Ráild's wings had caught fire. He hadn't realized but he had stepped in the spells, which were crafted for people like him, for people who had betrayed the kingdom, who had deceived the king himself.
He screamed with pain, with so much agony that he couldn't bear it. "Help me! Help me!" he shouted, hoping that someone would hear him and come to help. But people gathered around him at a distance and only watched. They knew what those spells were meant for and no one wanted to get into something as serious as this.
Ráild dropped to the ground and started rolling. But the fire didn't douse. The fae, who was once a part of the kingdom's army, who had his house in this land, who thought he would come back to his land, was now on the ground, burning in the inferno of hell. He screamed and screamed, but there was no assistance from anyone. Even the soul inside him, who he had brought this far to be with his queen, didn't help him.
Seeing that his host was burning, Seraph came out of him as soon as he could. He watched Ráild burn to ashes within seconds. The fae wasn't even able to scream, his face twisted in a surprise as he died. Shocked, Seraph distanced himself. He swooshed away from the place and floated towards the palace. Ráild had served his purpose and now he was of no use. As far as Seraph was concerned, all he had to do now was to locate Etaya. In all probability, she would be in the celestial prison and he knew his way to that place, having visited with her to check upon Ian and Áine when they were prisoned.
While he was traveling like a soul in the air towards the palace, he saw how beautiful the capital of Vilinski was. Even though it was extremely cold and soft flurries of snow drifted from the skies, the place was like a dream land. There were tiny lights around the pine trees that lined the paths, children playing with the snow, men and women gathered to talk or play board games, small farmer markets and then large market squares where shops openly displayed their merchandise, alfresco bars and small ale houses—all of them were very lively. Nothing like what they were when Aed Ruad was the crown prince. He wondered that if things were fine, if Etaya hadn't been so greedy, then he would have been the brother-in-law of the king of Vilinski and he would have enjoyed this place in his physical form. He had sacrificed so much for his wife, and look what she did to him.
An empty feeling returned to him. His wife didn't leave him good enough for this world or the next. He was suspended here… for eternity. And now he sought revenge. The feeling drove him further.
—
Aed Ruad barely came out of his room for two weeks. He mulled whether he should strike now or later, whether he should go to Galahar or stay here. He had suspended any spying activity barring one soldier. And that spy had returned with the news that Rolfe Aramaer had returned to his kingdom… without Iona.
The news was potent. Now the little princess was alone, unprotected and he was sure that this was the right opportunity to attack. But this time he had to formulate a solid plan. He had to be so thorough when he struck that it would leave no chance of failing. At first he thought he would attack Rolfe, and he was wondering how he would tackle a powerful demon like that, but when his spy gave him the information that Iona was left behind, he changed his plans completely. Now he would focus on Iona. He would keep a track of her activities, every day, every minute of the day.
—
Theodir was lounging on his chaise chair when Ilyana woke up. She found him sleeping with his head tilted to the right. His feet were up on the cushioned ottoman. She had been so sore that she couldn't walk and she remembered that even he had a slight limp while walking because he overused his— her cheeks flushed. She pursed her lips. For the whole night she dreamt of… him. And she was surprised that all her thoughts were only about him. It was very strange. Why was she behaving like this? They had had so much sex that she had finished all three of her herbal potions and so she was sure that she was safe, but then why was it that she hoped to have a baby, and that too, his baby? She shook her head and gave a side glance to her husband. Her gaze swept over his pants, the buttons of which were open, revealing the thin trail of those dark hair that disappeared beneath it. She licked her lips, wondering how it would feel between them. Wait. What? Shocked, she shook her head again. Her eyes went to the books that were lying on the floor, and her mouth fell to the floor.
Ilyana removed her blanket slowly. She swept her feet to the ground. Sore as hell, unable to walk properly, she still reached for those books. And she was out of her wits to see what was on the cover. Pictures of naked men and women. With shaky hands, she picked them up. She had never seen anything like it before. How did Theodir get hold of these? Gods.
She knelt beside him on the floor and turned one page. It was even more bombastic. Her skin heated like a thousand suns when she saw the picture of a naked woman being rocked by two men. Suddenly two hands picked her up and she squealed. "Theodir!" she rasped and found herself staring at her husband. Her blush deepened for getting caught like this. "I— I was just—" curious, scandalized, and even excited.
A smile crept on his lips. He made her turn with her back to his chest, and softly said, "How about we see this together?" The way she reacted to the books was all that he wanted to see. It encouraged him. He had read those books and a hundred ideas had come to his mind to make his otherwise boring sex life, exciting and adventurous.
"Sure!" she found herself responding to him and was totally embarrassed. She clenched her thighs. Why was she feeling so lusty for him? Surely it was the effect of the books in her hands.
With a soft smile, he wrapped his arms around her and then brushed his fingers over her belly through her gown under which she wasn't wearing anything. She shivered under his touch. He turned the pages for her and as and as the pages turned, he smelled her arousal. "How are you feeling?" he asked and stopped turning the page when they were in an outrageous picture. It had made her eyes wide. More juices flowed out of her.
"I—I am f—fine!" she blurted. No, she wasn't. She wanted to have more sex—with him. She wanted to have his baby. Gods, what was happening? She had to smack her head against stones.
After a moment's pause Theodir said, "I wanted to ask you about Ruvyn."
