Anastasia stared at him as his amber eyes stared back at her back. They were so full of emotions that swirled behind them.
His face had become stiff because he was stopping himself from going back to the thought. His dark hair was ruffled, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he tried to push the lump that had formed in his throat. He took a deep breath but he didn't break the stare.
Her mate was… extraordinary. This vokudlak who was powerful and handsome beyond words… who had sacrificed a year of his life to be next to her… waiting… anticipating whether she would ever come to him… who had remained hidden in the shadows for his people, going around the Lore to chase enemies of the kingdoms, who hadn't approached her earlier only because he was scared for her, because he knew that if he approached her, she would be punished heavily. And yet this beautiful, beautiful man waited for her… patiently, until she chose to escape. And yet he always said that he was unable to breathe when he saw her. He felt that he wasn't enough for her.
"And suffer?" Anastasia's eyes stung with tears. "Oh Ileus!" she exclaimed and jumped to embrace her husband. Always sacrificing… always. "I love you so much!" Tears rolled out of her eyes and a tendril of relief penetrated her mind.
He caught her tightly in his arms. "I love you too, sweetheart."
After she settled a little, he wiped her tears away and said, "Aren't we lucky to be together?"
She bobbed her head like a toy. In a hoarse voice she said, "Kaizan said that you would spar with them often when you wanted to take your anger out. Why?"
His eyes flitted to her lips. "That's something you should ask him." He pressed a kiss to her lips and she closed her eyes. "I don't think I can ever live without you, love."
"Neither can I," he replied. "Do you—"
"Shh," she hushed him to feel his embrace—skin to skin. When moments later she pulled away, she said, "We have to get ready for the day. I would love to go to Level three, but how are you going to take me there? The queen may not like it."
His lips kicked up. "I will disguise you as my servant."
She narrowed her eyes. "How about I disguise you as my servant? In fact, how about you sleep on the couch outside this room tonight?"
"Hell no!" he whined. "But I have to disguise you as something!"
"Why don't we get Darla with us?" she suggested.
Ileus unshackled her wings and the maids gave her a nice bath. She wore a silver tube top that had a delicate golden chain, which wound around the neck to keep it from falling. Ileus bit back a grunt and said, "By the time we will make it to Level three, I might spear you ten times."
She pulled up her black leggings and giggled. In a very sexy voice she said, "I look forward to that, honey."
"Woman!" Ileus hissed as he changed into black leather pants and black jacket.
"How are you going to disguise me?" she asked with a curious tone. Suddenly a nervousness surged through her body and it was nothing to do with the conversation they just had.
He walked to her and brushed his hands from top to bottom while chanting a spell. When he turned her to look in the mirror, Anastasia gaped in shock.
"How did you like my imagination, wife?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
She looked like a simple barmaid with black hair and average features. She was now wearing a long frilly skirt and full sleeves shirt with an apron over it.
She started laughing and then coughed as she choked on her laughter. He ran to fetch a glass of water for her. "Do you want me to take all of this out, and bend over with a pail in a corset only?" She fluttered her eyelashes.
Ileus' mouth fell to the floor. "Only if you want me to come instantly."
She looked down at his shaft which had swelled at the thought. "It sounds like we are going to have fun, hon."
Ileus' breath hitched. "Wait till I take you to the side and bend you over every damn place I can and take you!" Suddenly he felt that if he was this randy in front of her, how would other boys feel? In a heartbeat, he brushed his hands on her again and changed her dress to a wraparound tunic and leggings. "Ah! Better!" he said.
Ileus put his hand on the small of her back and guided her out. They stepped in the portal with the guards that looked fierce. All of them had served her the offerings and considered her as their deity. They had to protect her. Darla accompanied them.
The quiet street they entered meandered its way up. Soft cool breeze drifted making the afternoon a pleasant walk. Anastasia was carrying her dagger beneath her tunic just out of habit.
"Why are we in Level two?" asked Darla.
Ileus chuckled. "It seems mother knew of my plans. She has restricted Anastasia's entry in Level three."
Darla rolled her eyes. Sometimes the queen was very overprotective.
"Is there anything in particular you want to do, Anastasia?" she asked.
Anastasia shrugged. "No, I don't have anything to do!"
"Then let us go to the wizard mall. We can eat fabulous ice creams over there."
"What are ice creams?"
The group entered the mall and as soon as the girls saw Prince Ileus, they swooned over him. Though all of them bowed and didn't stop, soon Anastasia found that they were being followed by mostly… girls! Her jealousy flared and she had to keep it in check. She gritted her teeth.
"There's a great place round the corner," Darla's voice distracted her. "We can sit in privacy and enjoy our lunch and desert."
Anastasia liked the idea because that would keep the girls out. "Yes, sure!" she replied enthusiastically. Ileus also agreed to her.
They walked through the corridors of the wizard mall, and Anastasia noticed that everything worked on magic. Fabrics over which stars shimmered as if they had traveled to the earth to sparkle over them, hung in the glass panes of the windows. People were having beverages in which the stirrers were rotating on their own. Trays of food were gently flying to the relevant customers. An arts shop had paintings that floated around lazily for the customers to see at leisure. Orbs of yellow lights floated near the ceiling. The corridor was divided in the center where flowers bloomed in abundance imparting intoxicating fragrance.
Darla stopped at the end of a walkway in front of dark tinted doors. The door pushed open on its own when she pressed her thumb on the knob. And they entered a restaurant that was shrouded in very low light. "That's a dance stage," Darla whispered to Anastasia. "We have come at the right time. A dancer should be coming any time. She is very popular."
Curious and eager, for she had never seen anything like this, Anastasia let Darla lead them through the maze of tables and chairs to a private corner.
Suddenly—
