Ileus' face became ruddy. When she stopped laughing, he said, "Mates are very rare in the Lore. I wasn't sure about our connection earlier, but after meeting you I am pretty certain that we are mates."

Anastasia raised her hands to cup his cheeks. "I am aware of that Ileus."

"You are?" he frowned with wide eyes. "How did-"

"Kaizan explained it to me. I think Kaizan knows you better than you."

A flash of surprise passed through his eyes. All his anxiety immediately gave way to something warm. He leaned forward and brushed a kiss on her lips. As if not satisfied with a light kiss, he deepened his kiss and delved into her mouth. He groaned, "Oh god, Anastasia!" Somehow he willed himself to stop kissing her. He was breathless when he left her. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he said, "I want to take you to Draoidh with me. Will you come?" His heart felt... rested.

Anastasia nodded as a warm smile spread on her lips.

"Every moment you are here, I feel you aren't safe. After what you have done to Maple, Aed Ruad won't sit quiet. He is going to come after you, and right now our safest bet is Draoidh."

She bit her bottom lip. "I don't want to be a burden over you Al. I want to hone my magic skills." She lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers.

He curled his fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face up. Looking in her sapphire blue eyes, he said, "Didn't Kaizan explain to you about mates? Protecting you is something so deeply ingrained in my soul that it is like a primal instinct in me. I have this crave to be around you, always and it is so strong that I can't explain. So you are not a burden to me, okay?"

She raised her hands to his chest and said, "You have awoken a strange desire in me, Ileus. I am warning you, your skin might receive more tattoos from me."

Ileus threw his head back and laughed. When he looked back at his mate with those honeyed eyes, he said, "I look forward to that."

She gobbled her food after that. The servants came and filled her bath with hot water. As soon as they left, Ileus removed her clothes and scooped her up. He lowered her in the steaming water gently. Then he opened his clothes and sat right behind her. He pulled her closer to his chest. As he washed dust and debris from her skin and hair, she sat with her eyes closed.

"What are you thinking about, Anastasia?" he asked in a low voice.

"About today..."

He tucked her hair behind her ears. "I know it must have been terrifyingly satisfying."

She chuckled nervously. "I wish I could use my magic earlier." Her chuckle died down and her body trembled. "Sometimes I feel that my body is reacting."

"What do you mean?" he asked with brows drawn.

Resting her head on his chest, she said, "I feel as if something is crawling on my skin."

He stiffened behind her. "Since when?"

"A few hours back. It was as if my stomach had tightened in knots and spiders are crawling on me."

"Are you still feeling that?" his voice was laced with deep concern.

"It comes in bursts. Right now I am not."

He picked her up and placed her in his lap. She rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his hands around her waist. "Anastasia, I think these are the withdrawal symptoms of the green pills that they were giving you."

She frowned and when she looked at his face, he noticed how pale it was.

"I will have to start your medication as soon as possible." Because if this continued, he knew that it would affect her magic. His heart plummeted to see her face. She was so weak, like a porcelain doll. "Whenever you feel these symptoms, tell me about them."

"I will," she said and closed her eyes. She knew that his erection was troubling him, so she slowly took her hand to it and touched the crown. It pulsated at her touch and he hissed, "Natsya!" His breaths became shallow. "Don't do this right now," he said and removed her hand from here to bring it to his lips.

She didn't pursue it and rather felt good that he was so caring.

Ileus lathered soap and put it on her body. After giving her a nice bath, he made her wear his shirt and eased her into bed. In the soft glow of the hearth, her pale skin appeared warm. He pulled her up on his chest and covered them with blankets. As Anastasia curled and slept on his chest, he felt a strong relief that she was back in his arms, safe, but for how long. There were enemies everywhere. His thoughts ran to Maple. Why did the slit of her eyes turn yellow? It was so confusing. His thoughts went back to his mate, who was now sleeping while clutching his chest tightly. Was she dreaming something bad? He embraced her tightly and she visibly relaxed. He decided to go to the market square in the morning to buy wolfsbane and yarrow for her. He hoped he could find some fresh rosemary too, though the chances were pretty lean.

For the entire night Ileus would get up even if she stirred a little. Worried as hell about her health, he felt helpless. No magic in the world could help her withdrawal symptoms. And if she continued to draw energy from her body for her own magic, he was afraid that it would delay her healing process. Suddenly he became anxious. He had to take her to Draoidh as soon as possible. In the palace, under the proper care of royal healers, she would be taken care of nicely.

When he woke up in the morning, he found his bed cold and he immediately missed the curvy feel of his mate. He rose to the steady patter of rain on the window, but through the droplets, the nascent rays of rising sun were hitting the glass of the window. Where was she? He turned his head to find her sitting in front of the embers of the hearth, combing her hair, taking the knots out. The sight brought calmness to his mind. She was like a soothing melody, a natural lullaby to his heart. He watched her brush her golden hair like she was his center. He wanted to drift in the calmness of the moment, aimless like a child as the rain dropped softly on the windowpane.

When she finished combing, her gaze turned to him and she smiled... and he thought that his sunshine was right there... "How are you?" he asked.

"I am feeling better," she replied as she got up and ambled to him. She sat on the edge of the bed, beside him.

"I will be going to the market to buy some herbs for you, and for that time you have to stay here. You won't wander around. Promise me," he said as he took her hand and kissed it.