Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 219: [Bonus - ]Hiding Something

Chapter 219: [Bonus Chapter]Hiding Something

"You’re oddly quiet," Aldric pointed out, lifting his wine glass in Andre’s direction, appearing relaxed in his seat, yet vigilant enough to observe the change in his brother’s countenance.

Andre lowered his spoon onto the table, pushing the dish farther from him, "Perhaps, it’s time we had the conversation and preferably, in privacy." He answered, his eyes straying towards Islinda.

Islinda in question noticed the unspoken conversation between them, meeting his gaze before shifting to Aldric’s. She told both Fae’s, "Don’t worry, the two of you can talk freely in my presence, it’s not like I have someone to share the details with. You made sure of it, didn’t you, Aldric?" She gave him a sickly sweet smile, revealing she was a prisoner in his castle.

"I don’t know why you are suddenly acting bitter towards me, darling Isla -"

"Don’t call me that!" She barked, gripping the spoon tight while sitting ramrod straight, and glared at him.

Yet Aldric was not bothered by her rigid posture and the fact she might stab him with that spoon, that is if she could get close enough.

He went ahead to say, "Is it that time of the month, that weird period for human females, or has Andre’s presence triggered you and suddenly realized you miss a certain someone? I thought with what happened between us, darling, that you moved past that?" He signed dramatically, palm on his forehead.

"Aldric," Islinda hissed in warning, her gaze drifting guiltily towards Andre. He was dead if the Autumn Prince caught wind of what happened.

Sadly, it was too late.

"What happened between you two?" Andre asked, scrutinizing the both of them.

"Oh, you wouldn’t want to know," Aldric stifled his laughter. However, the seed of curiosity had been planted in Andre’s mind and he turned to Islinda, seeking answers.

Islinda felt uncomfortable under Andre’s steady look and she bit down on her lips nervously.

"Tell me Islinda, what happened between the both of you?" He coaxed her to open up with his soothing voice.

But Islinda turned the other way, refusing to meet his eyes. It was embarrassing as it was already, and she didn’t want to share the details, especially with ’Valerie’s brother’.

However, Andre interpreted her reluctance to speak as something else and his eyes suddenly darkened with rage. At once, he turned Islinda by the shoulder and when she looked at him in surprise at the force he used, Andre pinched her chin in between his fingers.

He growled, "Tell me Islinda, did he force himself on you? Did he...." Andre swallowed past the lump in his throat, "Touch you without consent?" He implored her to speak with his softening eyes.

"Yes, tell him, darling. Did I do something to you that you didn’t like," Aldric only served to fan the flames he started in the first place by opening his big mouth?

Islinda in question was so overwhelmed with the number of eyes turned her way, that her mouth opened and closed nervously on its own. What was she going to tell Andre? That Aldric touched her last night and her twisted mind kind of liked it? Or she could falsely accuse Aldric and see if it would help her out of there. Perhaps, there were policies in place against assault in Astaria and she could use it against him even if it was a lie?

However, as tempting as it sounded, Islinda could not go through with it. As villainous as Aldric was and he pretty much deserved it, that would be accusing him falsely and she couldn’t live with the guilt. Damn, her annoying human conscience. Also, the tension coiling through Andre like a cobra ready to strike meant there would be a fight and he was surely going to lose.

Aldric would destroy him and she couldn’t have that on her conscience as well. Islinda has seen a preview of what Aldric was capable of and while Andre could put on a tough fight, the dark Fae prince would end him. That was the problem with Aldric, all he saw were blurred lines whenever the bloodlust overtook him and he could do anything - even to his brothers. Sharing the same blood wasn’t a hindrance at all.

"It was just a kiss, nothing else," Islinda confessed, watching the way his expression shifted.

"Mmmhmm, just a kiss," Aldric smirked, his teasing voice hinting at more.

Andre looked between the both of them in suspicion sensing there was more to the story but having seen Islinda’s reluctance to open up, he decided to make do with the crumbs she fed him.

"And this kiss?" He said, " Did he force you into it?"

"Well, did I?" Aldric pressed her, obviously having fun.

"Shut up, Aldric!" She snapped at him, her eyes livid like burning embers yet her anger only spurred him.

"Simply answer the question, darling. Your reluctance to speak makes it sound as if there’s more to the story?" His eyes gleamed, "Are you hiding something from us, Islinda?"

By the gods, Islinda lifted her eyes towards heaven, fighting back the tears that stung her eyes. This was too much for her. Aldric was too much for her. But then, complaining would only take her off so far. It dawned on her that nobody could help her, not even Andre. Her escape plan was the only thing she could hold on to at a time like this.

"No, he didn’t force me into it. It just happened. We kissed in the spur of the moment, and Aldric has the talent of bringing out the worst in a person." Islinda said, refusing to be weighed down by the useless tears. Although, why couldn’t she tell Andre the whole truth? Was she that scared of what he would say or what would happen if the news got to Valerie’s hearing? A lot of thought roamed her mind.

Andre did not give her a dirty look, nor did he judge her, instead he said to her, "You are a brave human for taking on the likes of Aldric who is nothing but a bully..."

Aldric scoffed at the side yet said nothing.

Andre continued, "It’s normal to be tempted and we fall in one way or the other. Just make sure your heart is in the right place, Islinda. After all, your life is yours to live, no one else,"

Islinda was gobsmacked by the time Andre was done speaking, seeing him from a different perspective for the first time. She thought all that was to the Fae was his ability to seduce the females but there was more than meets the eye. And he seemed like a good Fae.

They both met in the human realm and it hit her, why hadn’t Andre captured her instead of Aldric?

If that was the case, her life would have been much easier.