In the frenzy that followed, Anastasia realized that she had killed almost all who were there in her way to Lilette. She looked up again at those who had come closer. They were very close and if she didn't turn back now, she might get caught by them. She whipped her head to look at Lilette whose mouth curved into a vicious smile as if challenging her to come near. It was impossible to control herself now. She lunged at her when from the corner of her eyes she saw someone attacking Ileus. 

"On your left!" she shouted and changed her direction immediately. Anastasia flapped her wings hard to change her direction and go to him. As soon as she reached him, she kicked the wizard on the head who was about to hurl a beam of white lights at Ileus. When the wizard stumbled, she yanked his head back and shoved the Evindal sword in his chest. The wizard's body convulsed before it hit the ground. 

The whole thing happened in just enough time when Ileus spun back, shadows peeling off and blood sprayed over his clothes. The shadow blades he had thrown towards her dissipated merely a few inches away from her. "Gods! Anastasia!" he pulled her down with one hand. She tucked her wings behind her. He curled his hands at the back of her nape and pulled her tightly against his chest. She could feel him heaving heavily. "Thank you, sweetheart," he said, kissing her temple.

She savored his scent for a moment and then realizing the hardness against her belly, Anastasia chuckled. "You are such a louche!" 

"I told you, this one has its own brain. If you pull those tricks, it bloody gets lusty for you." His face broke into a wide grin. "My body just doesn't listen to me around you." 

Anastasia broke into a soft laughter. "I have to go to Lilette. She is right there," she pointed at her. Lilette was still sitting on her horse watching the carnage and Anastasia had this strong urge to kill her. 

"But I can see more people coming, and they are very close," he said. 

"If we leave her now, she will not stop. I need to kill her for spreading the rumor and starting this civil war!" said Anastasia. She wondered as to why Adrianna hadn't sent her troops yet. 

"Okay, go for her Ana, and I will cover you," he said, pulling her out of her thoughts. 

With strong beats, Anastasia shot in the air and Ileus followed her as he burst into black shadows and smoke. As soon as she was near Lilette, she noticed a bundle of white beams, sizzling with orange fiery orbs coming towards them from the right. Someone was trying to stop them. Anastasia was too stunned to stop them. She stared at them when all of a sudden something heavy grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. She was covered completely in the familiar shadows. The beams passed over them and hit the boulders on the other side. 

"Gods!" she rasped as a shudder of horror surged through her body. 

Ileus muttered a curse under his breath. 

They were too close to Lilette and the people from the other side had arrived—a mixture of witches, wizards and werewolves. Armed with their natural armor—magic and claws and fangs—they poured in slowly. 

Panic surged like a torrential river into her body and touched her bones with its raw edges. Ileus got up and pulled his wife close to her. She looked at his face. With those fierce golden eyes, he stared at the people that belonged to his kingdom and who had gone against him only because he chose not to part with his mate. He knew that it was going to get down to this chaos, yet he chose to be with her and oh man! He was proud. With his chin held high and straight nose and stark angular features that became more defined when he looked at those who wanted to kill them. Anastasia felt lucky to have known him for whatever brief time they were together. She didn't regret even an ounce of it. She whispered, "I love you, Ileus." 

"I love you too, Ana," he replied, looking at her. "I wish I gave you more of those books." 

She chuckled. Even in such a dire situation he could make a joke. "And I wish I could spend a—" His lips crashed on hers, sealing her mouth with his warmth. 

When he pulled away, he said, "No one is ever going to take you away from me, love. So, we are going to give them our best! Use that Evindal and kill like you have never killed before, warrior girl!" 

Anastasia let out a nervous laughter. "If we get out of this alive, I will try as many positions as you want, honey." 

With a raised eyebrow, he swirled his sword and said, "A deal?" 

"Deal!" 

Magic sizzled in the air as the deal became final. 

Together they charged at the men and women who had thronged behind Lilette, who had gone much further back. Her horse was now at the verge of the slope where she could turn and make her horse gallop down the slope. 

As soon as they came near the crowd, something strange happened. It was so weird that both of them stared at each other, astounded. Instead of attacking them, the group rushed past them and attacked all the haters who were still fighting behind them. Anastasia was awestruck and as for Ileus—he was, well, dumbstruck. 

And Lilette—she looked shocked. It was as if she punched in her gut. 

She rubbed her eyes to understand what was going on, as disbelief thudded through her. The contingent of the witches, wizards and vokudlaks was supporting them. A smile spread on her lips when she realized it and confidence exploded in her body, removing the shreds of panic that had seized her earlier. 

"You want to kill her, sweetheart?" Ileus again asked with a lop-sided smile. 

"Yes, very much," she said. 

"I think the wolf spirits wanted that deal to go through," he chuckled through his blood-stained face. 

She shook her head. "Cover me!" she said and lunged at Lilette. 

Lilette nudged her horse that broke into a gallop. But Anastasia beat her wings hard to go and halt in the air right in front of her horse. With her massive wings flapping in the air, she looked like an angel of death. 

The horse reared, shaking its head throwing Lilette from her saddle. She fell down and rolled a little on the slope. As she got up with much difficulty, she saw her horse running away. She got up and charged at Anastasia with a dagger in her hand, but Anastasia dodged her and kicked her right in the face. Lilette faltered and fell back on the ground as blood oozed out of her mouth and nose. "You bitch!" she shouted. She wiped the blood from her face with her sleeve. "You think it is going to stop here?" 

"No, but I do know that I have started on a mission to stop this craziness!" She flapped her wings and her feet touched the ground. "And it starts with you." 

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