"I can take her to Yelgra," said Ileus.

"Are you mad? That forest is near Ixoviya. What if Sedora comes to know about you?"

"Who will tell her?" said Ileus in a low, cold voice, looking at the men around him. "Everyone out here owes allegiance to my father or mother."

As the conversation between men took place, sitting near Ileus, Anastasia couldn't help feeling proud of him. When he said that no one could offend her, she felt as if she had found her true anchor. The man defended her honor as his own and that moved her emotionally. Over the past eight years, eight long formative years from being a child to growing into a woman, she was only faced with ridicule, brutality and aloofness. She thought that Nyle was close to her, but the girl turned out to be her biggest betrayer. She was like a snake in the sleeve.

Anastasia knew why Ileus killed Franco. It was because the vokudlak tried to threaten Ileus of dire consequences if he married her. And that was one thing no prince would tolerate. She looked at Ileus with awe and her chest swelled with love, with devotion. Her lips parted on a sharp exhale. She wanted to cup his face and kiss him for the honor he demanded for her from his people even when he was just with a few of them.

She was well aware that the news of Franco's death was going to be a message to his kingdom and it will have consequences. But it was Ileus' way of telling them that no one should question the choice he had made. Her gaze fell to Franco's impaled, headless torso, and she didn't feel bad about it. If Ileus hadn't killed him, she would have.

Anastasia understood the hatred of the subjects in his kingdom to a certain extent, but she wanted to reason it out with them. She needed an urgent audience with Adrianna, but after what Haldir said about her, Anastasia was rattled. Adrianna was seeking her daughter, and Anastasia was seeking her mother and father. Whose urgency was more? Who was more desperate? The thought disturbed her. Her hand went to Ileus' and inadvertently, he held them in his big palm. She felt safe and assured. She leaned on his shoulder and smelled his woodsy, spicy scent. Suddenly an envelope of security surrounded her mind like a warm blanket and she became languid.

"I am not going to stop you from going to Yelgra, but you have to remain hidden for now, Ileus," Haldir insisted. "I am going to send more Mozias to be with you."

"Will Mother allow Mozias to come and protect me?" he asked in a mocking tone. "Because of what you have just mentioned, I am sure the council is going to stop her. Most likely I am on my own."

"Mozias are under my direct command. I can use their services the way I like," Haldir reiterated.

Ileus shrugged. "I am okay with it. However, I would like you to take Darla with you. We don't need her."

"That can be arranged," he replied. "There are other matters that I would like to discuss with you, so if we have finished the business here, can we go back to the inn?"

"Yes, we can," said Ileus and he snapped his fingers. They were all back in Kaizan's room the next instant. Little did they realize that Seashell was also standing right behind Kaizan because he too was teleported. The king of the jungle snarled when he found himself cramped between humans. Murtagh and his men immediately backed away from the beast as their faces paled.

Ileus chuckled. "When did you come, Seashell?" He snapped his fingers again and Seashell was teleported back into the forest.

Ileus returned his gaze to Anastasia and said "Would you like to go back to your room, Anastasia? Guarhal will take you there."

She nodded. "I think I should go and pack? And I could use some sleep."

"Oh don't sleep. We will be going to Yelgra soon."

"How far is Yelgra?" she asked innocently. "And what is Yelgra? Some kingdom?"

"It is beyond three kingdoms and is a vast expanse of forest."

She gave him a blank stare. "Oh okay," she replied, amused. "Not that I care!"

Ileus' lips tugged up and those damned fangs appeared. Her amusement turned into heat that coiled in her belly. She could feel the heat making her red on the cheeks. To divert her attention, she looked at Guarhal who was already standing beside her.

"I can walk to my room by myself. It is not far," she commented.

"You can surely do that princess," said Guarhal, "but it would be my pleasure to accompany you to your room."

Anastasia suppressed a smile and walked out of the room with him, wondering what would happen to Franco's body. The whole scene was so gory that it flashed across her mind vividly, but she didn't feel guilty about it. She deserved that respect not as Ileus' mate, but as a princess. How dare they talk about using her?

Suddenly, she felt Ileus' presence next to her as they were walking to her room. She gasped and looked at him with shock.

"Don't go out of this place unescorted. I still don't know who talked about us to my mother's men. More importantly, I have a feeling that the person is close and still keeping a watch."

Something in his voice made her stop for a moment.

"Promise me that you will stay in the room," he whispered.

"I will Ileus. I promise," she said, sensing the urgency in his voice.

He exhaled a sharp breath and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Until we are out of Óraid, I can't be comfortable. I just feel this ominous presence around us and I want to reach to the core of it, but..." his voice trailed off.

"But we don't have time?" She finished the sentence.

He let out a small laugh, pressed another kiss on her temple and then he walked back to Kaizan's room.

Guarhal escorted her back to her room and on the way they saw that Darla was going to the dining hall. She appeared lazy and pale.

"What is wrong with her?" asked Anastasia.

"Nothing, just ignore her," said Guarhal.

At that, Darla whipped her head and looked pointedly towards Anastasia, but she avoided her gaze and with her head up, walked away from there.

Once she reached her room, Guarhal said, "I am standing outside the room. If you need anything, let me know."

"Okay," she said and entered the room. She decided that she would tell Ileus whatever she knew about Iona. She busied herself in packing their clothes and somehow felt happy. It was for the first time she was packing his belongings and it made her feel like... home. She chuckled. While packing her eyes went to her dagger that was still beneath the mattress. She picked it and strapped it in her thigh. Somehow she had a feeling that something odd was going to happen. Suddenly a knock on the door disturbed her.

"What is it, Guarhal?"

Guarhal opened the door and Lilette walked in.