The woods were ripped apart. Trees uprooted with trunks torn, rotten stench of dead animals with chopped limbs and heads, blood spilled on the forest floor, dead werewolves in half human half wolf form and some even burnt. The sight was gory and repulsive. A Mozia huddled to the ground and puked all over.

Ileus narrowed his eyes. They must have run their horses for at least a half an hour when the carnage ended. It seemed that some werewolves tried to chase the winged demons only to be met with such kind of treatment. 'I want all of you to continue,' he said after opening his mind link. 'Meet me and Kaizan at the meet of the Horned Waterfalls'.

'I will stay with you,' Haldir said mulishly.

Ileus took a deep breath. The elf was extremely loyal to him and Ileus knew that he wouldn't leave his side. 'Okay, but I want you all to gather our werewolves and stay there till I reach.'

The Mozias steered in the direction of the Horned Waterfalls, which were in the north. The Horned Waterfalls were where two waterfalls in high mountains met. It was massive and the water rolled from there dangerously, turbulently into swirls of unknown.

As soon as the Mozias left, Ileus traced his path back. Throughout the way, he torched the dead bodies. Magic flowed out of his arms and crackled into the form of fire. He flung it on them from a distance.

It was a way to pay respect to them. Not only that, the winged demons had bane blood. He wasn't sure which of the blood here was mingled with it. He didn't want the scavengers of the forest to die, feeding off these.

"The werewolves must have picked up the scent of the winged demons, Ileus," said Kaizan as they made their way through the forest to the Horned Waterfalls. "It is highly possible that they must be going after them."

"That's why I asked the Mozias to collect them and wait for me at the waterfalls," he replied as he increased the pace of his horse.

"You don't get the point," Kaizan countered.

"I get it Kaizan!" Ileus replied. "But I highly doubt that our people have traced the winged demons. Those bastards fly and, and they fly fast. I don't want them to attack our wolves from the sky." There was a worry in his voice. "It would be a disaster," he muttered. Even he knew that the wolves would pick up the scent of the demons and follow them. After the carnage he saw behind, he didn't want to take a chance. He remembered the mayhem they had created when they attacked Dawn and Daryn and he had seen what they were capable of in the war of faes against demons.

"Why don't we create a portal and reach the Horned Waterfalls?" asked Kaizan impatiently. He was riding beside Ileus as Haldir stayed behind them.

"I have my reasons!" Ileus snapped.

Kaizan pursed his lips and didn't question Ileus any further. He was way too angry when Ileus didn't reveal his reason. He had shut himself mentally and so he couldn't even talk to him like that. Sometimes, the crown prince acted really stubborn and it made Kaizan feel helpless.

They galloped for the entire afternoon and it was into the evening that Kaizan sniffed something disgusting in the air. Ileus put his hand up in the air.

"Winged demons!" Kaizan breathed. The smell was awful. It was rotten and decaying and filled the air, choking it.

As they slowed the horses, they saw severed heads of more animals tied to strings and hanging on the tree branches.

"They are camping somewhere near," Haldir whispered.

"Let us not go to them," said Kaizan. "We are near the Horned Waterfalls. Let us get our people and attack them with a strategy."

Ileus grunted. "They won't stay here until we come back! We have to seize this opportunity."

"Don't be mad, Ileus. It looks like they have a large horde. Not just a dozen," Kaizan cautioned as he looked to the side at the cut heads from which blood dripped. It was a way to stop the intruders and the wild animals from entering the area where they had camped.

"Kaizan, I am not stopping you from leaving and getting the help, but I am damn sure that by the time you will reach here, it would be too late!" Ileus whispered a warning.

Kaizan gritted his teeth. "And you know I won't leave!"

"So, stay the bloody down!" Ileus shot him a golden glare.

The three got down from their horses and left the equines behind. Drawing their swords out of the sheaths, they walked deeper into the forest. The moon had arisen and was hanging low, spreading its silvery beams over the thick poplars. The trees appeared dark against the moonlight, a perfect cover for them.

"This place is eerily quiet," Kaizan whispered as they moved forward, his feet padding softly over the damp earth. He was leading them.

"Look out!" Ileus shouted. Before Kaizan could even crouch, Ileus had leapt over him, kicked his back towards the ground and launched himself onto something heavy that was gray and had wings.

"Fuck!" Haldir too leapt over Kaizan and followed Ileus.

Kaizan grunted as he took the feet of two men on his body. "Can we have some code for this kind of sudden—" he halted his words when he found himself staring into the yellow eyes of a winged demon. His wings were spread wide, flapping powerfully, and he hovered in the air. Ileus and Haldir stood facing him. "Holy mother of demons!" Kaizan cursed.

"Prince Ileus," the demon bowed to him mockingly. "Please accept the greetings from my king Kar'den. We were expecting you."

"No, you weren't!" Ileus shot back.

The demon tipped his head back to laugh lightly. "You really think us to be fools, don't you?" He pointed behind Kaizan.

Kaizan spun only to find two more demons on their back. They were ambushed.

"You are damn right," replied Ileus without turning back. "State your purpose of visit." His left hand went to his waist as he swiveled his sword with the right hand.

"Or else?" the demon mocked again.

"Else you already know ass!" Ileus replied with a chuckle.

The two demons behind them flapped their wings and a more rotten smell wafted powerfully in the air. It was a warning.

The demon peeled his lips back showing his set of crooked teeth and fangs. "I am under no obligation to state my purpose, Prince Ileus," he said. "But if you come in between my mission, I have orders to kill you!"

"Then try it!" Ileus challenged him.

The demon lunged at him. Ileus was waiting for the demon to attack him. He threw his hands forward, hurling a beam of white light in his eyes. The demon shrieked as the light blinded him.

At the same time, Haldir ducked the attack from the demon he was facing. He rolled on the ground and plunged his sword in the one who Ileus had attacked, but the demon didn't die. He fell on the ground with chopped legs. Ileus took the opportunity. He took out the jāmbia from his baldric and plunged it into the chest of the demon who had attacked Kaizan, killing him instantly.

"Thanks!" Kaizan breathed and turned to face the demon who was attacking Haldir.

---

I have started a new book, The Alpha's Temptation. If you haven't added that to your library, please add it. Love to see you in the comment section over there!

15:03706 Greetings from Kar’den