The news of what had happened in Aniktaki flew to the Castle faster than Belladonna had expected.
It was late in the afternoon, the next day, and Eli was freaking out about how he couldn't get this information any faster.
"I think I should put some people in every village to report back to me as soon as things like this happen." He said as he paced around his study. "I feel like there are so many things that I do not know that I should know."
"Calm down. I believe it was nothing much just as the report said," Belladonna said from where she was leaning against the wall.
"It said their Badura's cave was broken into."
"And that they handled it and nothing was missing," Belladonna flashed him a small assuring smile.
Eli shrugged, going back to his table and reading the letter for the umpteenth time.
"I think it is the One with the White Aura---" he stopped abruptly his gaze slowly moving to her as he caught a glimpse of her move awkwardly.
That was something she didn't want him to see.
That was why she had stayed all the way here against the wall in the first place.
"What is wrong with your leg?" He covered the distance between them in three large stripes, inspecting her ankle before she could even stop him.
Belladonna had one of the Royal Physicians look at it already and she was already feeling much better, she had thought she would be able to move around without him observing that.
She was a fool.
Eli was very observant of her, she should have known that.
"A little sprain. I had a problem with the Library's ladder."
Eli hummed, his hand moving up her leg but she moved away, moving from the table that Eli had made her lean against to inspect her leg.
"We should have lunch. I'm hungry, are you?"
A smile snaked up his lips and he nodded, standing up from his kneeling state.
"We barely have time for each other these days. Hopefully, this will be over soon and we can go back to normal." He pulled her into an embrace without warning, her hands went around him too. "I have missed you so much."
"I've missed you too."
Eli pulled away, his brown eyes glimmering with excitement.
"The wedding organizers are coming this evening. We should talk to them together. They have most of the things put together already, but just in case, there are some things you would like---"
"How about tomorrow?"
The shift in his excitement was felt by the slight tightness in his arms around her.
"Why not today? From what I have gathered so far, you have no pressing matters to attend to?" He stared at her through scrutinizing eyes and suddenly the room felt smaller.
So much smaller in an uncomfortable way.
"I have work to do with the---" her voice trailed off when she realized how this sounded. "Don't worry about it. I'll give some instructions to Nadia and we can spend the evening together."
His frown dissolved into a smile, as her fingers ran along his scales and she pulled him closer for a quick kiss.
She would have to come up with an excuse between the meeting with the wedding organizers, if things start to go on for too long. She was supposed to get the last item tonight and nothing would stand in her way.
She had to get done with her mission as fast as possible, she had to save Eli, save everyone, kill Lady Kestra, and get away from the Bride thief for good.
All this before the Nahiri would catch her.
She was running out of time, and didn't even know how much time she truly had left.
The hand by her waist moved closer to her back and pressed her into him, her hands moved to his, leather beneath her skin.
Her heart filled with displeasure when she remembered Alaris' explanation as to why that was there. She could continue thinking about that and be angry, if Eli's lips weren't so demanding, if his hands weren't slowly traveling beneath her gown and gabbing her thighs, if her own body wasn't arching into his and being more demanding.
Something tumbled behind them, like scrolls rolling on top of one other.
Belladonna pulled away to look, but Eli's hand slipped through her hair-- over her scarf and a hiss slip through his lips, catching her unawares.
"When will you be done with the protective style?"
Belladonna knew he was more angry than he was trying to show.
Eli loved to play with her curls and keeping it under this scarf felt like an underserved deprivation.
His breath fanned her collarbone as he rested his head against her, his hands still moving beneath her gown, grabbing her thighs and pulling her closer to him, while he tried to find a place inbetween her legs.
The scarf.
"Soon," she answered, trying to pull away from him.
Belladonna couldn't understand why she had never tonight about this ever since she learnt of what Lady Kestra truly was.
Getting pregnant right now wasn't going to help anything.
"How soon?"
Eli's lips were hovering over hers again and her hands snaked up to his chest to maintain a space between them.
"I don't know. A month? Two?"
He frowned.
"Or maybe even less. Far less."
She felt the top of his nose nuzzle against her neck and her hands move up his collar instinctively to retain him there. At this point, it was difficult not to give in and circle her legs around him.
It felt hot.
Why did it suddenly feel so hot?
"How is the Pamela?"
"Docile lately." His words pressed to the pores of her skin. "Whatever is keeping her that way should just continue." He sucked in a shaky breath. "Will you let me paint you? I have a new idea for a pose."
He had an idea for more than a pose, alright, she could feel the evidence of that pressed against her aching need.
As much as she wanted that, she couldn't let him paint her.
She had sustained some injuries these days from her dreams, and although almost every part of her was littered with scars, she was afraid that Eli would still be able to point out the fresh ones and ask her what had happened.
Eli had a very keen pair of eyes and it would be hard to tell him lies.
Nature came to her rescue, or rather put more accurately, the curse.
Eli pulled away from her, bleeding.
He mumbled some inaudible words under his breath, and she realized from his action that this was a very common occurrence now.
It shouldn't be.
She was running out of time to find all those items. Thanatos Sunflower and the point of control.
"Do not look so worried, Donna. I am not dying." He discarded the ball of cotton wool he had just used to tend to his bleeding nose, hiding all his pain behind his slightly wavering smile, as he drop to his chair like a lump of wood. "Not yet, maybe."
Belladonna moved closer to him.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
He shook his head, mumbling, "I hate blood."
"You do not have to worry, Donna. Kestra left at dawn to find me the elixir. I wanted to refuse her permission but she had seen me bleeding and was very adamant that she would be fine on her own. I am worried about her and her current state. She thinks too much of others and too little of herself."
All Belladonna could hear was her thundering heart. Thoughts were flying so fast in her head, she felt dizzy.
Lady Kestra was gone?
Could that be because she had found out something?
"Where did she go to?"
"Aniktaki. Ah, yes. She also said she found some information about the one with the White Aura."
Belladonna could hardly breathe.
"She is a woman and she moves through dreams. We have been using the wrong way to find her all this while. Things are about to get really easy."
Tightness in her throat.
Sweat on her back.
Belladonna could hear Alaris' voice repeat in her head about the "presence" in the cave.
That had been Lady Kestra.
By Ignas, this wasn't good.