Bernice and Fuchsia were thrown into the harsh lands of Northern Mountains, the place that was furthermost to the main village. The servants and the soldiers got up and rushed to their ladies, completely flustered.
Wrapped in a quilt and totally numb by the weather, Bernice entered the carriage, cursing Ileus. "I am yet to see such a pathetic man in my life. He will never make a good king!" she growled. "He is going to go to hell for being so cruel!" She was shivering so badly that her teeth chattered. She sat on the bench opposite to Fuchsia. "Did you see how conceited that man was? He didn't see any logic, didn't want to reason with us, and just used his wizardry to punish us? How dare he? And how did he know what was happening?"
A slap sounded.
Shocked, her eyes grew wide when she looked at her mother, who was fuming with anger. "Because of you we are in this situation. Do you even know what the repercussions of this vow are? Not only have we lowered ourselves in front of Olivia, we have disgraced ourselves in front of the crown prince. Our Alpha Murtagh is far far better!"
"Mother?" Bernice's voice came out as a whisper. Her already swollen cheek was hurting so bad now.
Fuchsia was extremely angry. In a breathless voice, she said, "Ileus and his mother have the ability to enter the cells of other people. You wouldn't come to know what has happened and they would sweep your mind!" Fuchsia's lips quivered. "This is going to be so bad…" she said and then looked out of the window of the carriage. The soldiers and servants were still keeping the chests inside the wagon. An hour later they began moving to the Whiteclaw pack. And in that hour, the mother and daughter didn't speak. A servant came to give Bernice a pair of slacks and tunic and fur cloaks. They continued their journey in tense quiet.
—
As soon as Bernice and Fuchsia disappeared from the bedchamber, Olivia sagged in Kaizan's arms. He removed his arms from her waist and she knelt on the ground. Her throat was burning. She had held her tears for a long time in order to maintain a harsh façade, but now she could feel it as tears crept in her eyes. A shudder passed through her body and the tears broke the dam. She sobbed with her shoulders slouched. She was so tired and so hurt that the entire incident was beyond physical. It ran deep in her soul. How could her aunt and cousin go to this extent? Not only did Bernice molest her husband, she molested the relationship she shared with her. And how could Fuchsia be such a horrible woman? Suddenly, Olivia wished her mother was here. She wanted to run into her arms and cry like a baby.
Kaizan sat down behind her in order to hold her, but it was difficult for him to hold his sanity any further. "Oli… via…" he breathed and then rolled on the ground. Olivia snapped her head in his direction. Before she could say a word, Ileus had bent down and hauled him on his shoulder. He grunted and then walked to their bed where he made Kaizan lie down. Olivia rushed to his side.
"He is heavily drugged," Ileus said. "Let him be like this and he will come out of it by tomorrow." As she covered him with a fur, he said, "Don't." Olivia looked at him with a question in her eyes. She wasn't prepared for what happened next. Green light dropped from Ileus' hands. He flung them towards Kaizan. The green lights swirled and crackled and encased his body completely. Tiny amber and emerald orbs bobbed inside the shimmer. They touched his skin and dissolved. "This should heal him fast!"
Olivia nodded through her tears. The wizard prince had been very kind to her husband. Suddenly, she found herself wrapped in the arms of the crown prince. And Olivia broke down. She was in the warmth of someone close. Feeling needy like a baby for her mother, Olivia cried and cried.
When she first stepped into Kaizan's mansion, she felt like she was home. She knew that because of the fresh peace treaty, things would be difficult for her in Silver Vales. It was not difficult to prove their union but gaining acceptance from the people was what she feared. There were so many things to be dealt with and she knew that her future wouldn't be that easy despite Kaizan's full support, but she had the hope.
Now? Now Olivia felt foolish. She was so naïve to think that acceptance was only limited to people in Silver Vales. It had to come from her family too. And it was her family who couldn't accept it. She hadn't chosen her fate. Fate chose her.
She drew in a shaky breath and in a hoarse voice said, "I didn't want any of this. I didn't know that ghosts of my family would follow me."
Ileus smoothed her hair and in a gentle voice replied, "I know." He removed himself from her and wiped her tears. Cupping her cheeks, in a low soothing voice he said, "I know, Olivia. Its okay. Those are the consequences of marrying those in the power." He remembered Anastasia's struggle to be accepted in Draoidh. And silently, secretly loved her even more. "Stay strong and things will be fine." His gaze went to Kaizan. "Take care of him."
"I will," she replied in a whisper.
"Good!" Ileus patted her head. Then he walked out of their bedchamber.
When the doors closed, Olivia didn't go to lie beside Kaizan. She had too many emotions running through her body. She trudged her way to the bathroom. Stripping herself of all the clothes, she ran hot water in the tub that could seat five people easily. She rested her head on the back and closed her eyes. What she had done with Bernice was something she wanted to feel bad about, regret… but why was it that she wasn't feeling a modicum of regret? Hot water helped ease her tension a little. Her mind went to nightgowns that Kaizan had designed for her and irritation returned, because every time she thought about them, Bernice's image in the pink nightgown which was meant for her, flashed in her mind. The image of her kneeling in front of him and unbuttoning his pants made her grow queasy.
"Fuck you!" The need to lash out at Bernice and at Kaizan burned inside her. She knew that Bernice had drugged him, but why was it that she couldn't shed the image of them together? It burned a hole in her heart.
In order to get some respite, her mind cooked up a plan. "You can look Kaizan, but you will touch when I want!"
She got out of the tub and hastened to her dressing room. There were many dresses, but none she wanted.
In the morning, Kaizan had still hadn't woken up. Olivia was standing in front of Neli, giving her the measurements of one scandalous dress, a backless ruby red gown with a halter top. And the material of the dress wasn't silk. She instructed Neli to deliver the dress by twilight along with black hose and red garters.. She wondered what he would think about it.
