Chapter 244 - My Fire

Anastasia's eyebrows shot up to the roof. Her breath stilled as she watched Lila's petite body shrinking all the more. Her shoulders were racking with the shudders that pulsed through her body when she cried, though no tears were coming out. 

"I am so sorry about this whole incident. Please Anastasia, you must allow me to make up for this small mistake. My father has served Draoidh to his best capabilities. Do you know that back in the wizard academy, I was awarded the 'Best Student' prize for the year I graduated? And that is one of the reasons why the witch queen has given me the position of the 'Keeper of the Prisons'. I have worked very hard to come to this level."

Paiter was mumbling something in his sealed mouth. He shuffled his knees towards Ileus who stood in the center of the hall with his hands across his chest. However, before he could move barely a foot, he was frozen in his place by Lila's magic. 

"Won't you give me just one chance, Anastasia?" asked Lila with all the softness and sadness on the face she could conjure. "I promise that I am going to give Paiter the treatment he deserves." 

"I— I—" Anastasia stuttered. 

"Please Anastasia…" Lila clasped her hands as if praying to a deity. 

Anastasia sucked in a sharp breath of air as she measured the tension in the room. All eyes were on her including that of Ileus. She could feel that many watched her, holding their breaths. When her gaze settled back on Lila, she said, "It is not my decision to make Lila. Your fate is going to be decided by the Alpha of Silver Vales or by the Queen of Draoidh. However, all I can say is that since you committed the crime in Silver Vales, Pierre should decide. At the same time, I would ask Pierre to give you minimum punishment for this was the first time you did it and because you are ready to improve." 

Lila fell to her knees in front of Anastasia and kissed her hands. "You are too kind Anastasia. You have saved me!" Once again, her body racked with a sob and tears streamed out. "I will never forget your generosity."

Anastasia's lips tugged up. She held Lila's shoulders to raise her up. "Please, you must talk to Pierre about it." 

"Thank you!" Lila said in her soft, honeyed voice and turned to walk to Pierre. 

Pierre looked at her with fiery eyes. He pointed towards his study and said, "We are going to discuss this in private!" Then he ordered his guards, "Take this jeweler to the prison. As for him—" he gazed at Samson, "We are going to deal with him. Anastasia is going to take over this time." 

Though shocked as hell, Anastasia immediately recovered and bowed. "I will do my best." She could feel Ileus' chest swelling with pride and she wanted to smack him.

As soon as Pierre and Cora walked to his study along with Lila, Ileus gave a heart-melting smile to Anastasia and said, "How is the guest house, m'lady? I hope you are not facing any issues and that your beds are warm. Is there enough fire in your room to keep you warm?" 

Anastasia blushed to her toes. She understood his words, which carried double meaning. Her husband didn't lose an opportunity to be as shameless as he was. Gods! She exhaled a hot breath and chose to ignore his question, but everyone in the room was watching her with wide eyes. Why wasn't she answering their Crown Prince's question? Was she insulting him? Damn! She pursed her lips. From the corner of her eye, she saw Darla who was stifling her laugh and Kaizan—

He said nonchalantly, "You must answer the prince's question Anastasia. How was your fire yesterday?" 

Bastard! 

"My fire was good, m'lord," she said, trying to curve her lips in a smile. Wait, what did she just say? Gods, now she wanted to smack herself. Ileus' grin was only making things tougher. Did she hear the guards giggle? "I mean the fire in my room… was good…" 

"I understood that purrfectly, Anastasia," Ileus replied. "Would you give me the honor of walking you to the guest house? You have saved us from a financial disaster." It was hardly a financial disaster because that kind of money was like a drop in the ocean of Draoidh's treasury. Maybe less. Too less. "And I would like to personally thank you for it." 

The guards looked at their prince with reverence. The man was a true royal—so gracious and so kind and generous. They sighed in admiration of their handsome prince. And then they looked at Anastasia with anticipation as if she dared to say no. 

Anastasia narrowed her eyes and then shook her head slightly. With a voice dipping in sugar syrup, she said, "Yes, m'lord. The honor would be mine." 

Ileus dipped his chin in a bow and then offered his arm to her to walk back to the guest house. She took his arm and the two started to amble toward the exit. The guards bowed to their as they cleared the way. As soon as Ileus was out, he leaned towards her and whispered, "I intend to put your bed on fire tonight, m'lady!" And Anastasia once again blushed like a thousand suns. 

Darla, who wasn't able to laugh inside, was now rolling with laughter. As for Kaizan, his deadpan looks were enough. 

They reached the guest house and before Darla and Kaizan could enter, Ileus picked up his wife and kicked the door close with his right foot with a bang right on the faces of Kaizan and Darla. 

"Shameless werewolf!" Kaizan called him. "Don't forget I was promised to you!" He heard Darla giggling and then he turned on his heels to go back to the manor. Darla followed him. 

"Put me down!" Anastasia shouted. Ileus had put a spell on the outside so that no one could hear them. He set her down when they reached their bedroom. 

"I missed you sweetheart," he pouted. And he looked so cute that Anastasia couldn't help laughter. 

"I did great over there," she fished for a compliment. "In case you didn't notice!" 

He took a step closer and turned her. He opened the zip of her gown and said, "Of course I noticed. I came back for you." The gown slipped off her shoulders, revealing the upper swell of her breasts. He pressed a kiss on her shoulders and grazed the place where he marked her, immediately drawing an arousal from her. "Ah! The sweet smell of your arousal. Fuck, I want to wedge myself deep inside you and forget the world!" He slid her gown to the floor and cupped her breasts from behind. 

Though she was squirming for him to do that, she brought his attention back to the topic, "I told you I am a fast learner. If you hadn't allowed me, we would have never got hold of the culprit." 

He squeezed her breasts and played with her nipples. His erection was so stiff that he hissed and missed what she just said. "Yes… the culprit…" That was the only word he listened to.