A distant rumble in the ground was heard again.
"Do you know what that rumble is about?" asked Nyles, giving a worried expression, seeing something in the distance. "Somewhere the Gods have gone angry. They are shaking this land to find you."
"Nyles?" Anastasia said.
Nyles looked at her. "Yes, m'lady."
"Don't spout nonsense!"
Ileus and others standing in close vicinity shook their heads or sighed showing their disgust, as quietly as possible.
Nyles lowered her head and walked away from there rubbing the back of her neck and mumbling something in Fae language.
Once she left, Darla walked up to Ileus. She put her hand on his shoulder and said, "You need rest Al. Why don't you let her travel with Kaizan or Nyles? I can see how tired you are."
Without looking at Darla, Ileus got up. His muscles had become rigid. He shook his head tightly, once. "I am absolutely fine and Anastasia will ride with me." His voice was carefully controlled and cold. "There will be no argument on that."
"But—" Darla started but she was cut off when he marched away. Shocked, she looked at Anastasia. Her eyes were red with anger. Once he had reached the men and was out of earshot, Darla sat beside Anastasia and took a deep, exasperated breath.
Knowing that she was surely going to pour acid in her talk, Anastasia leaned back and supported her body on her hands. Instead of looking at her, she looked up at the sky and watched the white fluffy clouds. Honestly, she was in no mood to talk to Darla.
Darla started, "If you have an iota of sympathy for his condition, then you will ride with someone else. That man is tired as hell and he has been handling you ever since you have escaped. You keep sleeping over him, lolling your body around while he tries to keep comforting you," Darla snapped. "Ileus is very tired. Can't you understand?" There was frustration in her voice. "He has helped you so much and now you are just like a parasite—leaching off him, clutching on him." Her palms fisted into tight knuckles. "I just hope that this gets over fast and you leave us! Enough of it." She looked at Anastasia who was looking up at the sky. "Stop being so selfish, okay?" She was about to leave, but added, "Whatever is going on between you—remember it is temporary. Ileus will always, and I mean always, come back to me!"
Anastasia had never really used those words but this time she wanted to say them. So she blurted, "Fuck off!" without looking towards her.
Darla gasped as her eyes flew wide open. "How dare you?" she growled.
Without turning her head towards Darla, she slanted her eyes in her direction and in a very cold voice that was just a shard of ice, said, "Leave."
Darla gritted her teeth. She got up and stomped away from there muttering a curse under her breath. Anastasia watched her going with narrowed eyes. She jerked her head and started looking at the blue sky again. She needed to stop thinking about her wings. Whenever she thought about her shackled wings, her mental agony increased. She had to take cognizance of her thoughts. She became drowsy. With a sigh she got up. "I am fine and we can go now," she declared.
However, before they all started, Nyles urged, "I want to be with m'lady. Please allow me to be with her." But Zlu gripped her forearm and pulled her to the horse they were on.
"You will be riding with me," he snarled and she became quiet seeing his fierce expression. Quietly, she walked with him.
Before starting, Ileus adjusted her cloak. He helped her mount his horse and they started to move after he mounted behind her. As they rode she moved closer to him and he encircled his arms around her protectively. She relaxed against his chest and inhaled his smell—the mist, coppery and woodsy smell that invaded her senses to an overwhelming extent. She closed her eyes and said, "Are you tired of carrying me Ileus? Or should I call you Al?" she teased him.
"I am not tired of carrying you with me." He brought his hand in between his thigh and cupped her there.
She gasped.
"You can call me 'Honey', if you like."
Dear gods.
"You should ask me why."
"I won't because you are obscene!" She tried to remove his hand, but she felt she was fighting a losing battle because the more she tried to remove it, the harder the grip became.
He shrugged. "I will tell you anyway."
"In what way should I tell you I am not interested in listening to it?"
He ignored her protest. "You must call me Honey because it would remind me of the honey that I have to lick off you. Remember?" His voice had dipped to a sexy low.
Her cheeks heated. She smacked his arm. Darla's sharp words were forgotten.
Ileus left her and held the reins again. "Anything else you would like to ask?"
Her mouth had snapped closed and she didn't utter a word. They reached the valley's floor and it was now entirely covered with snow. Scanty, green, tall grass stood like tufts amongst thorny bushes. Puddles of water were everywhere. It was easy for the horses to slip.
Ileus signaled the group and nudged his horse. They raced through it. Cold wind slapped against her cheeks. She wanted to sleep badly now, but because of the coldness she couldn't. Though the mountains looked so close, they were pretty far. They must have galloped for three hours when snow started falling again. Flurries swirled around and drifted on them like soft fluffy feathers. If they didn't reach in time, they might get caught in a blizzard again.
"We need to slow down!" Kaizan shouted.
"Why?" Ileus shouted back.
Anastasia didn't know as to why Kaizan didn't reply but Ileus stopped. His gaze became cautious and suddenly there was tension in the group. Not able to understand this sudden surliness, she asked, "Anything wrong?"
