A heavy exhale left Aidan's mouth when Anastasia asked that question. He took a piece of bread with cheese in his mouth and said, "She is doing fine. I have to check up on her now. Sometimes she just becomes aloof…" 

Anastasia didn't say anything because she wanted to understand why she didn't go back. Not that she would chide her husband or demand that Darla go back, because she wasn't that petty, but her presence in the camp would make things awkward. 

Ileus offered her a spoonful of rabbit stew and she ate it hungrily. He wiped the side of her lips and sucked finger while looking into her sapphire eyes. "Ileus Volkov," she whispered. "Your lewdness is only increasing by the minute." 

"I heard that," said Kaizan. "And I totally disagree. He was very lewd… always."

"What?" Anastasia whipped her head in his direction. 

"It's just that all of his lewdness is coming out now… on you." 

And Anastasia thought that a thousand suns were hiding in her body to make her feel so heated. Her gaze traveled to the rest of the men and their faces were pink while her husband—he was only watching her, with no shame. "You said you would call me sweetheart," he pointed nonchalantly. 

She puffed and shook her head. From the corner of her eye, she saw Aidan rise to his feet and walk out of the place with his plate. 

"Did I offend him?" Anastasia asked guiltily.

"No sweetheart. He is going after Darla. He feels that she shouldn't be left alone," Ileus replied and picked up a large piece of meat to stuff in his mouth. 

"I hope you are okay with her…" she cut off her sentence. 

"With her presence?" 

When she nodded he said, "I am not bothered about something which never existed for me. It's her problem but what is important is that Aidan is helping her out." He shrugged. "He didn't let her go back to Silver Vales." 

"Oh! Why?" That was certainly amusing.

"I don't know, nor am I bothered," he replied. "I was only bothered about you and worried constantly about your safety." He shuddered. "I was too occupied to even think about her since I was finding caverns to create time funnels and travel." Ileus stopped eating his food and lowered his head. "I am sorry…" he said. 

Anastasia picked up a cheese cube and stuffed it in his mouth. "Don't say that ever again." She looked up again and found the new recruits staring at them with disbelief. 

--- 

Darla was standing on the edge of the hill where they had camped. She watched the birds fly and the stray marshmallow clouds that drifted lazily in the sky. The forest from here looked like a giant golden umbrella over earth. Her hair whipped her cheeks in the cool breeze and she had crossed her hands across her chest. Suddenly her body started to feel warm and she knew that Aidan was somewhere near using his magic. Ever since the incident that occurred between her and Ileus, she was just too embarrassed to face him. 

Ileus had made it so clear to her by not speaking with her at all. She had tried to convey her feelings to him and she knew that Ileus wasn't a dimwit who wouldn't understand her feelings. But she thought that after so many years of having one-sided feelings, she needed to rake Ileus' also. She wanted to tell him how she felt about him. She never felt this threatened in her life before, but with Anastasia's presence, she felt as if her life was endangered. 

However, after the incident, it became so clear to her that Ileus never wanted her. She had become too possessive about him. That day when everyone had gone to meet Maple, she was sulking in her room feeling miserable. Aidan had come to fetch her. 

Over the past few days, he followed her everywhere she went. At first she didn't like it, but now his presence felt… good. It was as if there was someone at her back always. 

"You can come out Aidan," she said. 

Immediately the wizard appeared at her side. She chuckled. He held a plate in his hand. "You must eat Darla," he said in a low voice. 

She looked at the rabbit stew, but it was cold. Aidan cupped the bowl and chanted, "Teplo." The stew became sizzling hot. He offered the bowl to her. 

"Thanks Aidan," she said. They sat down at the edge of the hill. While she ate the stew, he watched the forest and her. 

"Can I say something Darla?" he asked. 

"You can say anything Aidan," she replied. With him she forgot what happened with her over the last few days. He never asked her things or advised her, just stood there by her, like a guardian. He let her deal with her demons until things became clear to her. 

"Would it be so difficult for you to forget him?" He asked, looking in her black eyes with his emerald ones. 

Darla watched how the amazing red mop of his hair tousled in the wind. Aidan was a handsome wizard, a Mozia. He wasn't allowed to marry. Did his question mean that— "These days I don't want to go there," she replied maturely. 

His green eyes lit up. 

"I want to move on," she continued. 

His lips tugged up. This was the first time she revealed her intentions and they were so welcoming. 

She gazed at him and found how brightly lit up his face was. He looked… handsome. Their eyes locked and she found it difficult to peel her gaze off. 

"Eat Darla," he said in a mere whisper. 

She lowered her eyes, as she felt her cheeks becoming hot and started eating the stew. She liked his warm presence near him. It enveloped her with safety and security she had been longing for a long time. It allayed her loneliness and misery. "Thanks for being there for me, Aidan," she said when she finished her stew and placed the plate aside. Suddenly it dawned upon her that because of him she was able to recover nicely. He stood there patiently beside her as a pillar of support. 

"Any day Darla" he said in a breathy voice. 

"Can I ask you a question?" 

"Sure," he replied, looking at her lips as if seeking her permission to touch her. 

"Why did you help me at Virgine Falls even at the risk of your life? You could have died?" she asked with wide eyes that darted between his eyes and nose and lips. The man was very handsome. Those jagged cheekbones and a square jaw with a cleft were absolutely the sexiest she'd ever seen. Why did she just notice him now? He was always there. And suddenly she realized that he was always looking at her, waiting for her. Oh god, he was such a sweet man. How could she ignore him? 

"I did that to help you out because that is all I could think at that time," he replied honestly. 

She swallowed saliva down her throat at his honest confession. Darla's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't know how to say this but she wanted to kiss him. She flushed again. It was as if she was unsure of her feelings. "Thanks for your help," she said and looked away. A movement caught her eyes.

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