The next morning, or rather early afternoon, Alana was the first to wake up. He had his arms around her, his face buried in her hair, Alana basked in his addicting scent. She studied his features up close, he looked peaceful sleeping this way and Alana was enchanted by how handsome he was.

Then images of last night began playing before her eyes and Alana blushed tomato red as she recalled how many times he made love to her. Feeling suddenly hot and bothered, she slowly released herself from his arms, careful as to not wake him up.

She bit her lips as she studied his sleeping form once again. As much as she wanted to go back to his arms, nature was calling. She couldn't see where he had discarded her scattered clothes last night and so Alana draped his linen shirt which reached her mid thighs and tip-toed to find the bathroom.

Seeing how the shower looked so tempting, she decided to let the water run over her body. She washed last night's away, the evidence of having lost something special to him. Afterwards, she stared at herself in the mirror and got a shock. She gasped to herself as she saw the bruised love bites painted all over her body. Alana felt herself trembling as she remembered those moment he marked her body this way.

Some things couldn't be erased. Alana knew she didn't want to erase last night from her mind, she wondered whether he felt the same. He did mention that he planned on having his way with her this whole weekend.

Feeling excited about this, she quickly towel-dried her body and tied another dry towel on her hair. Then she wore his shirt again. When she entered the bedroom again, Lylas was still slumbering deeply on the bed. A part of her was tempted to return in his arms, but she hadn't ate since yesterday during lunch. Her stomach was begging her to be fed.

Alana manoeuvred awkwardly around the bedroom, trying to find the door to exit out of the room. It was probably her random shuffling that awakened him, because one second she was about to open a random door, when the next second she was buried in Lylas's arms that hugged her from behind.

"You can't escape that easily, remember you promised me if I let you sleep then I'll have you for the rest of the day." His voice tickled her ear.

Alana felt herself melting under his arms and words. Her cheeks were stained red with her blush when she turned around to face him.

She smirked before looking at him with serious expression, taking him by surprise.

"Feed me first." She demanded.

"Ah..." He pressed his forehead unto hers. "I'm sorry, I forgot to feed you last night didn't I?"

"You more than fed me last night." She commented and then blushed at her bold remark.

Lylas's eyes were heated as he stared meaningfully at Alana, before his lips twitched with humour.

"What do you want to eat?" He asked as he released her.

Alana then realised he was only wearing his jeans and nothing else. Seeing his bare toned torso and broad shoulders weakened her senses. Alana bit her lips to force her desire at bay, then she looked up at him.

"I want, bacon, eggs, hash brown, sausages and beans." She told him the items of an English breakfast menu.

"Okay, I can make that happen." He told her in anticipation.

Alana was excited when he went to the bathroom for a while to fix himself. When he returned, he grabbed her hand and took her on tour of the mansion.

"Where is this island located?" She asked when they finally reached the kitchen.

"We are currently in the middle of the Indian ocean," He replied.

"How come you own this island too?" She asked as she watched him walk to and fro, from the fridge to the island counter.

"I own many things in this realm, Alana. I spent a long time here looking for you for fifteen thousand years." He told her, patiently.

Although his words tickled her heart, she knew that it wasn't precisely her he'd been looking for, but a virgin mortal with an immortal womb. Once again she was reminded by how lucky she was to have been born with this "immortal womb". Fate was on her side.

Once he finished taking out every ingredient, Alana expected him to use his powers to make the food. What she didn't expect was his laborious effort of actually cooking everything from scratch.

Alana was touched. She knew that he was actually more than capable of clicking his fingers and making food appear on the whim. The fact he chose this organic mere mortal method of preparing the food, made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

***

The morning weather was perfect: sunny but not scalding and with just enough clouds to make it cool but not too humid. The island's animals and birds filled the atmosphere with their sounds, making the scenery come alive. Even the sound of water against sand from the of ebb and flow of the sea harmoniously lifted this musical sound. It made everything feel so content and relaxing. Alana felt at ease and wished for nothing more than to remain in this moment with him for eternity.

They sat outside, at an open porch under the umbrella and chairs while eating the English breakfast Lylas made.

"Is this the first time you cooked without using your powers?" Alana asked. She fell in love with his cooking, everything was prepared so artfully and tasted so delicious. She wanted to eat nothing but his meals from now.

Lylas shook his head. "The only person I ever cooked for was Naala. It was a long time ago, when I was banished from the fairie realms and she had followed me to the mortal realm."

Alana felt a fist squeezing her heart. Why did she bring it up? She hadn't bargained for him tell her about that woman. The jealousy was unwarranted, she bite into her food looking down to hide her disappointment.

In her mind that woman was undeserving of him. How could she choose to leave a person like Lylas, potentially breaking his heart by giving up on her life?

"Why were you banished?" Alana decided to ask. She reminded herself she had wanted to know their love story before, maybe today he was finally going to tell her.

However, when she looked up, Lylas had a faraway look on his face. He stared at the waves beyond them with a forlorn expression.

"A mere a trifling misunderstanding..." he answered her. "....Naala was very reckless then, and so she gave up her powers to follow me to appease her guilt..."

"...She gave up a lot of things for me." The last sentence was said in a painful mutter.

Alana's breaths shook when she breathed out. It was obviously still very difficult and painful for him to even talk about her. She could see it clearly. For someone to know and experience deep loss is for them to have known true love. And seeing how he still grieved for his loss, proved to Alana that his love for Naala was everlasting.

The jealousy left a bitter taste in her mouth . However, Alana reminded herself of her promise.

Whatever Lylas loved, I would love too.

Although it was difficult to understand what that woman had been thinking to end her life, ultimately leaving him behind, Alana decided to give her a benefit of doubt. And besides, if she ended up being pregnant after this weekend, her days would start becoming numbered. If in the reminder of her life, she would only receive this partial care and tolerance from Lylas, then for Alana it was enough.

"Lylas..." She spoke softly, in order to bring him back from his dark thoughts. In order to bring him back from thinking about that woman.

Lylas turned his gaze to her. The pain-filled eyes were too hard not to miss. Seeing his agonised expression, resolved the request Alana wanted from him.

"I know you told me you can't offer my heart, and I know this will be a selfish request...but when I become pregnant, will you pretend for that duration of my pregnancy that you care deeply for me?" She closed her eyes after finishing.

She couldn't look up to gauge his reaction, she was too afraid he will reject the request. His silence was unnerving and so Alana had no choice but to look up at him.

As his back was against the sun, it's glow bathed him in a surreal light. There was no frown in his face, nor a blank expression. No, Lylas had an expression so remarkable, it was rare to see it in real life. Alana recalled he had smiled like this for that woman in that dream she had months and months ago. But last night, he also smiled for her this way.

Her innards curled and the tingling on her stomach intensified. Her heart was in her a throat and she wondered how such an expression could educe such a reaction from her.

The smile even reached his eyes and with the golden glow of sunlight behind him, the whole atmosphere changed with his smile. Alana couldn't help but contagiously pull her lips into a smile as well. He didn't reply her request but to Alana his smile said a thousand. She took it as an assent.

Suddenly, the energy around them shifted as if someone had cracked through their bubble, forcing their way inside.

"Master!" Alana was surprised to hear Mena's voice of all people.

As she looked up, she saw Mena walking in quick steps towards them after landing in the sand.

"Master, I'm sorry to intrude, but it's an emergency...it's Karla." Mena spoke in a rushing tone.

The first thing Mena's eyes landed on, were on Alana's lack of trousers. Alana fidgeted, blushing as her hands pulled down Lylas's shirt to cover more of her thighs.

Mena then retracted her eyes to Lylas, she stared at him with anxiety, but the meaningful silence of their conversation wasn't lost to Alana.

Alana knew they were communicating through their magical minds. Feeling left out, she wanted to ask what happened, when Lylas quickly frowned, his movements becoming rushed.

Lylas was suddenly in front of her, giving her instructions. "Stay with Mena, don't leave her side...I'll be back very soon."

Alana didn't have time to inquire where he was going, when he disappeared in golden smoke, still topless.

"What happened?" She turned to Mena whom looked uncomfortable.

It was odd for Mena to be this way around her. She looked nervously around them, as if she was wary or anticipating something. Mena looked upwards in anxiety before, quickly casting a spell around the house.

Her actions made Alana alert that something terrible was going to happen.

Mena finally turned to her after securing every corner with her powers. She gave Alana a smile, although it was filled with worry.

"Karla was unaware Lylas has been in the mortal realms to see you..." Mena began answering her.

"...She was unaware that you had the immortal womb Master has been searching for, until Zenos let it slip through his mouth. We didn't think much of it since she was calm, but the next morning Karla broke into the garden Lylas created for her highness, my mistress. Karla used one of the crystal seal that contained a ghoul Master had imprisoned many years ago."

"Because the crystal had Master's magic, it easily broke the seal of the garden, but also set the ghoul free. The ghoul trapped Karla in the garden by using its energy, and it was that strange energy that alerted us to what happened. I ran here to warn Master before something bad happened to Karla,while everyone tried to break into the ghoul's trap." Mena finished.

Alana gasped as she realised it was partly her fault. The guilt returned. Of course, Karla would act on impulse. She probably felt betrayed by her only friend whom promised she would have nothing to do with Lylas. Alana was suddenly worried for Karla.

She grabbed Mena's arms. "It's my fault, Mena, take me back to his realm."

Mena shook her head quickly. "I can't do that, Alana, master instructed me to stay here with you. He will handle the situation in his realm."

Alana felt her body depleting in disappointment, she worried for Karla's safety and mostly for Lylas as well.

"Don't worry, Alana. Master is a regally powerful immortal, he's more than capable of handling a minor ghoul. He trapped it before in his crystal seal, he will be able to free Karla and defeat the ghoul at the same time." Mena reassured her.

"If we go now, it will be more of a hindrance." She further explained.

Hindrance? Alana thought feeling hurt. Wanting to help is a hindrance to him? Sure, she had caused a mess before, injuring Mena in the process. It was true, she would be more of a hindrance if she went back. However even knowing this, didn't stop her feelings from getting hurt.

Just as she was mulling over this, the atmosphere once again changed around them. However, this time, the air of magic—although similar to what Karla had used to break into their bubble earlier— was more refined and majestic.

Mena frowned deeply in wariness beside her. It was the first time, Alana was witnessing this loyal fairie immortal being so affected like this.

Alana took that as warning and braced herself to face the danger that intruded upon them. However, when she looked, what she saw shocked her. Alana somehow had expected to chance upon a similar looking creature as the fire demon that had once abducted her. What she didn't expect to see, was humongous angel-like sparkling silver wings slowly retracting back on a majestic being whom was now walking toward them.

Although his air wasn't on par with Lylas, or Derak's, you could feel his importance with the way he walked and presented himself. He had dark skin, silver grey hair and silver coloured eyes that looked anxiously toward Mena.

Mena looked like she swallowed a bad lemon. As if nerves, anxiety and fear were all mixed together, making her looked flustered and angry at the same time.

"Men—" before the man could finish, Mena moved, as if biting down her fury.

"Your highness..." She pulled her fist together and slowly bowed her head in a robotic greeting.

"...forgive my rudeness but you should not be here."

"Mena, I have been searching for the trace of your essence for fifteen thousand years, this is how you greet me?"

Mena bit her lips, frowning deeply.

"His highness should return to the fairie realms. Master does not take kindly to intruders." She insisted stoically.

Alana was very surprised by the way Mena was acting toward this person. She was curious to know how they were related.

"Mena do you still hate me." He suddenly asked.

Mena didn't reply.

"You're still following that guy, do you love him now?" He continued his interrogation.

"You know very well that Master will always belong to Mistress, I will never ever betray mistress that way." The undertone in her voice was deadly. Shocking even Alana.

"Then why haven't you returned to the fairie realms?" The pitch in his tone was strained as if he was hiding the hurt in his voice.

"You know why?"

The man looked very frustrated. "It has been fifteen thousand years and you still hold a grudge?"

"Fifteen thousand years is not enough time to grieve for my mistress." Mena suddenly lashed out.

"Your highness, I've been very civil with you this far, now I can be frank. What you and the royal family did to mistress was unkind and inhumane. You abandoned her in her time of need. Your own twin sister. "

Alana watched the tears prickling on Mena's eyes and couldn't help but yearn to comfort the woman. She wasn't the only one feeling this way. As she looked toward the man, it was as if Mena's tears were grating his heart and were very painful to see.

Surprisingly the man looked to the floor, frowning. "I know, I know. In the past, I should have opposed father and helped Naala. But I didn't think it would end that way. I didn't think she would choose to kill herself."

Mena was angry again, as she lashed, "You know very well that she didn't chose to kill herself."

The man nodded, feeling even more regretful. "I miss her every day so I know how you feel, Mena. I've received retribution. I lost you as consequence for my actions. I've lived with the pain of never receiving your love again. But fifteen thousand years have gone pass Mena, I don't want to keep hiding my feelings. I don't want to live the rest of my life without you in it."

Bloody hell. Even Alana was moved. She imagined the turmoil Mena was in, her loyalty fighting with her heart. That was if Mena actually loved that man and Alana wasn't just imagining it.

"So in consideration of our past relationship will you return to the fairie realms with me?" He begged.

"Your highness, we are ill-fated." Mena was back to the civil tone, choosing a different tactic this time. "In the past, you were prince and I was just a maid. Now you're a king and I'm still inferior. We could never be together."

"So do you still love me?" He suddenly asked.

Alana saw Mena's ears blushing, however she hid this with her frown. She shook her head to answer him. Alana, knew better that Mena didn't want to voice that rejection, in case her voice gave her away.

"Even if I tell you that they're now trying to force me to marry and give the throne an heir, will you still not change your mind?" He asked.

Mena froze at his statement, very affected. However, even though he managed to crack through her resolve, she held out.

"Natan even if it's so, I will still not return with you."

The rejection was finally, even Alana felt the blunt end of that knife cutting apart the strings tying them together. She could only imagine how deeply it damaged the man. Not only had she not used his formal address but Mena rejected him using his first name. That was devastating.

Mena then rushed back inside the mansion. Alana hesitated before she could follow her, the man looked like he was in agony as he watched her retreating back. Then, as he was about to turn around, his eyes caught Alana and startled. He looked at her as if it was the first time seeing her.

Ah. In his eyes there's only Mena. Everyone else is background scenery. Alana told herself not to feel hurt that he'd been ignorant of her presence this long.

His eyes suddenly blinked rapidly as he regarded her, he frowned deeply as if he somehow recognised her. However, before he could speak to inquire about who she was, Alana quickly followed Mena inside.

Once inside, the atmosphere shifted again indicating his departure. Mena was in the kitchen, furiously washing the plates. Alana was quick witted to know that she wanted to be alone to vent.

And so Alana mumbled that she was going to change as she went back to the master bedroom to find her clothes.

If she was honest, this discovery excited her. Mena not only was involved with fairie realm's princess but she also used to date the fairie realm's prince. So it turns out that woman had a twin brother. And her family somehow had also played a role that resulted in her ending her life.

Alana knew she didn't really like Naala despite trying to give her a benefit of doubt. Even though that woman no longer existed, her actions had left a trail of broken hearts.

Alana couldn't sympathise with such a person. If you don't get along with your family, you work it out, not give up and kill yourself. She thought.