Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 199: Accuse Aldric Of Murder

Chapter 199: Accuse Aldric Of Murder

What just happened?

Islinda was left confused as her gaze roamed the unfamiliar room. One moment she was in bed relishing a certain book and the next she had been called, no, pulled to this place.

And where the hell was she? What was this place?

The room would have been completely dark if not for the candles lit at the corners. Although her sight was limited, she could make out strange objects and drawings on the walls. Some of them were fear-inspiring, while the rest were intriguing. Her nose twitched at the intoxicating smell of spices in the air that teased her nostrils and tempted her to sneeze.

Wasn’t this a dream? Why did it feel so real?

Islinda suddenly felt a heated gaze on her back and turned. And there she saw him, Valerie.

"By the gods....." The shock expressed from her lips, her eyes wide with disbelief, "How is this possible?" She muttered more to himself. Perhaps, she was hallucinating.

"Islinda...." Valerie called her name.

Or not.

Great joy burst from her chest. He could see her. This was no dream. Valerie was really here. Islinda did not wait any longer and ran into his arms. She had many questions but this was Astaria and many things were possible, she reserved the questions for later.

However, just when they were about to hug, Islinda realized that she couldn’t because she went through him like air.

"What in the Fae!" Islinda took a step back in shock, staring down at her hands that she just realized were transparent. No, only her hands but her entire body.

As if to ensure that she wasn’t hallucinating, Islinda reached for Valerie once more, her hand going through his solid form. The realization bounced around her head, first in disbelief, then in shock, and finally, in fear.

"No, no, no!" Her eyes were wide with terror, "What’s going on? Am I dead?" She panicked, looking into Valerie’s eyes for answers.

"Shhh, you’re not dead," Valerie assured, reaching to clasp her face and calm her down, forgetting that she wasn’t exactly tangible and his hands came up with nothing.

"H–how? I–I can’t touch you? What’s happening, Valerie? I’m scared." She stuttered, hugging herself protectively and rubbing down her arms. It seems being a ghost or whatever she was right now, didn’t get rid of goosebumps.

"Calm down, Islinda, you’re not dead yet. I only summoned your soul."

"You did what?!" Islinda shouted, releasing her arms.

"I can explain...." He trailed off, looking distracted for over a minute and Islinda looked around to check if there was anyone else in the room with them. But she couldn’t see anyone except....

"Fuck...." Islinda swallowed, taking a step back cautiously, "What have you done, Valerie?" She finally spotted the unconscious Fae on the floor. Although there was something different about this Fae like the slightly pointed ears and that human feel yet the female was undoubtedly a Fae.

It hit her, a half-breed.

What was a half-breed doing here?

What has Valerie done to her?

There were so many questions going through her head.

Valerie attempted to coax her, "Islinda, you have to listen to me. I –"

"What have you done, you bastard!" She yelled this time, anger coursing through her veins. Islinda was not stupid and could tell that Valerie might have gone the extra mile to summon her tonight. She only had a rough idea and the thought scared her.

Suddenly, there was a shift in the air and Islinda saw a strange woman appear out of thin air.

Dorcas ignored the confused Islinda and said right to Valerie with a bit of anger, "I told you that there is no time for this and this should be done while the moon is at its strongest. We can’t force her into the body, she has to go of her free will. Using force might escalate the side effects." She emphasized her last words with a note of warning.

Islinda who had been listening to the conversations shuddered and her tone wavered as she asked, "What is she talking about, Valerie?"

"I finally found a way to rescue you from Aldric, Islinda."

"And?" Islinda attempted to be calm, but a leap in her heart rate betrayed her. The witch pretty much summarized what Valerie was up to, but she refused to believe it. She needed to hear it from his own mouth.

And Islinda got all the confirmation needed when Valerie shot her an apologetic look, "I’m sorry you might not agree with my methods but I had no choice."

Islinda felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. She couldn’t tell if she was furious or disappointed, perhaps, a bit of both because Valerie was saving her at another’s expense. Islinda did not know the method yet, but someone was bound to get hurt. It was for sure.

He explained to her, "We are performing a soul swap, Islinda. I find a compatible body for you to live in from now on and you would be free from Aldric’s clutches. The bond of servitude would not affect you anymore."

"And what about the girl?" Islinda tilted her head in the direction of the half-breed, "What would happen to her?"

Valerie looked away, licking his loser lips. He knew she was not going to love the answer.

"Answer me, Valerie!" She demanded.

"She would occupy your body after the ritual. However, I can’t let her live." He threw his hands up, " I cannot let her live else there would be no point in this ritual. The instant she opens her mouth to Aldric, it’s over. The female must die. That is the only way we can ensure your survival. No one would suspect a thing and assume Aldric drove the poor human to her death. He’s already killed many, what’s one more death on him? We have to take advantage of this chance now, Islinda, or don’t you want to be together with me, love?"

Islinda felt her blood run cold. How didn’t she see this coming? Aldric warned her that all Fae were monsters one way or the other. How hadn’t she known Valerie was this selfish? This wasn’t love. Not at all.

"No," Islinda shook her head vigorously, "I cannot do that. I can’t just steal someone else’s life and identity. I could never live with such guilt. Moreover, accusing Aldric falsely of murder? That doesn’t sit right with me. Just send me back to my body, Valerie, I cannot go through with this."

She turned only for the witch to step forward, startling her.

"I’m afraid that I cannot do that, human." She said ominously.