Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 105: Aldric Was Gone

Chapter 105: Aldric Was Gone

The instant Islinda hit the ground, pain raked through her body like rapid fire and stole the breath from her lungs. She had rolled to a stop on the undergrowth hence her arms absorbed much of the impact and now that she laid on her back, she found out that moving her left arm hurt badly. Islinda knew instantly that it was broken.

Tears stung her eyes and she let out a whimper. How could that bastard do this to her? Well, she asked for it by running her mouth. But when Islinda wished for Aldric to kill her, it was certainly not this way. Not that any form of death was painless.

She managed to sit up, cradling her injured arm to her chest. Anger and pain coursed through her. She bet Aldric must be satisfied with what he had done to her, only for the blood to drain from her face when she turned to him.

Islinda thought Aldric had hurled her out of the carriage because of her words when it was far from the truth. If anything, Aldric saved her life by pushing her away - even though he had not been gentle - because the scene she was staring at was a nightmare.

Aldric had sensed something wasn’t right with his sensitive hearing and though he had no clue what, it was all made clear to him when something moved beneath the carriage. Thick vines, black and thorny, sprouted out of the ground and wrapped around the body of the carriage in a circular cage, trapping everyone inside.

Islinda’s blood ran cold, that could have been her. She would have been one of the unfortunate souls trapped in that nightmarish scene and there was no way in hell she would have escaped unscathed. Worse, she could be dead.

The veins were squeezing the carriage and she could hear the sound of woods snapping and her heart lurched as she wondered if Aldric was okay. As much as she hated the dark prince, he saved her life. Also, he was not the only one she was worried about, what about the coachman? She had not paid much attention to the Fae who had driven them to the palace until now.

And the horses? The poor things couldn’t die like that. The horses in question neighed loudly and lurched upwards on its grooves but the vines squeezed harder and strangled them. By the gods, she couldn’t watch this, Islinda shut her eyes. However, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity and had her eyes open while praying for a miracle.

When it looked like all hope was lost and the vines were going to squeeze them to death, a wave of darkness blasted out of Aldric. Islinda crouched down with a wince expecting the magic to hurt her but it was only a caress on her skin that made her shiver. The vines retreated just enough for the horses and coachman to escape, detached from the now unrecognizable carriage.

But the dark prince wasn’t so lucky.

"You know what to do Issac!" Aldric screamed at the coachman who was atop a powerful black stallion, tossing a medallion to him.

"Yes, master!"

Islinda watched the Fae named Issac catch the medallion in the air. Almost immediately, several vines shot towards the Fae and the horses but they vanished before it could get within a hairbreadth.

"No way...." Islinda’s eyes widened to the size of the moon. This was how Aldric travels through the portals, perhaps if she would be able to get her hands on that...

Aldric’s grunts drew her attention and she realized the dark prince was fighting the vines all by himself. Aldric had saved her by pushing her to safety and now he battled alone. It seems no matter how much Aldric slashed and cut down the vines with his magic, they always seem to regenerate. And they came back stronger.

Islinda squinted her eyes against the darkness, Aldric was a blur and she couldn’t keep up with all of his movements. Magic was thick in the air and Islinda bet she could taste it with her tongue. The ground shook from the intensity of the fight while the grasses close to the site withered and died leaving nothing but scorched land, evidence of the battle.

She began to fear for Aldric when the battle raged for what felt like hours and it wasn’t even close to stopping. Islinda wished she could help him but she was practically useless. If anything, she would only end up being a liability to him. So she stayed at the spot as much as it hurt her pride, choosing to pray for him instead. Who could have imagined she would end up praying for this monster? Fate was playing a funny game with her.

Islinda knew Aldric was beginning to tire when she could see his moves and it became uncoordinated. The Fae prince was made of flesh and blood after all, even though he fared better than the average human.

"No, come on, don’t give up now Aldric!" Islinda shouted, trying to motivate him. Not that it helped.

He groaned as a vine whip at his face, drawing blood while the other slapped at his abdomen. More vines cropped up, more fierce now as if they had somehow guessed their victim was weakening. One curled around his wrist, dragging his hand down so he wasn’t able to cast magic.

Fear raced through her and that prompted her to speak faster, thinking of a more creative way to ire him to action, "I thought you said you were powerful Fae but a mere test of nature and you’re failing woefully. I was right in choosing Valerie for a mate. He is a better Fae for me. You wouldn’t have made the cut even if you attempted to, not with how weak you are. Everyone fears you but I know the truth, Aldric, you’re nothing but a powerless tiger.

By the time she was done with her provocation, the vines had already trapped Aldric to the floor and buried him till she couldn’t sense a struggle inside.

Islinda swallowed numbly, was he gone?