Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 221: Strain On Her Mortal Body

Chapter 221: Strain On Her Mortal Body

"Say a word and I promise you, brother, you will return to Valerie with her corpse,"

"What?!" Andre’s mouth dropped open in disbelief, unlike Islinda’s squeal which rebounded across the room, her eyes wide in horror.

"Yes, you heard me right, brother. Tell a history that I didn’t permit you to and she..." He pointed at Isabella with no emotion in his eyes, " would not live to hear the rest of it. So don’t dare me." The threat in Aldric’s voice made her blood run cold and goosebumps appeared across her arms.

Andre must really believe Aldric’s words because his mouth opened and closed helplessly and dread washed over Islinda. Aldric was not joking, he would have killed her. The reality of the situation was too much on Islinda that she fanned her cheeks, flustered, while her throat was parched.

She looked across the table, searching for water, but when she reached for it, the sight of the wine bottle grabbed her attention and Islinda realized she needed something strong to deal with this situation. Everything was just too much and this would help her handle it.

Aldric raised a brow when he saw her pouring a drink for herself and could have stopped her, but he tilted his head and watched without comment as she downed the whole glass.

Islinda slammed the glass down on the table with a breath out, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She didn’t even realize how she had effortlessly captured the attention of both Fae males as she poured herself a second drink.

Andre’s brows knitted in worry as he watched her. That was Fae wine and was not exactly made for humans. Why would Andre even leave it in the open for her? Of course, leave it to the irresponsible Fae to take care of a fragile human.

He tried to coax her, "Islinda, I think that’s enough -"

Islinda threw her head back and greedily chugged down the drink without giving him an ear, nearly choking in the process. The wine was not bitter like the ones sold in the tavern back home nor did it burn down the throat, rather, it was quite sweet. The wine was rich and smoothly ran down the throat; it was the tastiest wine she ever had.

She wanted to have another glass when Andre snatched it away from her.

"That’s enough!" He scolded her.

But Islinda was stubborn and attempted to take it from him, "Give it back."

"No."

"Just give me the damn wine, it’s not like you’re the one drinking it!" She yelled at him, frustrated.

Andre’s head snapped in Aldric’s direction, "Really? Is this how you take care of her, dearest brother?" He mocked him for the first time.

"You heard the lady earlier, she claims to be a prisoner in my castle. I don’t take care of prisoners, they are meant for the dungeons." Aldric answered lazily, even lifting his wine in his brother’s direction as if to say cheers - the same wine that caused the problem.

Andre pinched the space between his brows, stressed beyond words. He didn’t come here for this. Nor was he prepared for this drama. His aim was to make a deal with Aldric, not get involved in the fight between the human and his twisted brother. Andre knew Aldric was making empty threats, he was never going to kill Islinda, but it was best not to push him, after all, he did kill.... okay, so not going there.

Islinda took advantage of his momentary distraction and snatched the wine bottle from him. She stood and moved away before he could stop her.

Andre realizing his mistake stood slowly, so as not to push her further away, "Islinda, you should not -"

"Why do you care?!" She screamed at him.

His shoulder dropped in disappointment, yet Andre tried to patiently explain while staring at her hand cautiously, "It was quite stupid for Aldric to serve that but what you have right there is Faerie wine and it is quite potent, enough to kill you if you take the whole of it. Even right now, I think it’s beginning to affect you."

Andre was speaking the truth because Islinda felt hot and rosy, but she did not want to admit it. She laughed bitterly," Perhaps it’s for the better anyway. Look at him, " She gestured at Aldric who wasn’t bothered with her antics," He doesn’t care if I’m dead or alive. He only intends to use me to bring Valerie down. But then, If I die, there would not be a victim or witness to be used against Valerie. He would be safe and be rid of me," A tear slid down her cheek as she envisioned Valerie’s face one last time.

"No, Islinda!" Andre was prepared to speed over to her side when she lifted the bottle to her mouth, but someone was faster.

Islinda grunted as she began to lower the bottle, more like her hand was doing the opposite of what she wanted.

Aldric.

She turned to the Fae who was motionless in his seat, almost lifeless and expressionless like a statue yet unnerved her with the blazing intensity of his now black eyes, literally. His pupil had dilated and nearly swallowed up his iris. Not only that, his features were wilder, more intense as if he was changing to his primal form.

Islinda glared back at Aldric and provoked a serious challenge when she used her left hand which was free from his control and began to lift the other. When she felt that claw-like sensation gnawing at her mind, she instinctively knew that it was Aldric trying to get into her head. She shut him out by imagining a mental wall, staring at him with glee at the confusion and irritation on his face.

But that smirk was slapped off her face when the moment she was close to bringing the bottle to her lips, Aldric made a searing attack on her mind and Islinda moaned in pain yet held onto her mental wall as blood ran down her nose.

"Aldric...." Andre was anxious now, seeing the strain on her mortal body yet Aldric was engrossed with giving her a taste of his power. She dared to challenge him!

A pained cry tore from Islinda’s lips when Aldric made her walls crumble down with such great force that she hurled the wine bottle at the wall and it shattered into pieces thanks to his manipulation. He was successfully in her head. Again.

However, Andre was right because the great power was taxing on her fragile human body and Islinda wobbled on her feet as darkness overtook her.