《Ileus: The Dark Prince》Chapter 22
Advertisement
When the group reached the center of the cave, they all got down from the horses and Anastasia knew that internally all of them were relieved. She couldn't blame them. Ileus helped her to get down the horse. Anastasia was surprised to see that there was no portal in the cave, at least not in the vicinity. But the tender croon of the energy, the hum, was still there. Nyles was still maintaining her distance, which Anastasia liked.
There was very little snow on the floor and the ground was not too damp. She watched as the party started to remove the saddlebags from the horses and tethered them to the rocky outcrops. Zlu started a small fire as others rolled out the furs and took out the food.
Everyone was moving around, but no one was talking. Even as they all busied themselves into something or the other, Anastasia could feel their eyes on her, and she... her attention was focused on the stream that was flowing inside the darkness. She did everything in her willpower not see towards there or go there. Ileus was hovering around her, tension visible in his strained muscles. He rolled out a fur next to her.
"Sit here and relax Anastasia," he said in a low voice.
Anastasia sat down. He rushed to where Darla had taken out the food and brought her a plate full of oat bread, frozen slice of turkey and cheese to eat, but her stomach was roiling with so much anticipation that she refused. She was looking at him with anxiety, her foot tapping up and down like a fan in a lady's hand. The water flowing in the stream was like a cymbal, ready to go off anytime. Outside the winds gusted heavily. "You should eat Anastasia," he urged.
Advertisement
"I will... later."
He stared at her for a long moment. Then he kept the plate beside her and walked to where Kaizan was.
"It's a blizzard," said Carrick. "We need to close the cave's mouth."
"Yes, we should," said Gaurhal and walked to the opening to help him close it.
"Don't close it completely," Ileus said behind them. Then he went back to Anastasia and seeing her shaking like a leaf, asked, "Are you okay?"
She shook her head. "I am not." She changed the topic. "This cave is like an anomaly in Sgiath Biò." How is it possible that while there is a blizzard on the outside, in here it is warm?"
"That's true," Ileus said offering very little explanation, as he gazed in the direction of Anastasia's vision. He held her hands and she gripped them like she was holding on to life. Ileus shifted closer to her and continued to sit beside her until Gaurhal and Carrick partially closed the cave's mouth, until everyone ate their food and then lay down on their furs, until it became very dark outside. A while later he made her eat food.
Anastasia wanted to stay up and avoid the buzzing noise, but every moment that passed grew heavier. She was internally fighting the strong urge to go to explore the portal. Her gaze went to at Nyles who was sitting next to Aidan and glancing towards her every now and then.
Nothing could be so ironic in her life. They had to spend a night in the cave, which had a portal-energy that forced her to merge with it, that lured her, and she wanted to resist. Although the place was warm, Anastasia's body shivered.
Ileus urged her to lie down beside him and he tucked her with the heavy fur. She cradled her head with her palm and lay still. She looked at him as he looked back at her. Moments later she tossed to the other side, feeling anxious.
Advertisement
Ileus got up to go to the men, where Darla was also standing and chatting. She walked right next to him and placed her arm on his shoulder. They both seemed so comfortable in each other's company that Anastasia felt jealous. There was no one who she was comfortable with, except Nyles... But Nyles now seemed like a stranger after the events of the past four days.
She closed her eyes to look away from them and sleep. But the gurgle of the stream was now a cacophony. Darla and the other men came back to the places where they had to sleep. She noticed that Zlu and Gaurhal had placed their furs right at her feet while Carrick and Darla were sleeping towards the inner side of the cave.
Only Aidan was sitting next to the cave's mouth for the guard.
Ileus was talking to Aidan in low undertones about something, which she didn't hear, and she didn't want to hear. Moments later, he came down and sat beside her. He placed a hand on her forehead and said, "You have broken into cold sweat."
"I am managing," she lied. Her teeth were chattering, not because of cold.
Ileus stroked her cheek and said, "If you feel like you simply can't ignore it, tell me, okay?"
His warm golden eyes were full of promises and she found herself relaxing under his touch. "I think I will survive this." She was embarrassed of showing her weakness all the time.
He stroked her cheeks with his calloused hands a little more. "You haven't ever faced such hardships Anastasia. I know it is difficult for you."
She shook her head. "I am not facing hardships Ileus." Lies. "What I am facing is-?" She stopped herself. "Have you faced a catastrophe like mine?"
A smile lingered on his face. "I crossed Sgiath Biò along with these men a year ago, so yes I have met with a lot of danger." There was something in his statement, which had a deeper meaning... as if this was nothing compared to what he had faced in his life. What was it? She wanted to know. She wanted to know everything about him. She looked at his torso. It was so well built that she imagined muscles rippling beneath it. He was a tough warrior and definitely a master strategist. He had been in Vilinski for a year, for what? He had killed people to be her guard.
Advertisement
Pregnant By The School's Player.
Sophia Daniels was just an ordinary girl who, like every girl in school, wanted Jake Campbell to be their boyfriend. She's pretty, tall, smart and the good girl who was never the one to be expected to get pregnant by the school's number one player, Jake. He was the handsome, dark haired and sexiest guy in the whole school with the most inviting, chocolate brown eyes who sweet talks girls into his bed. She wants to hate him but her love for him gets in the way. Will her baby daddy stay the player he is, or actually be the sweet guy who will be there for her?
8 134If We Could See Forever
You never know what you have until you lose it, and once you lost it, you can never get it back.Eric Cleese was like air or water to John Chapman. When Eric was there with John, John did not know how important Eric was to him. It was when Eric left him John started to regret what he had done to Eric.
8 153Saved By a Gangleader ✔️
19 year old Ray gets abused by her foster parents that don't want anything to do with her. She's in her fourth year of university planning to become a doctor. Ray is extremely smart, known for her kindness and most of all, she's very shy.21 year old Ace is a quiet and dangerous gangleader. He's never been seen with friends, smiling, or even talking. He's majoring in business, but everyone knows about his most known gang in the country, therefor he is feared by everyone.What happens when Ray bumps into a walking wall named Ace King in her vulnerable state? What causes Ace to start questioning this 19 year old?
8 194Star Moon Sun
Hana is a 16 year old high school girl living in Shinagawa City from Tokyo. She's currently on her first year of high school in Takeda High. She tries to live her life peacefully, but unfortunately she has a broken family. Though a broken family can't break her, it can slowly suffocate her. The only support that she gets are from her childhood friends. Yuri, Kaito and Hiro. Kaito and Hiro has been friends with Hana since kindergarten and Yuri during elementary. They're all inseparable. Then she met a transfer student, Isla Scott. Hana was the first to engage a conversation and she became another part of Hana's life in unexpected ways. Isla is our second protagonist. She is excellent at almost everything she does, from intellect to physical activities. She enjoys her life and is almost satisfied with everything she has. Yet, she still feels like there is something missing from her life. Probably a long-term goal? A motivation? Or maybe it's just her greed. She's on a journey to find that missing piece in her life. Japan is her second step in her long journey. Hiro is our last protagonist in this story. The things he wants in life are seeing other people happy. He tries to help everyone. Especially those who are alone or the discriminated, but his actions of kindness can sometimes be the cause of his loss. But everything will start changing after his meeting with Isla. This is a story revolving around these three protagonist and how their lives have crossed paths and will continue to cross paths. New Chapter twice a month.
8 333The Orsini Bride
Italian playboy billionaire Marco Orsini has a dilemma. With the ultimatum to either marry or get disinherited, he must now find himself a wife before his grandfather's birthday--and he entrusts his fate on one woman to find him the perfect bride. ********** Twenty-nine-year-old Francesa Marcolini never expected that the day will come when the handsome yet hateful playboy billionaire Marco Orisini would barge into her office and announce that he needs a wife. Despite being a teacher of etiquette and personality development, Francesa had no intention of becoming the matchmaker for this arrogant Italian no matter how determined he is for her help. But to Francesca's horror, she finds herself on that very job!Cover design by Holly Thurston
8 140The Stranger's Wife | Rewritten
Her marriage ended 48 hours after she spoke her vows. Eleven years later, Amelia is summoned by the very man who shattered her gullible teenage heart without blinking twice.He wants a divorce. She wants answers and is willing to make their marriage work. He's exceptional at keeping secrets, humongous secrets, and no way in hell is she sticking around for heartbreak number two. Or is she?• • • • •I arched my middle finger and was about to insert it in her dripping sex when she stiffened and pushed me off, my hand slipping out of her pants. I rubbed her glossy wetness between my fingers and regarded her with a question mark on my face."What's wrong?" I asked."Eleven years, no calls and not even one text from you, and now you think you can stick your finger up my pants?" She shook her head, disapproval written all over her gorgeous face.[COMPLETED] [Mature]Highest Rank :- #50 in Romance 😍 - #1 in Adult Reads 🔞"Beautiful story. I wasn't a big fan of Willem. Now I'm rooting for them" @Vedaxoxo"This novel was beautiful, incredible and wonderful, it brought me many tears and it made me laugh too, excellent work miss author!" @maferfaneite1"Noooo 😭😭😭 this is my third time reading it and I still can't get over them" @lutetexo"Amazing story..sexy and sweet 😉I don't know which part made me cry more ... " @cozy_hyggePress read for more.©️2021 Lady Altagracia. All rights reserved.
8 221