Anastasia's gaze slid to his erection that was tenting in his pants. She touched the tip of it on purpose and said, "We are in a temple and we have to abstain from these activities."
He caught her hand with his around his shaft. "This one has its own brain and I can't help it." Slowly he guided her hands up and down it. "I will end up having blue balls if it is not catered to."
"Blue balls? What are they?" she asked innocently. "How do you get blue balls?" She stopped her hand. "Is it some kind of illness? What is the treatment for it?" She stared at her hubby's pants and sympathized with him.
The dark prince sighed. "Cold showers," he said. "Cold showers are the treatment for blue balls."
"Oh!" She started to get up.
"Where are you going?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I will fetch a mug of cold water to pour it on you. You see, prevention is better than cure. That way you won't get blue balls."
His eyes popped out. He pulled her back to the bed and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and shackled her wings. He lifted his thigh and put it on his legs, completely caging his wife. "You just sleep Anastasia and don't ask questions or don't think of treatments," he said in a low, painful voice.
"Are you sure?" she asked as she yawned.
"Hmm."
And Anastasia slept. She was so relaxed seeing him, being with him that she went off to a deep slumber, one that didn't have nightmares.
Next day she woke up to an empty feeling on the bed. He was gone. She pouted, her mood dipping. She dragged herself out of the bed and got ready for the temple chores. She hoped that she didn't see anyone out there, but as luck would have it, there were many vokudlaks, witches and wizards present over there. And they were all giving her side glances every now and then. Tamara came to her and gave her a bucket of water and cloth. "You have to clean the stairs that lead to the moon goddess' sanctum," she said pointing at the sanctum.
Anastasia took it from her and nodded.
"But you can't go because the gates are closed." She lowered her voice and added, "If you like we can visit her later."
A smile kicked up her lips. "I would love to," she said.
Ignoring everyone's stares, Anastasia walked through them to reach the stairs. The sun shone brightly and she started working. Anastasia had never ever done this kind of a job, but she learnt how to do it within five minutes. She wiped the sweat on her forehead, feeling proud. She didn't know how long the time had passed, but she heard a rumble of a crowd growing on the outside.
"They have opened the gates," said a woman. "But it's too early!" she rasped. There was fear in her voice.
Anastasia looked up and wondered whether it was time to leave. Quickly, she started winding up her work because she didn't want a repeat of yesterday's events. She just wanted to fade in the background. Suddenly she heard a loud thud on the floor as if a door was pulled out of the frame and shattered on the ground. Her stomach knotted as salty surprise flickered through her. Who could they be? She backed up the stairs a little hoping that her imagination was wrong.
"Where is she?" There was a roar in the throng of people who started pouring inside the courtyard.
Hair on her nape prickled. She gathered her things and started to leave when she found that some of the men and women working around her started walking towards her while some froze in their places.
"No, no, no!" she muttered under her breath. The skies overhead started gathering again. Her gaze shifted to the blurred faces around her.
The crowd started coming closer. A man with sharp claws and lips peeled back, exposing his lengthening fangs snarled at her. "There she is!" another one shouted.
Anastasia climbed back the stairs. The magic in her chest started thrumming as her skin tingled. She could feel that her magic was about to explode. How could she stand so many vokudlaks unless she killed them? There was so much bitterness and hatred around her that she couldn't take it.
"Kill her!" snarled the man and started running towards her when all of a sudden something unbelievable happened. A woman who was working in the courtyard, leapt towards him and shifted. Anastasia was shocked when she found the woman growling at the man who had now stopped. In the next few moments her fellows shifted into their werewolf form and snarled at the crowd while the witches and wizards stood there with magic sizzling in their hands. Anastasia watched them prowling around her, staring at the throng, growling dangerously as if protecting her.
Shocked at the sight of furs that had surrounded her, Anastasia's eyes widened. Her instincts flared and she knew that they wanted to protect her… fiercely. They looked eerie, yet beautiful, massive creatures, beasts with claws clacking on the marble floor. A low rumble echoed in the courtyard mixed with snarls. These workers were after her life just yesterday. How come they became her protectors? She couldn't understand anything. Did Adrianna know that this was going to happen?
"She is an abomination!" said a woman behind. "Kill her and get rid of her!" Suddenly along with two more, she charged towards Anastasia but she was stunned when more people from the crowd growled and leapt in the air only to land on the ground in their beastly form. They joined the ones who were protecting Anastasia.
The courtyard became a ground of bloodshed that was awaiting. The clouds above roared as lightning forked.
There was a burst of shadows and Ileus became corporeal in front of the crowd. His dark hair was wildly tousled as if he had run at a great speed. He stepped in front of all of the werewolves who had surrounded Anastasia, his golden eyes flickering with anger, his chin dipped low and his features more angular. He looked like a dark wizard. Magic crackled through in his hands. He looked ruthless. "If you think of damaging as much as my mate's hair, the consequences would be disastrous!" he warned.
"She has cast a spell on you!" said one of the witches. "When we kill her, you will be released from the spell!"
"Yes! Iona, your sister was kidnapped on her orders. We must execute her!"
The Shaman and Tamara ran up to the courtyard and they stood with Ileus. "Stop it!" the Shaman shouted. "This is wrong!"
"You were hiding the enemy of the Draoidh. You are just as treacherous," the woman shouted back. "Kill him too!" Saying that a throng of crowd rushed towards him.
Gods.
"Enough!" Anastasia screamed and her magic exploded. She just let it go. It was difficult to take so much negativity. Her eyes turned violet with silvery speckles. And then everything became blurred. She heard yips and howls and screams and creaks. She didn't care. All she felt was anger and it consumed the haters.
"Anastasia," his voice cracked the barrier of her anger.