"Where is the horde now?" asked Ileus in a grave voice as he got up and prepared to leave.
"We don't know that yet..." the guard replied.
"You may leave," Ileus ordered and the guard bowed before leaving. Ileus gathered his dagger and sword to go.
"Aly!" Anastasia called him. "Have your dinner and go." There was concern in her voice. She came to him and held his hand. "Please."
He brought his hand to her cheek as he rested his forehead on hers. Caressing her cheek with his thumb, he said, "I don't know what is going on out there and until I find out, I won't be able to rest." His urge to protect her and his loved ones was always on top of everything.
She closed her eyes as she cocooned them in her wings. "I know darling," she said in a soft voice. "But unless you eat well, you won't be able to protect me or anyone else."
He chuckled. She was so adorable. "Then hurry up and give me food, wife! I have work to do."
Anastasia placed a chaste kiss on his lips.
"Not like this, love," he said and cupped her face in his hands. He lowered his lips to hers and then they were teeth and lips and tongues. When he pulled out, she was breathless.
A smile came on her flushed face. "I want to come with you," she requested.
"Not a chance," he replied.
She sighed. "I am setting the last dish on the table. Come." She tucked her wings back and when she turned, Ileus slapped on her ass. "Ouch!" she squealed.
"Go fast, girl!"
Olivia looked at Kaizan with worry. "Don't go close to them," she said as her lips quivered. She knew that Kaizan would never leave Ileus alone on this venture. It was a silent understanding between the two friends, a silent conversation that she wasn't a part of but was very proud of.
"I won't," he replied, as he caressed her cheek with his knuckles. "Take care of my babies till I return."
"Come soon..."
By the time dinner was over, Kaizan too was ready to leave along with Ileus. He had earlier gone to his armory to get dressed where Finn was waiting for him. He ordered him to send a unit of best soldiers from Silver Vales. Finn helped him dress up. Winged demons had bane blood and if anyone touched their blood, they would die.
Ileus had already sent instructions to Haldir to come along with a unit of Mozia. He had a premonition that the winged demons were headed towards Galahar, Rolfe's kingdom. And he was sure that this attack was on the behest of Kar'dan, king of Zor'gan and elder brother of Seraph.
What he couldn't understand was why would Kar'den make such a show to attack a village in Silver Vales and not go directly to Galahar?
By the time Ileus reached outside, there was a unit of Mozias hovering in the sky over their brooms and about two dozen werewolves in their wolf forms waiting along with Kaizan and Finn. Tyler and Connor stood right behind Kaizan, dressed in their armors. A smile crept up on Ileus's lips. Kaian was his promised wolf, but Tyler and Connor—the two spies had gained a natural heartwarming entry into his extended family.
The four men mounted the horses that were waiting for them in the portico. As soon as they started, the wolves moved with them and so did the Mozias.
They reached the borders of the capital in less than an hour. Kaizan was beside Ileus as they galloped. "We should have informed the king!" he said to Ileus.
"I have already informed him." After a while Ileus asked, "Do you think it is Kar'den?"
"It could be, but I have my doubts. Why would Kar'den not be discreet in going to Galahar?"
Ileus narrowed his eyes and pierced his vision through the darkness ahead. His thoughts exactly but several other scenarios came into his mind. He didn't discuss them because he wanted to make sure of his suspicions. He dragged his gaze up and saw Haldir leading the Mozias. And around him were the wolves with various hued furs who ran just as fast as the horses.
"Would you like to stop and rest?" asked Kaizan.
"Only to give rest to the horses," he replied. "We will stop after midnight."
Kaizan nodded tightly. He nudged his horse and went ahead of Ileus to lead the wolves and the Mozias. Tyler, Connor and Finn came around Ileus. However, they heard yet another rider. Haldir. He used his magic to convert his broom into a horse. He rode all the way next to Ileus. He turned over his shoulders to look at Ileus, his silvery hair streaming behind him.
"You shouldn't have come," Ileus said to him. "Inyanga is unwell."
Haldir clenched his jaw. "She was the one who pushed me to go." He paused and added, "Adrianna too wants to join us."
"What? No!" Ileus shot back.
Haldir rolled his eyes. "You know her well!"
They stopped by a brook after midnight for the horses to rest. Kaizan instructed his wolves to continue their journey to the south. Finn was supposed to lead them.
"Both Tyler and I would like to go as well," said Connor in a tense voice. "We have a theory and want to confirm that."
"But my wolves will travel faster than your horses," Kaizan replied, wanting his brothers-in-law to stay beside him. He couldn't help being selfish. They were his sister's mates.
"Then we will also run in our wolf forms," Tyler said.
Kaizan felt protective about them but at the same time he felt proud of them. The two had just come from their honeymoon with Paige. He hadn't even announced their relationship formally to his friends and relatives. And yet here they were, ready to sacrifice their lives in the name of the king. "Okay," he breathed. "But I want you both alive!"
"Paige already warned us on that part," Connor chuckled. "She said she would cut our balls if any of us dared come back alone."
Kaizan roared with laughter. Trust his sister!
The wolves left and disappeared in the darkness. He didn't go because he had to stay with the man who he had sworn his life to.
When they started, Ileus had different plans for them. They did not directly go to the southern village that the winged demons had attacked. Instead, they headed to the east of the village. Rather to the forest that was to the east. Not only that, he asked Haldir to send two Mozias to Galahar in order to warn Rolfe about the attack.
"Kar'den is an asshole for doing this!" Kaizan grunted. "And why are we not going to the south?" Seeing the star constellations in the sky, he assessed that they were heading south-east.
"I am hoping to find something there," Ileus gave him a clipped reply. It took them a day and a night before they arrived at their destination. And what they saw over there was ghastly. Just as he had anticipated.
—
I have published my new book, "The Alpha's Temptation". Add it to your library. Would love to see you all there in the comments section.