Chapter 7: Choices

He hadn't seen Ileus for a few months, ever since his ascension to the throne of Ixoviya. Hell, he hadn't even seen his own brother Daryn in a long time. His life had become so complicated.

"We need you in Galahar," Ileus answered in a weary tone. But there was an underlying anxiety in his voice.

"Galahar? The demon kingdom?" Caleb asked, looking at his cousin with narrowed eyes. There had been attacks on Elize in the past by that man who gave demon vibes to him. He wondered if there was a connection or was he overthinking.

"Yes, that's the one," Ileus replied, sipping his whiskey.

Going away from Elize and leaving her unprotected? The connection was too strong. "I am not ready to go anywhere," he replied sternly. No way he would leave her alone. In the past two attacks, Elize had managed to escape and if this continued to happen, the demon might succeed. Caleb shuddered at the thought. He had kept a constant vigil on the alleys and places where she visited and she very much kept to herself. The amount of damage done to their relationship because of the past event has been staggering and he just didn't want to take more chances. "I can't leave Elize in this state. There's someone after her. I have searched and searched but I haven't found who is it and have no idea as to who is trying to attack her." He turned towards her apartment to see what she was doing. She was changing her clothes—the same old weathered boots. As the queen of Ixoviya she had access to all the gold in the world. So much money that she wouldn't know how to spend, but the stubborn girl—she didn't care about the money at all!

"What if I take care of her protection?"

Caleb whipped his head at him. "And how will you do that? The idea that Ileus would be able to protect her was surprising—if he did that, then even he would like to go and find the connection. But he wouldn't go unless he was assured about it. He just wouldn't lose Elize.

Ileus could understand Caleb's concern and pain. When he had lost his mate, Anastasia, after the war with Etaya, he had become like a shell. His soul was shredded and he didn't know what to do. It was just his mate bond that kept him going—the bond that had become silent but was there. He wanted to find her even if it cost him his life. So yes, seeing Caleb like this was something he understood very well. Staying close to his mate was what Caleb could do in this situation—if she didn't allow him to come close to her.

"Stop analyzing me, Ileus!" Caleb snapped and drank his whiskey.

"I am just trying to relate your situation Caleb, and I feel sorry about the chaos you are in," said Ileus, tilting his head and his canteen.

Caleb took the skin from him and gulped down the warm liquid. "You can't relate to my situation." The words stabbed at his heart.

Ileus nodded. Perhaps he couldn't. Caleb's problem had become kind of a talk in their family. Caleb had been one of the most patient people, very level-headed and practical. His first wife, Pia, had tried to take advantage of his position, his money and his influence in the society. She had even manipulated him into thinking that she was having his baby. Unfortunately, the woman wasn't even pregnant. When he confronted her, she threw in a lot of tantrums. Caleb had forgiven her but then again, she went after his younger brother and his wife, Dawn. Caleb just blew off. After that he had left her and then taken off to fade in the oblivion. But as fate would have it, he came all the way to Yorkshire and found his mate—Elize. He saw her for the first time in a pub, hanging out with her friends, and there had been no looking back after that. The whole family was too happy for him, but the happiness was short lived—Elize was facing a terminal illness.

Choices. Choices. Choices.

"Well, then let me get to the point, Caleb," said Ileus, placing the canteen on his lap. "We need you urgently in Galahar. There's a situation that has come up and only you can help us out of it. As for Elize, I can help protect her. We can send her to the Fulshire forest along with Arawn, the centaur, who is the keeper of the enchanted forest. Elize won't be able to come out of it with Arawn on the watch. When the work at Galahar is over, you can retrieve her."

"You must be mad," Caleb grated. "Elize already hates me for what I have done to her and now if I kidnap her, she would simply reject me!" The word gave him immense pain in the heart. It was unbearable. A thin line of sweat appeared on his brows even thinking that she would reject him. He rubbed his hand on his chest as if trying ease unbearable pain.

Ileus closed his eyes as he rested his head against the wall. "Caleb, Iona is in danger. We have found her after eight years and we don't want to lose her." He turned his head over his shoulder. "She is— she is about to get married to her mate, Rolfe, who is the youngest prince of Galahar. The problem is that Rolfe has been expelled from his kingdom by his father, King Edyrm. But I have a plan in my mind that can put him in the place he truly belongs. And if that works, Iona would be the next queen of Galahar, which is her rightful place. Moreover, with Rolfe as the king, the kingdoms of Vilinski and Galahar will come close. The bloodshed would stop. Trades would increase. It will benefit you too in some ways." He turned his head to see Caleb. "Please just think of it. You are the most powerful sorcerer in the world who hasn't gone to the dark side. And only you can emulate Edyrm's magic. We need your help…"

"And how would emulating Edrym's magic help you?"