Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 160: A Compatible Body

Chapter 160: A Compatible Body

Valerie barely stepped out of the portal when a hand reached for him and he swiped it away faster than lightning, slipping out of the attacker’s striking range with ease and grace as he recognized Derek. Not that he hasn’t known it was him from the start.

"Just as I thought you would, you finally came here. What then took you so long to arrive, my prince?" Derek said politely, even though Valerie could sense him struggling to suppress his anger.

"I knew you would look for me, so I thought to return to a place you would likely find me," Valerie answered, looking around the babbling brook.

The small, shallow stream of water flowing gently over the rocks and pebbles, creating a peaceful and soothing sound as it traverses the landscape was the reason he had chosen this place as one of his hideouts. Not many Fae visited the charming natural feature because he owned it.

Suddenly, Derek began to sniff the air as he caught a strange scent. However, the scent was stronger around the prince so he came closer to Valerie and began to sniff his clothes like a dog only for him to jerk back with shock at his discovery.

His eyes shone with anger mixed with accusation, "Incense?! Herb?! Strange magic?! You visited a witch, my prince?!"

"If you could smell that on me, that means I have to take a bath then. Good thing I made a stop here, don’t you think so?" Valerie said, ignoring the vital question Derek had asked as if it wasn’t worth his attention.

Instead, he went to his horse tied to a tree whom Derek had thankfully brought along, taking out the spare clothes he had put in the saddle bag just as his second in command approached him again.

"Your Highness, this is not an issue that you can just bypass -"

Derek did not get to finish the rest of his words because Valerie grabbed him by the throat so fast he couldn’t retaliate.

"Y-your Highness," His eyes widened at the prince’s assault, this was the first time he treated him like this.

Derek placed his hands on top of his as if to loosen the grip a bit, all to no avail. While he was a strong guard, Valerie was the strongest summer court Fae after his grandfather. He was more powerful than him.

"How long have you been with me, Derek?" Valerie asked, his face as dark as a storm while his teeth were gritted in anger. He was so sick and tired of everyone telling him what he could and could not do. He was the crown prince of Astaria for fucking sake! What was the use of his power if he couldn’t use it to save the woman that he loves?

"For as long as I can remember, my prince?" Derek answered, fighting for breath.

"Tell me then, who owns your loyalty?" Valerie asked threateningly, tightening his grip around his neck.

Filled with fear at the prince’s sudden outburst, Derek answered carefully, knowing the answer would determine whether he lived or died.

"Y-you!" He coughed out, already turning blue from the lack of air.

A cold smile tilted Valerie’s lips as he said, "Good. Let’s keep it that way then, shall we?"

Without another word, he tossed Derek away as if he weighed nothing less than a rag doll and the Fae fell on the ground wheezing. Derek raised his head while catching his breath, watching as the prince discarded his clothes like nothing happened till he was stark naked and carefully walked into the small stony stream where he washed off the remnant of the witch’s magic.

Derek couldn’t stop shaking, not from anger, but from the trauma. His prince would never behave this way, it had to be that human girl. What had she done to Prince Valerie? She must have bewitched him.

This was one of the findings Derek would have loved to report to the queen, but Prince Valerie had already passed the message across and it was apparent he would go through any length to keep the girl safe. He can’t play double spy anymore else it was his death.

Moments later, Valerie put on his dry clothes while he burnt the used ones with his magic and the next mounted his horse to leave when he was done.

Before he departed, he told Derek, "I still value our friendship, don’t make me lose it."

And with those words, he galloped ahead.

As usual, Derek followed him notwithstanding the grievance in his heart. He was called to serve the prince and it didn’t matter whether it was under duress, it was a role he had to take on.

One thing was sure, unlike earlier when there was just uncomfortable tension in the air, now the dynamic between the prince and Derek had shifted and the trust between them was broken. Derek couldn’t blame the prince, not when he betrayed him first by spying on him for his mother. However, the prince disappointed him as well and Valerie knew that.

Valerie was not wearing a cloak this time to hide his identity having achieved his purpose of leaving the palace in the first place. So when he arrived at the marketplace, he expected that the people would recognize and fawn all over him, acting all touchy-feely-cuddly. But the reverse was the case and he saw why.

At a corner of the market, a mob was gathered and the scene was rumbustious. Valerie knew instinctively that whatever the Faeries were cheering on had to be violent considering they lived for the thrill.

Left with no choice, Valerie got off the horse and walked over to the scene to find out what was going on. The Faeries were resistant at first in making a way for him, carried away with the fun until they recognized him as the crown prince, and a path was instantly created for Valerie as if he just parted a sea. Except it was a sea of Faeries.

The place fell silent and Valerie walked over to the victim who was lying on the ground with her hands raised defensively over her head. He squatted down upon getting to her, discovering that it was a half-breed.

It was not uncommon for half-breeds to be discriminated against in Astaria and judging from the angry faces of the crowd, she must have stolen something. That was the most common crime committed by abandoned half breeds Fae children looking for scraps to survive.

Most half-breeds were born as low Fae and didn’t possess enough powers to earn them high status in society. With such watered-down bloodlines, the high Fae looked down on them. Only a few half-breeds managed to break the record and rise above their equals. While it was unfair, the Fae society was all about survival of the fittest and there wasn’t much he could do to change that.

The half-breed hesitantly lowered her hands away from her face giving him a look of distrust, but that didn’t stop Valerie from smiling at her.

"Come on, let me help you." Valerie kindly said to her, extending his hand for her to take.

It took the half-breed minutes but she reluctantly placed her hand on his and as soon as they made contact, the ring on his finger lit up.

Valerie’s eyes widened, the half-breed was the compatible body.

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What is your opinion on half breeds discrimination in Astaria and possibly solutions? (just don’t order castration of the dicks who brought them into this world 🙅🙈)