time? I didn't see her even once. Moreover, she has come when Rolfe is on the verge of death. I am not sure about her intentions."
Anastasia tilted her head as a frown came on her forehead. A moment later she said, "What you are saying could be right, Iona, but we can't miss this opportunity."
Iona took a deep breath. She looked at Rolfe and stroked his hair. Her hand went to his horns and she caressed them softly. "Let's go," she said on an afterthought.
They called the healer inside the room and before leaving, they stationed several fae guards at the entrance. As they walked through the passageways that were lit by torches, their shadows looming large on the walls, Anastasia couldn't help noticing that it was too windy on the outside. Her worries increased when she thought about Ileus and she let out a silent prayer that he was fine. She knew that Ileus was so furious that he wouldn't stop until he found Kaizan. They rounded a corner and then took several steps down to the main hall. They expected light whispers or mumbled conversation but the silence was unnerving. The air was thick on the inside even as a gale generated on the outside. They opened the heavy double door of the main room and when they stepped inside, they saw a tall woman wearing a black fur cloak that was buttoned to the collar over a green gown, the silk of which was showing at the ankle.
Siora got up when they came closer. She looked inhumanly beautiful. High cheekbones, slanted almond shaped green eyes and lips a deep maroon, she had everything a woman would wish for, but it was her eeriness that repulsed Anastasia. She watched her as she came closer to Siora and she could feel something was vastly wrong with this woman. Dread skittered down her spine, when she felt her magic in the air, thick and heavy and malevolent.
Siora bowed to her, completely ignoring Iona. Anastasia understood her games immediately. She bowed back with equal dignity and sat down on the chair opposite to her. Iona sat in the chair right next to her, fully aware that Siora had ignored her.
Anastasia leaned back in her chair and tapped her slender fingers on the table. She wanted Siora to start the conversation because if she started, she would end up asking too many questions and waste the time. Siora understood her intentions and said, "Princess Anastasia, I am here with a proposition."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes. If the queen was here with a proposal, it clearly meant that she was least interested in helping her son but more interested in herself. But what was it that she needed? She waited for her to speak more.
When Siora saw that Anastasia was still watching her, she coughed a little in her hands and continued, "Let me cut short on the pleasantries." She closed her eyes and waited for a moment. When she opened them, she exhaled heavily and said, "I know that Rolfe is very ill. He needs blood from his relatives. I can give him the blood he wants."
Anastasia's fingers stopped thrumming the table. What did she mean that 'she can'? As a mother shouldn't she just offer her blood to her son? But those would have been normal circumstances. Right now, if she was offering a deal, then this was going to get very twisted. Time was important. She didn't want to squander it. She waited further for her to speak.
"I know what you must be thinking about me. When Rolfe was exiled, I never helped him. He was a rebel and the king hated rebels. And as for me, my life depended on my decision to stay with the king." Siora looked at Anastasia through her eyelashes as if trying to gauge her reaction.
"Siora," said Anastasia without referring to her with her title. "Please come to the point. We all know that you never supported Rolfe."
Anger rose inside her chest as she looked at Anastasia's insolence but she suppressed it. She had come here for her mission and she had to tell it fast. So she stated her purpose once again and threw the deal with it. "I would like to offer my blood to my youngest but I have a condition."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes. She knew that the woman had something hidden up her sleeve.
"You have to let me live after I offer my blood to Rolfe," Siora stated clearly. "Once I have given my blood, I will be of no use, because he has his two older brothers in the dungeon already whose blood can be used. You will kill me or when Rolfe wakes up, he can kill me." Her gaze went to Iona and panic flickered through her. "She can kill me."
Helpless anger pushed Iona at the desperation that Iona was feeling at the moment. She wanted to thrash this woman so hard that she would never get up. Which mother in her right mind offered deals to save their sons. If she gave her blood then Iona would have only felt grateful. Her heart pounded way too fast. Suddenly she realized that this was not all. There had to be more and she wanted to listen to it. What was it that Siora still held? She wished she had the capability of entering the cells like her mother. She didn't answer Siora and just continued to gaze at her with as stoic a face as possible.
