Ileus: The Dark Prince

Rolfe stilled. Panic and shock crept up his throat making it hard for him to breathe. His pulse skittered frantically. Fractured skull? "H— how?" he asked, his voice a deep rumble, his chest vibrating with anger 

She had gripped his arm and he tightened them around her in a reassuring way across her waist. She leaned back against his chest and the feeling was so pleasant that she didn't want to let go of him. His pine and mist scent surrounded her and she felt soothed. "It was during one of the beatings. Etaya had battered me with a baton in one of her rages, and it crashed over my head causing a fracture. Ever since, I get this giddiness, but the healers have said that it would not affect my growth…" 

Rolfe didn't know what to say. He just rested his chin over the girl's head and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry…" he murmured an apology because he didn't find her earlier. Now, he wanted to kill Etaya badly, slowly, painfully, but first he wanted to avenge his father. 

Iona chuckled. "Why are you sorry, Rolfe? You didn't even know what was happening." 

"Where is Etaya now?" he growled. 

"I don't know… I faded into oblivion when Anastasia plunged the sword in me. I have no recollection of what happened even before that." The experience of standing against this beautiful, brute demon's torso that was a wall of muscles, which flexed when he adjusted her against his planes to support her and keep her from falling, was like a dream. Thousands of thoughts bounced in her mind. Cool breeze carrying the sound of the beating of wings and laughter touched her skin, but everything was so surreal that she forgot herself. Iona allowed herself a slight luxury. She leaned her head against Rolfe's chest. "Do you want to talk about the design?" 

"Design?" he asked, his brows drawing together as his mouth once again brushed against her temple, his beard-grain grazing against her skin. 

"The design I made in the morning for draining excess water."

"Ah! We will talk about it later, but first I want you to rest. And I have another work for you." He nudged her to sit back on the fur. Gods, the girl was like a delicate flower in the Mountain of Tibris. Even though she was a werewolf, she was fragile like glass and he had to keep her safe like a doll. His doll. 

As Iona sat back on the fur, a thread of anxiety twined around her heart. She said, "You are not leaving me, are you?" She had tried her best to explain everything to him. 

"And why should I leave you?" he said as a smile tugged his lips up. He ensured that she sat properly and then knelt in front of her as if to study that she was doing fine. Once she was settled, he had this strong urge to take her mouth and cover it with his. Gods, if he was going to be so hasty, the girl would shrink back. She had come from such a huge trauma and had so much positive energy around herself that it would be a shame if he forced his affection on her. He would take each day slowly because he wanted to gain her trust and respect. She was such a bundle of energy. All his thoughts of rejecting her vanished. In fact, now he would take revenge from all those who harmed her. 

Iona bit her lip as a deep blush formed on her cheeks. She looked at him with her golden yellow eyes, from under those thick eyelashes and said, "What work do you have for me?" 

"Be my translator!" he said. "I don't know what the faes are speaking or what your brother is speaking! It is frustrating. I am going to do everything possible to understand the language as soon as possible, but you need to be my translator for now." Exasperation was clear in his voice.

"Of course!" she said excitedly. "I will help you out."

Rolfe sagged in relief. "I wanted to ask you one more thing from a long time." 

"Sure!" she said, craning her neck to look into those pine green eyes that seemed to arrest her heart. 

"You have demonic tattoos along the entire length of your spine." 

Iona jerked her head back. "I do!" The last time she saw her reflection in the mirror, her body didn't have any tattoo. "How can this be? You must be jesting!" Suddenly she realized that to know that she had a line of tattoos along her spine, Rolfe must have seen her naked back. Pink seeped into her cheeks. 

Rolfe traced the blush on her cheeks and said, "The tattoo says:

"Of the wings and the shadows 

Of the demons and the morrows 

A warrior will rise 

To end the hollows."

She looked lovely when she blushed for him. "It is written in demonic language." 

Iona frowned. "I don't know…" she said. "I don't know…" 

"Oh, then don't worry," Rolfe quickly added. "It doesn't matter."

"But I want to know…" 

"We will ask about it, okay?" Rolfe tried to pacify her curiosity. She was so dainty and weak. And she was way too precious for him. 

"Okay…" she said. 

A knock pounded on the door, disturbing their conversation and inviting a low growl from Rolfe's chest. Immediately he sat in front of her and said, "Come in!" in his demonic language. 

"What?" came Kaizan's voice. 

Iona chuckled. "Come in," she repeated in their language as she peered over Rolfe's shoulder. 

Kaizan opened the door. He shook his head and rolled his eyes. He said, "Do you know what it is to have a room between two couples? Just keep your voices low. Your brother and his wife have made my life a hell with their heavy breaths and strange sounds." 

Iona's eyes became wide as she blushed to her hairline. Seeing her discomfort, Rolfe grunted, "What did he say?" How dare this man speak with disrespect to his girl? 

Iona couldn't repeat what Kaizan said. She was embarrassed as hell. "Why are you here?" she asked in a low, horse, weak voice. 

"Oh! Right," Kaizan sighed. "You both are wanted in the main hall." Saying that he closed the door. The door opened again. "In two minutes!" The door banged close. 

Iona conveyed the message to Rolfe. 

--- 

Anastasia was sitting on Ileus' lap and kissing him everywhere. She had curled her wings around him. "I missed you so much, Aly," she said in between the kisses. Finally, when she had buried her head in the crook of his neck, she said, "When I had lost my memories, I had this gnawing feeling in my heart that a piece of my soul is missing. The feeling was miserable!" 

Ileus had closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms securely around his wife. He had buried his face in her hair. There was nothing he wanted more in his life. "I love you…" 

"I love you too, sweetheart." 

A heavy knock pounded on their door. "You two are wanted outside!" Kaizan said from outside, not even bothering to enter the room. 

"Why?" Ileus asked, but his answer was the retreating footfalls. 

Anastasia chuckled and asked, "Is Rolfe Iona's mate?"