Ileus: The Dark Prince

Luke gulped his shock down with the apple inside his throat. His lips lifted into a half smile. He hated Olivia for succumbing to their father's pressure in marrying him to Kaizan. She could have refused, but the little bitch could only see the glory it brought to her. Greedily she must have agreed to the marriage. He turned on his back, placed his arm over his forehead and said, "She is definitely an easier target." The revelation was unbelievable. How could he not cash this opportunity? Everything just became all the more simple.

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Standing in the carriageway, Olivia was overlooking excitedly at all the chests that she had packed as they were being loaded in the wagon. Over the last three days, along with her mother-in-law she had bought numerous gifts from the capital for almost everyone in the castle at Whiteclaw pack. She wanted to wear breeches and a heavy tunic to go, but Ookashi said that it would be better if she wore a cotton gown. It would be more comfortable in the carriage.

"You look like you are really enjoying yourself, Olivia," his voice came from behind.

Olivia turned at the sound of his deep throaty voice and beamed. His dark leather pants were hugging his long legs, divulging the muscular strength of his body. Wearing a long-sleeved tunic and a thick cloak that had a fur collar, he looked too handsome. His brown hair glinted in the sunlight looking auburn. He looked so striking that Olivia's breath lodged in her throat. He stared at her as he walked towards her while she just… gawked at her husband. Her cheeks flamed. "I am feeling very nice."

"To go to your parents?" he asked, feeling slightly jealous. He couldn't help his possessiveness towards his mate. "I preferred having you pregnant and barefoot in my house." Her lips curled up when he reached her. "I am just too uncomfortable with this trip," he said.

She looked up at the sky and waved her hand at the dozen witches and wizards who were hovering above them on their brooms, ready to start any time. "Even with them keeping a close watch?" Then she looked at the unit of three dozen soldiers who were all waiting while chatting amongst themselves, to accompany them. "And with them?"

Kaizan sighed. "I have brought something for you."

She wondered what it could be because she had packed almost everything that she could think of and then some more.

He dug his hand inside his cloak to reach his baldric where several blades were sheathed. He pulled out one from them and gave her a ruby studded dagger.

Olivia's heart accelerated when she saw the blade he held in his hand. She recognized it immediately and took it from him. This was the dagger he had given her when they first met. "That's my dagger…" her throat choked. "I thought I had lost it."

"I had it in my possession all this time," he replied as he took a sheath out from his cloak's inner pocket and sheathed it. "I want you to keep it for this trip and use it without hesitation on anyone who doesn't belong to our cavalcade."

Olivia glanced at her husband with tender affection for ensuring that she also defended herself rather than banking on the cavalcade. And the fact that he gave her this dagger, it just meant the world to her. He knelt in front of her, lifted her gown irrespective of the inquisitive glances at them, irrespective of her blush, and strapped it on her thigh. Once he strapped it there, he got up. She couldn't look at anyone after the intimate scene they shared.

After getting up, Kaizan buttoned Olivia's cloak. There was a line of tension on his forehead. Even though Ileus had sent a dozen wizards and witches, he wasn't happy. His worries were through the roof. It was as if he had aged over the past few years. Olivia rubbed the lines from his forehead and said, "Kaizan, stop worrying darling. We will return in a week's time."

He let out a shaky breath. He helped her to get inside the carriage and then turned to look at his men. He gave them instructions and joined her a few minutes later.

As they sat on the opposite benches, Olivia noticed that the witches and wizards had also started moving in the air and she couldn't help but thank Ileus mentally.

After a few hours of the journey, they were on the trade path and the cavalcade caught speed. They were traveling with the royal flag of Silver Vales, which meant that it was a royal troupe that was going. Even though Kaizan had insisted that this wasn't necessary, Ileus wanted to make it a statement.

He had said, "I could use a portal to transfer you there, but I want everyone to see that you are going to Whiteclaw under my protection and want them all to see that you have married Olivia, Whiteclaw pack beta's daughter. It is important. And at any time, you feel the need, you can call me, okay?"

Kaizan had shaken his head. All he now wanted was this to get over. He looked at his wife who was staring out of the window of the carriage. "Come here, love," he called her. She smiled and then immediately moved to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and then leaned at the back to close his eyes.

Olivia stared out over the quiet and dense forest. She was wondering if there were hideouts of the rogues around. Her father had said that there used to be farms here, and travel inns where traders would stop and rest and eat. But now, other than a deep jungle, there was nothing. She chanced upon dilapidated ruins of inns and taverns over which thorny bushes grew and gnarled roots of trees found their foundations. The rogues had destroyed everything they could to make these places look like ghost dwellings.

She kept her eyes open to look at anything out of place on the sides of the forest, even though they were in the middle of the cavalcade.

Suddenly the carriage jerked and Kaizan got up with wild eyes, grabbing her tightly by her waist. "What is it?" he asked in a menacing voice to the driver as he looked out of the window. It was already evening and the dark shades of the trees loomed against the backdrop of purple and orange sky.

"It is just a boulder m'lord," informed the coachman. "We will remove it and continue."

His worries settled a little even though his jaw was clenched. "Hurry up!"

"Yes, m'lord," said the coachman and rushed to help the soldiers who were removing the boulder from the way.

"You doing okay?" he asked Olivia, staring at her eyes while feeling her body. It was already evening and they had to camp soon.

"I am tired," she admitted. They had had lunch while they were traveling because Kaizan just didn't want to stop.

"Ah, my love." He gathered her closer to his chest hoping that she could relax more.. "We will stop soon."