Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 204: The Witch Returned

Chapter 204: The Witch Returned

"No, that is not what I want," Islinda quickly rebuffed his ridiculous claim, shaking her hands and head furiously, "Kissing you was the last thing on my mind!" She made it clear to him.

But Aldric unsurprisingly twisted her words, "So you did consider the thought after all, it just made the last on the list."

"The gods have mercy," Islinda groaned exasperatedly, falling back on the bed and covering her face with her palms. When she lowered her hands, her eyes steeled with determination and she sat up at once.

"I think it’s high time you left already, Prince Aldric so I can continue my sleep. Not to mention, you have done enough." Islinda said sarcastically, and with a dramatic flourish of her arm towards the door.

"True. You need your rest," Aldric agreed.

Islinda stilled, stunned by his response. She had been expecting him to put up a fight but he gave in so easily which sounded suspicious – and didn’t seem so fun anymore.

"Well, if you say so," She blinked, recovering from the surprise, "You should have a pleasant sleep too."

Islinda watched a bit befuddled as Aldric stood up to his feet and walked towards the door without any trick up his sleeve.

"Prince Aldric!" She suddenly called and he looked at her from over his shoulder.

Islinda bit her lips at first before giving him a sincere smile, "Thank you."

"I like it better when you call me by my name without the title, darling. Makes it much more satisfying for when I would break your rebellious spirit." He winked at her.

And yes, he had to ruin the moment. Islinda’s smile fell at once. It was a great feeling becoming friends with a psychopathic Fae, note the sarcasm. Islinda shook her head in pity, Aldric could never be redeemed.

"Good night Aldric."

"See you puny human," He responded with a playful ridicule in his tone before leaving through the door and closing it behind him.

Islinda let out a long breath when Aldric left. She looked around her room and it suddenly felt vacant. Aldric had such an aura that couldn’t be ignored even if she tried to and he seamlessly lightened up the room even if his idea of fun was dry, sarcastic jokes and mean pranks.

For over a minute, Islinda stood rooted to the ground as she stared at the bed. It was the same bed she had laid on when Valerie summoned her soul.

"No, it’s all over," Islinda breathed shakily, willing herself to be brave.

She was still shaken up a bit by the incident but she couldn’t panic again. She was a brave grown human who hunted animals - even the dangerous ones - for a living, a damn witch got nothing on her! Yes, this is it!

Islinda psyched herself up, stretching her muscles, turning her neck, and hopping on her feet as if preparing for a fight except the battle was to conquer her bed. Filled with confidence, she walked over to the bed, pulled the covers aside, and climbed in, covering herself with it.

See, it was as easy as Aurelia’s delicious pie, Islinda rejoiced over defeating the irrational fear. She positioned her head properly on the pillow and looked around her room which had a heavy silence. What now? What was she going to do?

Islinda forced her eyes close only to open them the next seconds. She didn’t feel sleepy and that might have to do with the fact she left the Fae light on. She should turn it off, but no, that was an impossible task. She might as well die right now than be left alone in darkness.

Unable to sleep a wink, her brain decided to be active and creative, and that was where Islinda’s problem began. Although Aldric said he killed the witch, what if she did not stay dead? Witches were powerful creatures, right? What if the witch intentionally stayed dead so it could come back for her without Aldric’s interference?

"Fuck!" Islinda sat up at once, her gaze darting across her room like a thief stalking its target, her heart rate picking up.

"No, it’s not real." She assured herself, yet couldn’t stop overthinking.

What if the witch was in here with her and like before, only made herself invisible to her eyes?

With a lump in her throat, Islinda tossed the covers aside and jumped out of bed. She didn’t even consider putting on footwear as she ran barefooted out of her room. But it seemed she just jumped from the frying pan to the fire because the hallway was dimly lit and she felt the sickening sense of being pulled back to the witch’s room again.

Except she was in Aldric’s castle and the witch was standing at the edge of the hallway with a maniacal smile that sent chills down her spine and the hairs on her arms stood on edge. She still had her slit neck and blood flowed from the wound as she began to slowly approach her.

"The ritual has to continue, human," The witch rasped creepily.

Islinda did not wait around, she ran down the hall in the direction of Aldric’s room since they stayed on the same floor and their rooms weren’t too far off from each other.

"Aldric!" She yelled his name, beginning to bang on his door.

But there was no answer and Islinda made the mistake of looking behind her and nearly shrieked from her close the witch had gotten to her. She was within touching reach.

"Aldric!" Islinda screamed with great ferocity, the fear overwhelming her as she could now imagine the witch stretching her bloody hand and reaching for her.

Click.

As soon as Islinda heard the lock turn with her hypersensitive hearing thanks to the fear, she kicked the door open with great strength and ran in so fast that Aldric caught only her shadow after the door hit him in the face.

Fuck, why did trouble come running into his room?

Rubbing his nose with an annoyed groan, he peered out to see what could have frightened the puny human only there was nothing. Aldric threw his hands up when he figured out what happened, shaking his head in major disappointment. He then turned to see the outline of a shivering human on his bed, hidden beneath the covers.

Hell no, he wasn’t sharing a bed with her.