Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 198: The Soul Swap

Chapter 198: The Soul Swap

"Mmmm," The young half-breed let out muffled sounds as she struggled against the binds, pinning Valerie with an accusing look.

Guilt trickled through the summer prince and Valerie couldn’t look her in the eyes knowing he was about to hurt an innocent Fae. He would feel bad about it, but only for a while, it was for the greater good anyway. The half-breed didn’t live a great life from the start, but her sacrifice would save another deserving.

Once Islinda’s soul resided in her body, he would be able to stop whatever devious plan his brother Aldric had in store for her. For him. For them. For Astaria. Whatever his dark brother intended to do would definitely harm Astaria, there was no doubt about it. In one word, Valerie believed he was stopping a great calamity.

He stared down at Anita, the half-breed Fae, with a now hardened expression. Her sacrifice might not be noted down in history, but he would forever be indebted to her and would make sure to reward her family. She had other half-breed siblings whom she usually stole to keep them fed - most of the male Fae’s who sire half-breeds do not care about their welfare. He would take up that responsibility from thenceforth.

Not that much would change anyway. Once Islinda was in Anita’s body, she would continue with the half-breeds so as not to alert anyone of the soul swap. It would be hard for Islinda to adjust to at first but humans were the most resilient creatures and able to adjust to any situation. They could come up with excuses for the changes in her behavior.

Not to mention her situation would be different from now on. Valerie intended to bring her to the palace and there, he would confess and fight for their love, and together, they would live happily ever after.

"I’m sorry," He said to Anita who glared at him with such intensity, he had no doubt she very much hated him right now.

She continued to scream, not that anyone could hear such hushed cries. Moreover, the witch had warded the place from any interference and even if Anita were to be murdered here, no one would detect her howls of pain. Also, Derek stood outside the door as additional security.

Anita was unable to scream anymore realizing that it was futile. Instead, tears of frustration ran down her cheeks knowing her efforts were useless. She had trusted Valerie and looked where that got her! Somewhere deep down she had believed their meeting was fated and he was the one to save her from this deep pit of poverty and suffering.

Instead, Valerie posed as her savior, only to deceive her! He was the crown prince who should protect her, instead, he captured her to use her for his nefarious purpose. But she couldn’t die yet! She still had her siblings to provide for and protect. And she was never going to forgive the crown prince for this!

"Do not struggle child, it makes the process much easier," Dorcas said in a coaxing tone as she kneeled beside Anita who lunged at her with all intent to harm the witch but she couldn’t make much movement because there was literally no space between the cuffs. The half-breed sprawled out, her hands and legs chained to the ground.

With her lips pulled back, Anita bared her teeth at the witch in warning not that Dorcas was affected at all. She did not even flinch, instead bringing a small bowl to her lips. The pungent smell of whatever concoction that was in the vessel made her grimace in disgust.

The half-breed turned her face the other way, refusing to gulp down the liquid she suspected would knock her out so they could commence with the ritual. No, she couldn’t give up so easily. So she feigned stubbornness, turning her face from side to side and making it harder for Dorcas to keep her face still.

"Seriously, I have no time to waste!" Dorcas lashed out, slapping the half-breed across the face and though Valerie winced inwardly at the action, he said nothing. This had to be done.

The witch then pinched her chin between her hand and brought the bowl to the girl’s mouth but the girl pressed her lips together and refused to gulp it down. Dorcas pushed it harder, the contents spilling down the sides of her mouth instead.

"Let’s see how much you can put up with this act then," Dorcas put down the bowl and then squeezed her nose so she wasn’t able to breathe.

While a Fae wasn’t human and could go on without air for far much longer, Anita still possessed human qualities and it wasn’t surprising she began to thrash around and gasp for air minutes later - she lasted far longer than a normal human yet less than a fully-fledged Fae.

Dorcas took advantage of that opportunity and poured down the contents in her throat and she guzzled the whole thing before knowing. Done with her work, Dorcass finally let her go and Anita began to cough ferociously. She turned her face to the side, intending to vomit the substance but all she ended up doing was retch and let out spittle.

Almost immediately, Dorcas was back again, and this time she was muttering incantation and collected a slimy substance from a bowl onto her palm and rubbed a mark on her forehead. She commenced the incantations again, but this time with vigor.

Not long after her eyelids began to droop and she felt sleep in her eyes. No, she can’t give in yet! Anita put up a last fight but the forces at work were far greater than her. Her eyes finally closed in sleep.

"Finally," Dorcass breathed in exhaustion. This would have been much easier if the prince had come with the human, nonetheless, she had a job to do.

"My prince," She went over to Valerie with a small blade and bowl, gesturing for him to stretch out his hand and that she needed his blood.

Valerie did not hesitate to stretch forth his palm, and Dorcas sliced through the flesh, turning his hand so his blood dripped into the bowl before his palm closed up.

Dorcas returned to the corner of the room which was hidden away from sight by the curtains, still making her incantations. When the witch returned once more, she drew an arcane shape on the floor with more incantations and the air in the room became thin yet strong with magic and Valerie was aware of the crackling sound around him like a brewing storm.

"Now, call her name thrice!" Dorcas ordered him over the sound of the wind that started to blow in the room, her hair whipping around her face.

A bit stunned, Valerie called her name tentatively, "Islinda?"

"Call her name with enough power, you fool!"

Perhaps it was the furious look from Dorcas, Valerie licked his lips nervously and then yelled, "Islinda!"

"For the second time!"

"Islinda!"

"Now for the last time!"

"Islinda!" Valerie called her name with all of his strength and desperation.

Then the wind dropped and she appeared.