Ileus: The Dark Prince

Chapter 715  Marriage

Paige looked at Tyler, a frown forming on her face. Tyler pursed his lips and glanced at Connor who was sitting next to him. When Connor nodded, Tyler took a deep breath in and said, "We would like to take Paige back to our village, to our pack."

On hearing this Kaizan stiffened. Paige jerked her head back as surprise flitted through her. This was such a sudden announcement for which she wasn't ready.

"Why?" Kaizan asked, wary of the twins. "She is pregnant and would be looked after properly in the capital." He felt so protective about his sister. She had finally found an anchor in life, so why were her mates hampering her happiness?

Connor's lips curled up. "There is no doubt about that, Kaizan," he said. "But Paige hasn't met our family members yet. And now she is even pregnant. We want to show her to our clan so that the babies that are born receive the right attention they deserve. It is extremely important."

Paige's heartbeat accelerated. She had been to so many places when she was just a soldier in the king's army. She had faced many battles and unusual situations, but she had never ever faced a situation that involved in-laws.

Tyler continued. "Since she is our mate, we would like to marry her in front of the clan. I cannot say how important it is for both of us to show that she is our mate."

"Marry me?" Paige said, her voice a mere whisper. All her life she had never thought about marriage. The mate bond was so much higher than mere marriage. But the idea of going through the rituals was… exciting. And the way the twins looked at her—her chest squeezed with love. They wanted to show her off in front of their clan and what better way that marrying her?

"Yes!" Connor breathed. "I know it would be a little daunting for you, but marriage is just a way of showing it to all that you belong to us. Though that doesn't matter. You carry our mark and our smell and our children."

"Marriage is popular in our clan because mates are rare. When a wolf finds a she-wolf, and they decide to live together, our clan Elders ask them to seal the deal with a marriage," Tyler added. "It's an age-old custom we are following. However, mate bond is revered. It is higher than marriage. Still…"

"You want to share your happiness with your clan," Anastasia cut off Tyler and completed his sentence. She was still sitting on Ileus's lap. Ileus smiled at his wife and stroked her back affectionately.

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Tyler flushed. "That is right." He too grinned along with Connor.

"In that case, I would like to accompany my sister," said Kaizan. "For witnessing her marriage!" He recalled how his marriage with Olivia was such a rushed-up affair.

Paige dragged her teeth over her lips as she watched her mates. She was sitting next to Olivia, but she rose to her feet from there and then sauntered to her mates. Her chest filled with pride. She lowered her mouth and kissed Tyler first and then Connor. "If this is what you want, I will go with you."

There was so much joy on the faces of the twins that she giggled. Connor snagged her and made her sit on his lap. "Thank you," he breathed. "We will take care of you just as much as we do here."

"I know," she replied as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "How long will it take to reach your village?" Some of his locks had fallen over his forehead and she busied herself in putting them back.

"About two days," he said and pursed his lips. "Will that be troublesome for you?"

"I will arrange for a carriage," Kaizan said. "You don't have to ride on the horses all the way to your village."

"That won't be necessary," Ileus cut off Kaizan. "I will simply create a portal for them," he added smugly.

"Oh, thank you!" Paige exclaimed.

He just shrugged. "After all, I am a wizard. It would be stupid to let you go on a horseback when I can create portals."

Anastasia laughed at her husband's bragging. "I am sleepy. Shall we go home?" she said with a smile.

"Of course, love," he replied and then burst into shadows and smoke. The next moment the place where they were sitting was empty.

He carried Anastasia all the way to the bed and set her down. It was late in the night and the children were sleeping. He helped her change her nightgown and after wearing his pajamas, he slid behind her beneath the sheets and curled around her warm body.

When Anastasia woke up in the morning, she found that Ileus was sitting on a chair and watching her with his twin golden eyes. "What is it?" she asked lazily. "How long have you been awake?"

Ileus had woken up two hours back. He sniffed the air around Anastasia and he stiffened. He didn't know but— He got up from the chair and crawled up to her. He hovered over her and stared in her eyes for a long time.

"Ileus?" Anastasia cried, feeling weird under his puzzled gaze. "What is it?"

He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her soft lips. "You are pregnant, love," he said in a low voice.

Anastasia stilled. She looked at him with wide eyes. "N—no," she squeaked.

"Most likely with a girl," he added. He had been sitting and watching his wife for a long time wondering how she would take the news, wondering what his daughter would look like, wondering how it was possible that the herbs didn't work under the full moon.

"How is it possible?" she croaked. "My hands are full with Nikolai and Alexander! How can we possibly have a third baby?"

Ileus curled his fingers around her neck. "Shhh… Don't panic, love." When he sniffed the air around her and realized that it was most likely a girl child, he wondered if she would have wings like his wife. His heart filled with love more than he had ever known. Goosebumps lined his skin. "We both are going to raise her together."

"But—"

He pressed a kiss on her lips. "Despite our protection, if this baby chose to come to us, if the moon goddess chose to give her to us, who are we to deny her, Ana?"

He looked into her eyes as if he was pleading with her. He rested his forehead against hers. "Please Ana… I want this baby…" He never sounded this desperate.

Anastasia was in a dilemma. Her throat bobbed and she wondered what to do.

Two days later, Ileus was standing in the backyard of Kaizan's mansion. Paige, Connor, Tyler and Kaizan were standing in front of it. Ookashi and Nate were also there. They had decided to go with their daughter for the wedding. Olivia was going to go with Anastasia for the week and until Kaizan returned. Five servants with trays full of gold coins and trousseau containing wedding gifts also waited for them. Two Mozias were also waiting to accompany the troupe.

Amidst the babble of Ookashi directing the servants, Paige giggling, men talking loudly, Ileus created the portal once Connor gave him the coordinates of the village. They all stepped in one by one.