Chapter 436 - The Box

Rolfe's mother was calling him and he knew it. Those tendrils of magic that felt like sticky waves of malice were her summons. His jaw hardened and a muscle feathered. Seeing the sudden change in his demeanor, Ileus narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you in two minds about your decision to marry Iona?" 

Rolfe jerked his head back and realized that his expressions must have changed drastically. "No! not at all!" he blurted. "It's just that—" 

Everyone in the room became silent for him to speak. The air became thick with tension at his slightest doubt. 

"It's just that he can feel his mother's magic over him," whispered Kaizan. hoarsely. They all looked in his direction while he was looking at Rolfe. Even that much speech proved heavy for him and he licked his lips as his throat became dry. Sensing his discomfort, Ileus sprang to his feet and rushed to the pitcher on the table.. Without bothering to pour the water in a glass, he brought the pitcher to him. He helped him prop up a little and Kaizan gulped water greedily. For Ileus, seeing Kaian in this condition was as if someone had drawn a dagger between his ribs. 

When he finished having water, Ileus chided, "Who asked you to speak?" 

Kaizan closed his eyes as a weak smile tugged his lips up. "His mother…" He used to feel her magic over him all the time. It crawled over him like sticky, gooey mucus, full of malice and had a thousand negative emotions. And he hated it. 

"Shh!" Ileus quieted him. He smoothed his friend's hair and then looked at Rolfe over his shoulder. "Is that correct?" 

"Yes," Rolfe huffed. "She wants to meet me." 

Anastasia tilted her head and said, "We are going to meet her, all of us, but not now. She has to wait." Her voice carried a lethal calm. She changed the topic and said, "So now that we have decided that we would go with the first option, when do you plan on marrying her?" 

Rolfe's gaze turned to the most favorite person in the room, in his life and in this universe and said, "Tonight." 

Iona's eyes became wide. Her mouth fell to the floor. Her cheeks warmed like a thousand suns. Her hands flew to her mouth to stifle her squeal, which came out irrespective. She tipped her head back towards the ceiling and thanked every wolf spirit she knew of. Suddenly she felt an urge to shift. Her face beamed and in order to stop her wolf from taking over, she embraced Anastasia tightly. Warmth radiated throughout her body as her heart drummed against her chest. Her thoughts were so scattered that she was simply too excited to think straight. Anastasia laughed at her elated state, Ileus and Kaizan laughed. As for Rolfe, he watched his little mate with tenderness. 

"I have asked the priest to come tonight to officiate the ceremony," Rolfe added. "There would be a few nobles with him as witnesses." 

"Oh! That was quick," Ileus remarked. 

"Well, I took the liberty to call the priest just in case you all agreed," Rolfe replied quickly and rather sounded eager. 

"I see," Ileus nodded as he raised his eyebrow. Why did he feel that Rolfe had cleverly put his words of hurrying up his marriage with Iona because he was afraid that he would otherwise take her away? When he tilted his eyes and tried to study Rolfe, the demon looked away immediately. His eyes settled on Iona. 

"We really don't have much time to prepare!" said Anastasia. She held Iona's hand and said, "Come to my room. There's a lot to prepare." She looked at Ileus. "Inform everyone in the fortress to be on high alert." Her gaze swept over Rolfe. "You will not leave the fortress until you are married to her. If possible, call more soldiers from your kingdom. I want at least three layers of protection around the fortress." 

"Why?" Rolfe's brows creased. 

"Because I can feel your mother's magic too. She is not just summoning you, she is summoning her people too," replied Anastasia. A shudder passed through Iona. 

"I will suppress her magic and increase the security," Rolde said, as dread seized his heart. 

"Her magic is as ancient as your father's Rolfe and I can feel it. You have to be very careful…" she said. Then she held Iona's hand and took her to her room. 

For the next two hours the girls only talked about jewelry and dress and fabric and what all she would or could wear to her wedding. The resources were so limited that Iona found herself stuck with just two pairs of silk gowns that belonged to Anastasia and they were too simple. She had pouted and stuck her tongue out and even let out many cries of frustration. "I feel like getting married naked!" Ileus stayed away from both the women, afraid of all the fuss that was taking place. He didn't know his sister was so fussy. And his heart constricted a little for her. Had they been in Draoidh, he would have given her a lot… 

"Then you would never get married," chuckled. "Rolfe would kidnap you and take you to his room to devour you." 

Iona giggled. All at once there was a knock on the room's door. A soldier was there with a large box in his hand. "It is from the prince!" he said excitedly with a smile. "For our would-be queen." 

Iona gasped as she took the box from the demon soldier. It was wrapped in cream silk and was tied with a red ribbon. The soldier bowed to her and then closed the door, as she stood gaping at the entrance. "What is it?" she asked no one in particular, feeling dazed. She walked with the box to the fur pelt and stared at it for a long time. 

"Open it!" Anastasia nudged her. It smelled of lavender and mint. 

With trembling fingers, Iona opened the ribbon. It fell on the sides and she opened the red silk that wrapped it. Beneath the ribbons and the silk was a wooden box with a lid. She lifted the lid and found a small note written in demonic language. It read—A small gift for my mate. Wear it for me, love.

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She placed the note beside her and her hands delved inside at the contents. There was a golden yellow sheer gown that matched the color of her eyes, and right beside it was a small bottle of perfumed oil, two gold combs that had spikes at the end and bangles, lots of them and gold silk sandals. When she took the sheer gown out, her face heated till ears. It was a gown woven with finest gold threads with gold beads. If she wore it, her skin would be visible. "Gods!" she said in a low voice as her sister-in-law chuckled wickedly. 

"Your man is erotic," she said. "Or is that the traditional dress they wear for demon weddings?" 

Iona gasped at the dress and was so much into seeing it, that when Anastasia said, "And what the hell is this?" she swirled around to find Anastasia holding manacles in her hand.