Chapter 294 - Desperate
He left a trail of kisses down her throat and grabbed her nipples with his lips. He grazed her there with his fangs as he sucked her hard. Her body arched giving him more access. And he—he took everything she had to give. He latched on to another nipple. She groaned as he suckled her. He lifted his face and looked in her eyes with those golden yellow ones that were full of desire.
"I am going to take you now, princess!" Ileus said in a voice so deep that it stirred her on the inside. He leaned to take her mouth and at the same time thrust deep inside her in one go.
"Ah!" Anastasia moaned as he sucked her tongue and thrust harder. His chest vibrated as he too groaned in her mouth, sucking her so hard that she dug her nails in his back making crescent moons. All the tension, the despair and anxiety in knowing that they could have died over there, made them go crazy. He filled her as she stretched for him, as she gave him all she could. She met every thrust of his hip with the same vigor and energy. It was something they needed because they wanted to feel each other's presence in their bodies.
He left her mouth and leaned on his elbows. His chest rumbled and said, "Come for me, Ana." And she let the heat in her stomach uncoil. She came, moaning his came and he shuddered before he followed her with a bellow to the sky.
She was so close to being lost forever that all he wanted was to feel that she was still there with him, for him, always.
He slumped over her, kissing her lips and cheeks and ears. He buried his face in the crook of his neck and said, "That was close. You know I can't live without you."
She stroked his back with her soft fingers. "I know sweetheart."
An hour later when he had taken her a few more times, they were lying exhausted side by side, breathless.
"I still have a day to stay in the temple, Aly," said Anastasia as she made lazy circles on his chest.
"You are not going anywhere," he said with firmness in his voice.
"Your mother won't like it," she breathed out.
"I would hate it if you went there. So choose between me and my mother's dislike," he pouted like a baby.
She let out a sigh. Sometimes he could be such a baby. "Let us go and help those people out. We have to talk to the Shaman. There are so many things that still need an explanation."
He pulled her closer and kissed the crown of her head. "What did Lilette tell you about Kaizan?"
Anastasia stilled. She didn't want to discuss what Lilette lied about, but then she had to speak it because she knew that vokudlaks were curious creatures. "She said that Kaizan helped her to get inside Draoidh and that he is the one who is helping Etaya and Iona."
Ileus froze as a wave of shock surged through his body. He got up as his brows drew tightly together. "That's fucking absurd!" he retorted.
She too got up and rested on the propped up pillows. "Calm down Ileus. I know she was speaking lies. There is no way Kaizan would be helping her. I mean this doesn't make sense. He was promised to you when you were younger and you both share a blood bond. There is no way that Kaizan can deceive you. If he deceives you, he will die."
"It's not the question 'if he deceives me'. He would never even think of going against me. He would rather lay his life for me as a friend than go against me," Ileus replied.
"I know," she said and took his hand in hers. "Lilette was speaking lies. It was very apparent. But having said that, we have to find out who helped her. We also have to find out about those who hate me. What happened today was just a glimpse of what can happen tomorrow if we don't take the right measures."
His jaw set in a hard line when he remembered the events of the day. "I understand…"
"And I really want to be there because I want to see all the injured and those who died for me."
He nodded. "But first you are taking a bath."
After the maids gave both of them a good bath, they left for the temple. Haldir wasn't there, but Darla and Kaizan were there along with Aidan.
"How many died?" asked Anastasia as she climbed the stairs of the temple.
"A dozen died and the rest were injured. We have also caught a few haters who are heavily injured," Kaizan said. "Overall things are under control. The Shaman wants to talk to you."
"Gods!" she said with anguish. "Who allowed them to get in the temple in the morning?" asked Anastasia. "Do you know who opened the gates?"
Kaizan shook his head. "No, we still don't know. No one saw who opened the gates because everyone was in the courtyard."
"Gods I have so many questions to ask the Shaman!" Anastasia let out a heavy exhale.
Kaizan tilted his head. "I am sure he must be waiting to hear them."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes as she glared at him.
"Let us go to the Shaman, sweetheart," said Ileus.
As they moved, Anastasia couldn't help but think that even if it was the haters who died, they belonged to the kingdoms ruled by Adrianna and Dmitri. It was such a mindless thing to do.
Darla came running to them. "Where the hell did both of you go?"
"Don't you know? Didn't you see?" Kaizan smirked. "Ileus took her to his bedchamber."
"Our bedchamber," Ileus corrected matter-of-factly. "We had made a deal and Anastasia was fulfilling the deal. Though much remains. I will have to show her the books to train her more."
And Anastasia—she flushed like a thousand suns. She elbowed him for speaking so freely.
Aidan came by Darla's side and grabbed her by her waist. "You promised me something Darla after all this was over!"
Darla stiffened. She blushed a deep crimson.
Kaizan noticed the two of them and his eyes popped out. "Have you guys gone madder than before? You don't go around doing that in public, especially in front of singles like me!"
"Get lost!" said Ileus, as he too held Anastasia's hand and lifted to kiss it.
Suddenly she heard a cry of pain from inside the temple and said, "I want to see the injured first, Ileus. Do we have an infirmary where they can be taken?"
"Of course, we do," he said.
"We have already shifted those who wanted to help us to the infirmary, Anastasia," Aidan informed. "But there are some who don't want to go. Those who—" he lowered his head as his voice trailed off.
"It doesn't matter. I would like to see them."
"But it could be dangerous," Ileus warned.
"No, it isn't. We have sealed each one of them in thick air walls and so their magic can't leave the confines of it," Aidan assured him. He led them to a room situated on the right side of the courtyard, round the corner. There were three women and two men. They eyed her suspiciously when she entered.