Warning

Gaelin chuckled, but it quickly faded, and the room soon turned dead silent.

" You?" Gaelin sounded baffled but didn't dare to open her eyes. The sight of Gaelin was sickening enough she didn't need to add to already harrowing nightmares.

" The lady said no! Or you're deaf?" a familiar voice echoed in the room, and Iris opened her eyes, hoping that her ears weren't deceiving her and now, on top of everything else, she heard things.

Iris blinked at the man in the room. It was an all too familiar sight. The Guardian of the Hollow wasn't easily mistaken for someone else.

" Ian?" Iris asked in utter shock at the sight of him.

" You cannot enter this realm!" Gaelin barked, annoyed, and let go of Iris, turning to look at him.

Ian chuckled. She had missed his laughter ", And yet here I am!" Ian quipped and turned his attention to Iris.

" My Queen is good to see that you've been keeping in good company." Ian quipped and smirked at Gaelin.

" Do you mind!" Ian said and pointed at Gaelin's cock hanging out in full view.

" That", Ian's eyes stayed on Gaelin's cock ", might be enough to satisfy a young, innocent maid " Ian paused and shifted his eyes onto Iris, smiling at her " You will only tickle her with it. I'm surprised she hasn't laughed at it yet!" Ian mocked and reached his hand for Iris to take as Iris scrambled off the bed and joined him, tightly, clutching on his ragged cloak.

" I would have been happy to let her be, but as it turns out, you're not worthy of her love or anything that she has to offer, for that matter." Ian pulled Iris at his side, wrapping his arm around her waist.

" She should be treasured. She is not something for you to use and throw away." Ian scowled at Gaelin, pushing the sword closer to his neck.

" Tell her father to stop pursuing Iris Unless he wants war with the Hollow," Ian warned and looked at Iris. He knew his threat was empty but hoped it would stick long enough to get her somewhere safe.

" Her name is not Iris. Her name is Khiah!" Gaelin smugly corrected Ian, buttoning his trousers.

Ian chuckled and looked at Iris again, who shook her head in disagreement and disbelief" She disagrees with you." Ian pushed Iris through the portal and glanced at Gaelin one more time.

" Let her go!" Ian said as he stepped through the portal and back into the Hollow. Ian waved his hand, and the portal closed behind him.

" Nobos! Seven Seas!" Ian ordered, and Nobos nodded.

" My love!" Iris crashed into him, and both fell on the floor " You came!" she mumbled with her buried in his rotten chest.

He was shocked. He was disgusting. Why didn't his rotting body repulse her.

Instead, she hugged him tightly and rubbed her face on him.

" I'm so happy to see you!" Iris beamed with her face still buried in his chest.

" Ian! It's ready! She can't stay here!" Nobos interrupted the long-awaited reunion, and Iris raised her head, looking at him wide-eyed, worried.

" You can't stay here!" Ian brooked and pushed himself off the floor with her in tow, grabbing her shoulders and looking into her eyes. He knew he was disgusting, and his emotionless eyes would convey what he had wanted to, but that was all he could do.

" We will send you back to Seven Seas!" Ian said briefly, glancing at the portal.

" Perhaps just a few more moments!" Iris bargained and gave him a pleading look.

" No!" Nobos barked from behind him " The more time she spends in here. Bad things happen to her and the Hollow. She needs to go Ian and fast. You already know the consequences." Nobos ranted a little out of breath.

Ian looked over his shoulder and glared at Nobos " I will explain everything another time, but now you need to go!" Ian said and buried her in his chest.

He didn't want to let go. If he could, he would've kept her there with him. But he knew that was impossible, she would follow in the footsteps of his minions, and he didn't drag her out of Zandar to sentence her to death.

Ian reluctantly pushed her away and looked her in the eyes " I Love you, and forgive me!" he kissed her soft forehead with his rotten lips. He was disgusted with himself, but she just smiled at him with a bright expression. It made him relieved of those beautiful moments they had shared.

" I love you!" Iris tiptoed and kissed his lips.

Ian nodded when she was back on the flat of her feet and grabbed her hand " It's time to go! Nobos will find you as soon as it is safe for us to speak!" Ian tugged on her hand, leading her to the portal.

Ian took both hands in his, and he felt something sharp poke at his hand. He raised his head to look at her and pulled the stone out of her hand " Liantur stone!" Nobos exclaimed and stepped forward, and Iris looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"Yes! It's from Zandar!" Iris said and took the stone back from Ian, clutching it as tightly as possible.

" It can only be found in the birthplace of Guardians!" Nobos said and eyed the stone with greedy eyes.

" We can have small talk some other time Nobos. You need to go!" Ian kissed her forehead and pushed towards the portal.

" Will I ever see you again?" Iris asked over her shoulder.

" Yes! Now go!" Ian smiled and lovingly caressed her cheek one last time, basking in the warmth of her soft silky skin.

Iris nodded and smiled and stepped through the portal, crashing on the ground in the Seven Seas realm. The skies were still dark, and it was eerily quiet, but at least she knew what she was going up against. Monsters were much easier to deal with than people.