Anastasia chuckled nervously and then let herself lose in his scent. There was nothing better than this in the world. There were not too many things in her life when she felt this satisfying-when she sent Maple to Sgiath Biò, when she burnt her wings with her magic. With shackled wings, Maple would not be able to heal fast. It was a double attack on her and it was just the first one. Her wings were battered deep. She wouldn't be able to see them, as Anastasia couldn't, and on top of that she would have to bear the pain-the invisible pain. Now Aed Ruad will have to necessarily take her to the place where he could unshackle them. But before that Maple had to make her way out of Sgiath Biò.

Anastasia lifted her head and tilted it to look towards the lion who was walking behind them with all the grace. His golden mane was moving around his head in the light breeze. She blinked her eyes to thank him, feeling extremely proud of him.

Seashell was the lion who was on the royal crest of Vilinski. And right now he walked proudly behind them, like their savior-just as he had always been with Ileus ever since he was born. It was as if he was waiting for this moment.

When Anastasia had met Seashell for the first day, she was intrigued by him. She had gone to meet him again in the forest earlier in the day. She didn't know why but she had her suspicions at that time that he was the same lion that she always saw on Vilinski's crest, but after she saw him flying, she was sure that Seashell was that very lion. Her suspicion nagged her. It was as if the lion was calling her, trying to communicate with her, trying to say something extremely important.

In the morning when Ileus woke up, he sniffed the air and said, "Maple is here." He had gathered everyone and they had quickly moved to the alehouse. However, they kept their rooms here in order to deceive Maple. While maple was shuttling between the inn and alehouse, washing dishes and cleaning, Aidan was keeping a track on her. They knew she wouldn't come alone and her accomplices had to be somewhere. It was not hard to conclude that her accomplices would be fae royal guards and they would be hiding somewhere in the forest, since they must have turned into shadows.

Ileus wanted to go to the forest to warn Seashell about the faes and Anastasia said, "I want to meet him." Despite his protests, she accompanied him. She was craving to meet the lion and had this natural instinct to protect him. In the forest, when Seashell came to meet her, she was once again mesmerized to see his huge form. The lion came and nuzzled in her hands, as she scratched his mane. It was as if he belonged to her even though she knew he was Ileus' pet. They stood there for a long time, but the tranquillity between them ended fast when suddenly one of the faes emerged from the thick trees and tried to attack her. Before the guard could reach her, Seashell had lunged at him and killed him. He had mauled his body so badly that it was unrecognizable. He had pulled out his wings from his body savagely.

Anastasia and Ileus witnessed it with shock. She pressed her mouth with her hands. The scene in front of her was unbelievable. When he had killed him, she asked "You can see them?" How could the lion see a fae in its corporeal form? Only she could see them because she was a fae. Seashell didn't stop there. Over the next few minutes, she saw him mauling another fae royal guard and yanking his wings with his jaws. After that without turning back to see her, with a roar, he had run inside the deep forest to hunt for the rest.

---

Ileus and other wizards disappeared from there and they appeared in their respective rooms. Aidan went to the alehouse to get Darla back. She hadn't participated in the attack because she was far too distraught.

Gently placing her on her bed, Ileus sat down beside her and stroked her head. He continued to look at her intensely with his warm honey eyes. "How are you feeling now?" he asked.

"Shaky," she breathed out. For the first time she had used so much energy from her body in the form of magic and it drained her. She felt weak. Even though it came naturally to her, it weakened her a lot. Her face was pale. Ileus took her hand in his to check her pulse. "You need to rest. I am going downstairs to order food and a bath for you."

She nodded. She saw him leaving. A smile tugged her lips up. Her mate... Tonight she wanted to know him more.

When Ileus came back, he was holding a tray of food in his hand. Once he had placed the tray on the bedside table, he propped up her pillows and gave her a small piece of cured salmon. "I am worried about you," he said as he gave her more fish to eat.

"Why?"

"You have never practiced your magic and if it keeps coming in short bursts like these, there is a chance that it will affect your body," he said with a frown.

Her lips tugged up. She rubbed her forehead with her fingers and said, "I don't know how to control it. It just comes naturally to me."

"I wish I had known how to help you. But you have fae magic and that is a powerful one. I don't think anyone can teach you how to control it. You have to learn it on your own..." he stopped speaking as a big lump formed in his throat.

"Don't worry too much Ileus," she said. "I am sure my instincts are going to guide me. For now I want to revel in my small victory."

He tilted his head and warmly gazed at her. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I hope they do... Besides, I wanted to tell you one thing." He handed a cheese cube to her.

"What is it?" she asked, chewing the cube slowly, wondering what he wanted to say so urgently.

"Don't be afraid when I say this." His frown appeared again and his face became slightly pink.

Anastasia waited for him with anticipation, her blue eyes boring in his amber ones.

He exhaled heavily as if preparing himself. "I think we are mates." His facial muscles became tight and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The dangerous dark wizard of the Lore was at his wits end when he noticed that the girl in front of him was... giving him a blank stare. His heart raced. Did he do the wrong thing? "Say something..." or else he might die of anxiety.

At first she chuckled and then she burst into laughter. Ileus' eyes became wide as he stared at her. How was that funny? It was such a serious issue and how could she take it so lightly?