Dawn passed a bowl of porridge to Anastasia and whispered softly, "Have this. It will help you regain your strength."
Anastasia accepted it from her with a slight nod. Could people be as sweet as her? Could she again trust them? It was difficult, but she had to try.
"I think there is no point in roaming around Yelgra like gypsies. We will go back to Draoidh whether they like it or not!" said Ileus as his eyes burned with golden fire. "For how long am I going to deny Anastasia her legal right?"
Daryn took in a deep breath and nodded. He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands. "Haldir warned you against going there, Al. You should have a plan before stepping into Draoidh or Silver Vales. And till you reach the conclusion, you are most welcome to stay in Ixoviya or if you like you can come to the human realm in our house."
"I know Haldir warned, but I don't want to hide. People of Draoidh and Silver Vales have to accept her as their princess!" Ileus retorted.
"You forget that you were promised to Lila, daughter of the Minister of Relations, Ozin," said Daryn. "He will protest strongly. Then what about Murtagh and Iona? And if you suddenly announce your wedding with Anastasia and enter Draoidh, it will have terrible retaliation."
Anastasia's eyebrows rose to the ceiling. "You were promised to someone?" she asked. "Did you ever go out with her? This is new!" Jealousy seared her chest. Why didn't he ever tell her about Lila? Her teeth clenched and her eyes flickered a violet. She stopped eating the porridge.
Ileus pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at Daryn who looked extremely flustered. Daryn leaned back in his chair and then crossed his hands across his chest in complete defense. Dawn shook her head. Her husband could be really dense at times.
Ileus' gaze went to Anastasia and he said, "Sweetheart, that happened after Aed Ruad attacked Silver Vales the second time. My parents were so pissed with your cousin brother that they disregarded the prophecy about my mate. Ozin took advantage of the situation and convinced my grandparents, that is my father's parents, to promise her hand to me."
"What the hell do you mean, Ileus?" Anastasia snapped. "I just dealt with Darla who believed that you belonged to her! And now this?"
Daryn sucked in a sharp breath as his face heated up at the couple's argument. He looked at Dawn for help but Dawn chided him, "You really don't know what to talk Daryn. You've always been like this. I do remember Maya!"
Damn it! Daryn was now in the same boat as Ileus. He stiffened.
Ileus took Anastasia's hand in his, but she pulled out and looked at him with a fiery gaze. "Sweetheart, I never liked Lila. Whenever we met, we were too formal. My grandparents accepted the offer on behalf of my parents only because Lila was the sharpest witch in the academy at that time. Besides, why are you even worrying about her? I came to Vilinski for you, didn't I?"
"Of course not! You came to Vilinski to kidnap me!" she shot back. "And what prophecy are you talking about?"
"But the day I saw you, all my plans fizzled out. All I ever wanted was you…" he said with brows drawn tight. "Please darling, don't stress yourself over Lila."
Anastasia looked up and exhaled. She wasn't going to give this up until she knew it fully. Her jealousy was burning inside her chest. "What prophecy are you talking about?"
"She doesn't even know the prophecy?" Daryn said in an exasperated voice as if accusing Ileus.
"Shut up, Daryn!" Ileus snapped. His cousin really had to add fuel to the fire. Then he looked at his wife and his expressions softened. "The prophecy stated that my mate would be the first born of the rulers of the Fae Realm."
Anastasia's jaw dropped. "Really?" she asked as her eyes widened.
"Yes," he nodded with all innocence in his eyes.
"Yet you never protested when you were promised to Lila," she said.
Ileus jerked his head back. "I came after you, sweetheart to the Fae Realm, against all odds! Even if it was to abduct you, it was what the fates had decided."
Anastasia stared at him. Dawn intervened, "Anastasia, all that matters now is that you are his wife, his mate. Nothing in this world can change it, okay?" She placed a hand on hers reassuringly. "If it matters to you, I also heard that Ileus traveled in time to save your mother in a battle only because she was supposed to be your mother. And that happened when he was also in his mother's womb."
Anastasia's jaw dropped. She sucked in a sharp breath as her eyes became wide. She turned her eyes to Ileus and gazed at him without blinking. "Is that even possible?" she asked. Her husband was so powerful?
"I don't remember that, Anastasia, but yes, my mother had mentioned it to me long back. She had started liking blood and used to drink it when she was pregnant with me!" He stopped. Then he added, "That's a story for my mother to tell."
After a long silence, Anastasia placed the bowl back in the trolley. She held his hands in hers and kissed his palms softly realizing that their connection was too deep. "There are a thousand questions for me to ask at the moment," she said.
"And I am not surprised," he answered, visibly relaxing.
Daryn took the opportunity and asked, "So what do you plan on doing, Ileus? I would suggest that you stay here until things subside at Draoidh."
"No," Ileus replied. "I will take her to Draoidh."
"What about Iona?" Anastasia asked. "You said that we would go to find her."
Ileus' muscles strained. "I don't want you to stress anymore, sweetheart. Once you are safe at Draoidh, I will go to find her."
"And what makes you think that she will be safe at Draoidh?" Daryn countered.