Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 190: Ritual Tonight

Chapter 190: Ritual Tonight

"What is taking him too long?" Derek grumbled for the nth time while looking out through the carriage window.

After securing the requirement for the soul transfusion, Valerie sent out a message to Dorcas and informed her of his progress, so the witch agreed to send Rat Ear to receive it.

"Calm down, Derek," Valerie said, appearing to be calm, but inwardly, he was a mess.

It was nothing short of a miracle when Issac turned up with Islinda’s hair. He felt hope rise inside of him and soon he would be united with Islinda, even if she would be in another body. Valerie didn’t mind, what mattered was her beautiful soul.

At first, he had been suspicious of Issac since he worked quite fast and had assumed it would take him a few more days to make a decision. It seems he wasn’t loyal to Aldric after all. Who in their right mind would be loyal to that demon anyway?

He couldn’t cross off the idea that Issac might have given him fake hair to save his ass, but the instant Valerie unwrapped the cloth used to cover it, he knew at once. He picked up her marvelous scent and he sniffed it greedily as if it was a drug that left him high. He just missed her so much.

Not to mention that he was once intimate with Islinda to the point he knew the number of moles on her body and where to identify them. The hair belonged to her. Issac finally redeemed himself in his sight.

The anticipation of meeting Islinda soon gave way to nervousness. But he could not show it in front of Derek knowing his second in command needed just one reason to encourage him out of it. Derek was not in support, he merely had no choice but to follow his instruction. So he put on a brave front. This was all for Islinda and their future together.

"He has arrived," Derek finally announced and Valerie let out the breath that he had been holding in all that while. It was fine. Everything would go well. He told himself.

Aside from Dorcas, Rat Ear had no idea about his identity and he told the witch to keep it that way. The fewer Faeries that knew he stepped foot into this accursed part of Astaria, the better for him. He can’t be traced down if things go wrong.

So he put on the cloak that hid his face except from Derek who opened the carriage for the unrefined Fae to step in.

"Hello, friend!" Rat Ear plopped down beside the prince and excitedly patted him on the shoulder and was about to pull him into a hug when Derek hissed and gave him a cautious look. He wasn’t supposed to behave that way towards the prince. He didn’t even deserve to sit on the same couch as Valerie and breathe the same as him when they were worlds apart.

"Oh right," Rat Ear let out a wry smile, saluting Derek mockingly, "Aye, I get the message, we are not in the same league. You pompous high Fae lords are all the same. And even for his servant, you feel you’re above me and can’t even chill for a second."

"You -!" Derek went red in the face and rose from his side of the carriage, intent on teaching the disrespectful brat a lesson.

"That is enough, Derek," Valerie ordered and he came to a halt.

The struggle in Derek’s eyes was obvious and though he backed down, the threatening look on his face promised Rat Ear he wouldn’t be so lucky the next time they met. That is if there would be a next time.

Rat Ear in question stuck out his tongue and made ugly faces at Derek which was pretty much childish yet got on the Fae’s nerves. If only Valerie was not here, he would have dealt with him.

"That is enough," Valerie ordered once more and this time, his words were directed at Rat Ear.

"Of course, my lord." The rugged Fae composed himself, his demeanor changing in a split second it took Derek by surprise. It seems there was more to the Fae than he thought.

He continued, "My Mistress sent me to pick up the item for the ritual."

Valerie did not answer, rather he reached beside him and picked the linen cloth, unwrapping it to show Rat Ear the lock of hair.

Rat Ear nodded his head, confirming that this was indeed what Dorcas the witch had sent him to collect. He had barely received the item when Valerie grabbed his wrist and he lifted his head in surprise, meeting his gaze.

Although Valerie’s face was hidden away in the hood, he looked straight at Rat Ear and his pure liquid eyes glowed with warning, "I know your type of Fae, so don’t even think of swapping the hair and looking for a way to exploit more coins from me, it’s not going to work. If a single mishap happens during the soul transfusion and I find out that it’s your doing, trust me, you would regret ever being born. I would kill each one of your family members in a slow, barbaric manner such that they curse the day they had you as a family member. Then I would hunt you slowly and make your death an excruciating one. So don’t fool with me. "

When Valerie finally let go of him, there were beads of sweat on his forehead and his face was drained of blood. He looked traumatized and his hands shook so badly that even Derek gave him a sympathetic look. Valerie was not usually this vicious and it bothered the Fae that it was happening because of a human.

It made him very uncomfortable. Valerie was going to great lengths to get what he wanted and worried he would do much worse if things didn’t go his way. The prince was supposed to be focused on the crown, his throne, not this petty fight over a human with Aldric. The dark prince was tricky and Prince Valerie was far too innocent and not cut out for his devious moves. The prince can’t go as low as him.

"You have nothing to worry about," Rat Ear told him, after recovering from the shock, "Even as vile as I am, I have my code of conduct. I will deliver your item as it is." He said, sounding offended that Valerie looked down on him.

He went ahead to inform him, "The witch said the full moon is tonight, hence the ritual would commence at midnight and you should arrive with a compatible body. In the meantime, she will work on this." Rat Ear said, gesturing by lifting the wrapped cloth.

"We would be there and on time," Valerie promised him.

"Good." He looked around with a deep breath, "I guess this is it then."

Derek rose and opened the carriage door for him and he stepped down.

"See you then, high lord." Rat Ear said and bowed slightly to him, although the move was not graceful, before he took his leave.

It wasn’t until he was out of sight, that Derek finally questioned Prince Valerie, "Are you sure he’s trustable?"

"He has no choice. The boy has experiences with high lords, enough to know they are pompous and ruthless. He wouldn’t risk his family." Valerie answered confidently.

"Fine, if you say so. It’s all on you anyway," Derek grumbled under his breath, although Valerie heard it. Why wouldn’t he, when they had an excellent hearing? But Valerie did not say anything, the Fae was free to voice his displeasure. He practically threatened him to join him anyway.

"We should ride back to the palace and return when the time is due," Derek said, reaching for the door. He was the one who had driven Valerie here since they couldn’t let more Fae in on this.

It was a huge deal for Valerie to consult a witch outside the palace. It was the same as Valerie challenging his father’s authority. According to the law of Astaria, witches worked for King Oberon and indirectly belonged to the royal family. Valerie could have sought permission from his father and it would be granted to him to summon one.

However, soul transfusion was outlawed and King Oberon would have rejected such a request from him. Not to mention, he was doing it for a human. No, the king would deal him great punishment. Hence, the reason, as frustrating as it was, Derek had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

Valerie told him, "We are not returning to the palace."

"What?" Derek turned to him with a frown.

"We should limit our movement else it raises suspicion. I will be staying away from the palace tonight and residing in my private residence." Valerie said, even though that was not the entire reason why.

He wanted to be the first person Islinda saw once she woke up in a new body. Valerie didn’t want any disturbance and would want to spend enough time with her.

"And the compatible body? Where is she?" Derek inquired, his brows arched.

"You don’t have to worry about it, Derek. I have everything under control."