The words that tumbled from the spy's mouth, left Aed Ruad unsettled and cold as dread skittered down his spine. He stared at the spy for a long moment as his wide eyes tried to search for a trace of falsehood on his face. The blood bond he had formed with Siora was severed and that was why he was feeling so horrible. "How?" he asked, because that was the only word he could speak. 

The spy pursed his lips at first and then looked down at the snow covering his boots. "It was all a ploy. Adrianna and Ileus and Anastasia were involved in it. I came to know that they had actually set a trap for Siora and she fell right into it." 

How could it be? She had planned it so well. His informant had given him correct information. Was he also involved in the plan? He stabbed his fingers in his hair as a shudder wracked his body. "A trap?" his throat bobbed. This was a nightmare. How could he not sense it? 

"Yes, it was a trap we fell for. Adrianna and Dmitri had already come to Draoidh two days back. The party at Kaizan's house was just a way to draw Siora out of the hiding place. They had come to know about her movements in the borders." 

Aed Ruad was about to say something when they heard snow crunching under the hooves. "You must get out of here now, prince Aed Ruad!" said the spy in a whisper. Aed Ruad spread his wings instantly and shot in the air. His spy followed him. 

When he entered the cave, Aed Ruad was broken… on the inside. He didn't know what to do or where to go. Icy bursts of shock surged through him mingled with a heavy dose of fear. He was completely fazed by the turn of events, by the turn of fates. Slowly, he walked inside his room after picking up a bottle of whiskey from the hall and then went to his room. He banged the door closed. The room looked… empty and cold and like a dark hollow. 

He opened the bottle and gulped down a large amount of whiskey to drown the burn that he was feeling in his chest. The spy had told him how Adrianna had cleverly drawn Siora out of the hiding place and then killed her, how Anastasia had made her promise that she wanted life and then how she had filled her with that very source of life. Others had all joined her in filling Siora with so much energy that she had blasted off in the end. It was that time that he felt the jolt—it was as if the link had been cut. His heart went dark and a howl emanated from his chest. 

His wife with whom he had formed a blood bond was killed. Trembling like a dry leaf in the summer wind, Aed Ruad reached his bed and sat down on it with his hands in his hair. The bed was so cold that he didn't want to sleep in it. She had warmed his bed only for a few days, she had even promised him to give her half her throne, share the kingdom of Galahar and now— now there was nothing. He was back to where he was left. Back to where after his mother was defeated in the battle of Vilinski. "What do I do?" he said as his voice crackled. And then he drank more. He was going to destroy them all.

--- 

"When are we leaving?" Ilyana asked Theodir, as she watched Inyanga cradling Ruvyn in her chest. The child had been giggling and his laughter had filled the mansion's courtyard. Theodir didn't reply. They were sitting in their balcony, which overlooked the courtyard. It was morning and thankfully the sun was shining. The mountain peaks in the far distance were covered with layers and layers of ice. The peaks reflected the sun rays, imparting light yellow and orange glow. Inyanga had covered her son in furs and a cute black and white bear suit. His small wrists were playing with her long hair as usual. His cheeks were so pink that the maids were teasing him that if they didn't find apples, they would eat his cheeks. The boy was shouting and squeaking and giggling at them. When a maid attempted to take him from his mother, he would cry so wildly that they would return him back to Inyanga immediately. And as soon as he was with his mother, he would grin. Gods, the little one was cuteness overload. 

Ilyana was craving to be with the child, to be with Haldir's child. When Theodir didn't answer her, she turned her gaze to him and found him staring at Ruvyn. She could feel his urge to get the baby. Or was it something else—a desire to be a father. Ilyana's breath lodged in her throat and she dared not ask him another question. Her eyes stung with tears but she held them back. For so many years she had been taking the herbal potion to not have a baby. She knew it was wrong at so many levels, but in her heart, she just couldn't forgive Theodir for snatching the love of her life. At the same time, she couldn't forgive herself for not being able to love him fully, for not getting ready to give him an heir. Gods, she wanted to forget it, but why couldn't she? She lifted her eyelashes to see Inyanga who was now struggling with Ruvyn's hands on her hair. And a bolt of jealousy shot through her. The woman was not only Haldir's mate, she was the mother of his child. Haldir would never ever look her way because of this witch. 

She picked up her cup of tea and her determination to take the child with her increased. She was going to make her suffer the way she suffered. "You didn't answer me, Theodir," she said softly. 

Theodir exhaled heavily as if he had stopped breathing while watching the child. "We have to go back as soon as possible," he replied in all sternness. The tea had become cold, but he still gulped it all down his throat and then got up to go inside. 

A smile came on Ilyana's lips. She got up from her chaise and walked to the railing of the stone ceiling. She leaned over it and sighed. "Just a few more days, Inyanga," she whispered. "And the child will be mine." She saw Inyanga's gaze shot up to her as if she had listened to her. But Ilyana didn't flinch. She stared right back, a smile worming on her lips. Inyanga didn't return the smile and walked inside the corridor that led to her room. 

Theodir got dressed even before Ilyana came into the room. He had to meet his brother and talk about it. When he was zipping his boots, Ilyana walked in the room and remarked, "Oh, you are ready early." 

He didn't answer and focused on zipping his leather boots. Once done, he got up and stormed out of the room. Ilyana shrugged. She didn't care about his mood.. All she cared about was how to take Ruvyn to Evindal.

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