The ice reflected the colors of the sky as the sun dipped segueing the horizon with pale shades of gray, blue, purple and orange. 

Adrianna looked at the black stone where she had sacrificed Kayla. Her mind became dizzy when the body wasn't there. "Where is Kayla's body?" She had thought of burying her with respect. 

​​

"It disappeared… merged with that rock…" replied Ed with eyes that conveyed his sadness. He looked dejected. 

She rubbed the heel of her palm against her chest and in monotonous voice said, "At least they should have allowed me to bury her…" 

"Let us hurry back," Mun said impatiently. 

They started descending the Mountains of Tibris.

The descent was more difficult than the ascent and took longer. After they had descended halfway, Mun requested Isidorus to put blinders because he was distracted by the voices that were coming from the valleys below. Isidorus tore the fur from his cloak and created blinders for him. 

They reached the foothills safely. Ed invited them to come to the inn in order to have dinner but Adrianna wasn't in a mood. All she wanted was to go back and rest in her room. The journey to the Mountains of Tibris had been strenuous, painful and mentally drained her. 

"I want to go back," she said and Dmitri supported her. 

Isidorus said, "Adrianna I will stay here with Ed and Mun. The two of you can go back. Tomorrow I need your audience before you attend the noble court." 

"Sure," she replied. 

Isidorus created the portal for them and they stepped in their bedroom. 

Adrianna called upon her servants to arrange a bath for her. She wanted a bath. She wanted quiet and a hot water bath. 

She had somehow braved to look at the black rock where Kayla's lifeless body was sprawled, the wild and shocked look in her eyes, and the blood splattering – it made her knees buckle. The bathtub was filled with hot water mixed with lavender and rosemary. After the servants removed her bloodstained clothes, she staggered towards it. As she immersed, exhaustion hit her. She closed her eyes and rested her head back. 

Dmitri walked to the bathing room. He stood at the door and leaned. "Adri, you did great."

Through the rising steam, she looked at her mate and smiled. "Join me."

As if waiting for the invitation, he entered the bathing room and closed the door behind. In a moment he took his clothes out to step beside her. Although the bathtub was big enough to accommodate five people, he picked his wife and made her sit on his lap. 

Without speaking, he picked up the soft blue loofah and scrubbed her back in circular motion. Slowly, he brought it to the front on her chest, her breasts, neck, shoulders and hands. She buckled under the massage and rested her head on his shoulder. He went down to her thighs and rubbed them softly. 

Adrianna turned her head to face him and after a long lingering kiss on his lips, she looked at his square jaw and nibbled at it. Her eyes, golden like the yolk of the egg were his call. 

His breath became ragged. "I don't want to tire you Adri." His hands went to cup her breasts. 

"Mhmm."

He closed his eyes. "What do you expect from a Supreme Alpha whose Luna is…" he hissed. He squeezed her breast with one hand and took the other down tracing a line. 

He didn't want to hurt her. He only wanted to comfort her and that is what he did. He willed himself and asked, "What did the Elder say?"

Adrianna wrapped her arms around his neck. "I need you."

He cradled her, "I am there for you always." 

The couple came out after a long time taking their share of quietness and calm. 

When Adrianna had worn her peach silk nightgown and Dmitri was lying with his white muslin pajamas and bare torso on the bed, he asked her again, "What did the Elder say?" 

The flower canopy grew and covered them from all sides. The yellow blossoms were in abundance and looking fresh, as she had drunk a glass of blood for her child.

Adrianna rested her head on his shoulder. She narrated everything without leaving a detail. She added, "Thanks Dmitri for giving me this chance to bear our baby in this world." 

It was the first time he came to know so much about his baby. His eyes burned. A shiver of excitement ran down his spine. He couldn't even imagine the powers of his child and wished him success in the battle he was currently facing. He slid his hand over her stomach and kissed her forehead. "Stay safe Ileus," he whispered. 

"Ileus has the power to walk in the past, present and future." 

"Now I am even more concerned about your safety Adri."

"Nothing can happen to me, so don't worry." 

He stroked her hair but his mind was restless. Ileus was no ordinary baby and it wouldn't be too long before Adrianna's pregnancy would show. 

--- 

Ziu was sitting with Niiya at his residence. "I am getting impatient about you Niiya! Why aren't you gathering human forces? We need to strike the Wizard Kingdom as soon as possible." 

Niiya had taken to drinking a lot. It was impossible for him to go against Adrianna. Whenever he started making plans, his knees would become weak. Attacking his love was like trampling his soul. Picking his third glass of whiskey from the table, he sauntered to the window and opened the glass. A gust of icy cool winds calmed his nerves. He shook his head and cursed the moment he got himself into this mess. He hated Ziu more than ever.

"Niiya, when will you call the meeting with the military?" asked Dr. Tanaka. "We need to make the strategy as soon as possible." His gaze shifted to Ziu. "What about your people?"

"I have gathered the forces of my brothers. My father is more than ready." Ziu didn't tell them that he had fed wrong information to his father. 

"We would like to meet him," said Dr. Tanaka with narrowed eyes.