Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 191: Rip Me Open

Chapter 191: Rip Me Open

Music Recommendation: Fairytale - Livingston

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"Nice of you to finally join me, Islinda," Aldric spoke as soon as she came into the library, nearly startling her with how quickly he was able to react to her entrance. The dark prince must have picked up her footsteps with his enhanced hearing - and probably her scent as well. By the gods, he was indeed obsessed with her.

He turned to her with his usual cocky expression, "For a moment there, I thought you were not going to make it anymore. I was nearly disappointed, not that I’m surprised, you are good at running anyway. "

Islinda scowled at him, annoyed that he was way more excited about their time together in the library than she was. Who knows what he has planned for her this time? She dreaded it.

However, the smirk died on his lips when his gaze noticed Rosalind coming into the library and standing beside Islinda before bowing her head to him.

His lips pressed into a thin line and he asked with his brows narrowed in suspicion as he queried, "What is she doing here?"

"What do you think? I called her here."

"Exactly, why is that?"

Islinda was about to give a witty reply when she held back the response and shook her head, "Am I not permitted to call for her? You have Faeries who stand and wait upon you while you eat? Forgive me, but I did not realize I was not expected to do the same. "

Aldric did not answer immediately, rather he walked towards Islinda with such an intimidating aura that Rosalind shuddered and took a step away from Islinda, indecisive about what to do at this point.

He stopped right in front of her and the gods knew it had taken Islinda everything not to give in to the fear and move away from him. She sucked in a sharp breath when Aldric suddenly lowered his head so he was staring into her eyes and she leaned back to create more space between them.

"No, you are permitted to call whoever you want, you’re my esteemed guest after all. However...." His voice deepened at this point and goosebumps erupted across her arms as he said, "I’m merely curious to know if you’re scared of being in my presence alone or are you up to something else that I have no idea about?"

The certainty in his words made Islinda’s heart skip a beat and she saw her world collapsing thinking that Aldric knew of her plans to escape. However, it hit her that Aldric would not be this calm if he knew what she planned. Fuck! He almost tricked her into spilling the truth.

She let out a ragged breath, that was close.

Islinda returned the question to him, "What do you think?"

A subtle smile crossed Aldric’s features and he pointed at Islinda with a knowing look. Someone has gotten smarter since her stay here, he was somehow proud of her.

Aldric straightened up, looking over Islinda’s shoulder to speak to Rosalind and intentionally drawing so close to her that their chests were touching. Islinda could not move back because that would mean bumping into Rosalind and it was no surprise to her if Aldric knew that would happen.

The Fae was bent on testing her control. Hence, she had to stand still like a pole until he was done speaking, which didn’t take long, thankfully.

"Stay out of the way," Was all Aldric said to her but Rosalind got the message and nodded her head in response.

Then he was done and Islinda was able to breathe. She stared at Rosalind who had her eyes lowered to the ground with a softened expression. For Rosalind’s sake, she was mad at Aldric. How could he treat her this way? They were lovers for crying out loud. Was he really that heartless? Does he literally have a heart made of stone? Islinda refused to believe he had no trace of kindness.

As much as her plan was important, she suddenly wished Rosalind could give up on this asshole. She deserves someone better, say Issac - no, the Fae was already taken and Islinda had no doubt Maxi would murder Rosalind in her sleep if she showed any interest in her shy Fae. Any Fae as kind and respectful as Issac would do - if she could find one before escaping.

"Come Islinda," Aldric interrupted her train of thought and she lifted her head to see that the dark prince stretched his hand out towards her, expecting her to take it.

She shot him a wary look.

Aldric drawled, "I don’t bite, Islinda."

Islinda gave him a long look before giving in with a sigh. Aldric smiled at the resignation in her eyes, closing his gloved hand around hers and led her to the center of the room while Rosalind followed them at a slow pace. She might as well have been a ghost because she walked quietly and gave them enough space.

They stopped and Aldric gave her a moment to take in the vast yet familiar library.

"So tell me Islinda," He finally said, placing his hand on Islinda’s shoulder from behind and could feel her tense up. He pretended not to have noticed it and continued, "What book do you need access to?"

Islinda moved away from him, meeting his gaze, and answered boldly, "I want a book about Astaria, particularly the royal family."

Aldric shifted from one foot to the other with a tight expression, "You indeed plan to rip me open, not that I didn’t see it coming."

There was nothing but confusion on Islinda’s face at his strange words. Was there something about him that she wasn’t meant to know? Islinda was tempted to ask what he meant by that, but she closed her mouth in the end. She was about to get the answers she needed in the book anyway, so why the rush?

He continued, "Well, that makes everything interesting. I would love to see your next move after you know the truth," Aldric’s eyes shone with a thrilled glint that made her uncomfortable.

Islinda was tempted to tell Aldric and his twisted way of thinking that this wasn’t some sort of competition. She only needed the knowledge to be safe. Moreover, Issac said, information was power. If Aldric expected her to remain in Astaria till she died, then she couldn’t be a novice and be able to protect herself.

Just as Issac did the other day, Aldric did not need to utter a word and a book flew towards him which he caught without breaking a sweat. The book in question looked old with a thick cover and was so huge that when Aldric handed it over to her, she nearly crumbled under its weight even though it didn’t possess a huge volume.

"What the hell?" Islinda was astounded before she lifted it properly, breathing hard from the effort.

She stared at the title of the book and shot Aldric a vexed look, "I still can’t read it."

"You can’t because I haven’t permitted you yet, Islinda. Now, close your eyes."

"Hell, no." Islinda bristled, stepping back.

How could she close her eyes and let the tricky Fae do gods know what to her? She might as well trust Theodore at this point, than him.

"Don’t you want the access again?" He dared her to say otherwise with a raised brow. He knew her like the back of his hand and her curiosity knew no bounds.

"What do you plan to do to me?" Islinda asked him warily.

"What do you want me to do to you?" He said with a teasing grin that left her speechless.

"Fine."

It became clear to Islinda that she couldn’t win in an argument with Aldric and reluctantly closed her eyes. Thankfully, Aldric took the heavy book from her and she was able to clench and unclench her hands out of nerves, and not relief.

For over a minute, Aldric did nothing and the nerves got the best of her with every passing second. So when he placed his hand on her, Islinda screamed and jumped out of her skin.

"Shhh, relax," Aldric told her with a soothing voice that calmed her in a matter of seconds.

Islinda stood still and experienced the familiar tingle of magic wash over her and she opened her eyes with slight expectation. To be honest, Islinda had no idea what to expect, perhaps enhanced sight like the Fae, but nothing of that nature happened. She felt normal, except something indeed changed. She could read every single book in the library and a smile crossed her expression.

Finally, this was it!

"Here," Aldric handed the thick covered book to her and she was able to decipher the title.

"The Royal Genealogy," She said out loud, looking at him with an inexplicable look.

"You should start with that one." Aldric interpreted the look in his way, assuming she was dissatisfied with the single book he gave her.

"Fine," Islinda shrugged and headed to the alcove with the book, noticing that Aldric followed after her.

She placed the genealogy book on the table and took a seat, watching Aldric doing the same. Although he was seated away from her, Islinda could not relax. It did not feel like enough privacy.

The dark prince said he was going to be her study partner, Islinda could not tell if he was there to fulfill that role or rather indirectly spying on her. On the bright side, she had someone to answer her questions after she was done.

And not long after, Islinda’s expression changed.

Something was not right with this genealogy.