Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 226: Islinda Is Sick

Chapter 226: Islinda Is Sick

"Prince Aldric, you’re finally here," Aurelia opened the door to let the dark prince in, his eyes never once looking her way as they roamed across the room instead.

"Where is she?" He went straight to the purpose of his coming of course.

"In there," Aurelia pointed at the connecting room and Aldric didn’t wait around for her to join him, he was already striding in there.

After Andre left, Aldric carried Islinda and dumped her in Zaya’s ward. The healer would wean the stupid human off the Fae wine she took. So he left without a care if Islinda survived the process or not. He had to prove to Andre that he cared not one bit what happened to Islinda. The only reason he kept her alive was because she was important to his plans - and she was oddly interesting. Her modest human nature made her an entertaining company to keep.

How dare Andre threaten him? Valerie could never defeat him, not now, not even in his next life - if he had one. Aldric was not a believer of the cycle of reincarnation and would rather live one meaningful lifetime than numerous others with no impact. What was so special about the human that Valerie would risk fighting him and court with death? Aldric would not be surprised anymore if Islinda turned out to be a witch considering she could capture both of his brothers’ attention.

Back to the subject at hand, Aldric had to busy himself in his secret lab, trying hard to distract his wandering mind. Like a terminal disease, Islinda managed to get under his skin and it was beginning to affect him adversely. So the amount of time he spent away from her proved he hadn’t softened one bit. Islinda could die and it would not touch his blackened heart.

But if Aldric were, to be honest, he would admit that he wasn’t able to focus on his research and couldn’t recall the number of his "experiments" he spent the rest of the day killing with his blood, all thanks to his head buzzing with thoughts. So when the message came that Islinda requested to see him, Aldric was already out the door before the Fae was done speaking.

And here he was.

Although it was almost sundown, there was enough sunlight to see, yet it was dark in the room, and that made Aldric frown even though he could see with his perfect Fae sight. Aldric spotted Islinda’s figure on the bed but before he could go to her, Zaya approached him.

"Prince Aldric," She curtsied.

Aldric did not respond to her greeting, asking instead, "Why is it dark in here?"

"Lady Islinda claims that the light hurt her eyes, so I had no choice but to shut it out ."

Aldric scoffed, "If Islinda has the energy to complain about the light, then she is going to be fine. Hurrah in that case, Andre would be so pleased," His lips pressed into a thin line.

However, Aldric sensed a sudden nervousness from the witch and he arched a brow, "Is there something you’re not telling me, Zaya?"

"Urm..." Zaya scratched the back of her head, "I think you’re going to find out anyway when you see her, my prince."

Aldric gave the healer a long look, trying to guess what the Fae was hiding from him. Nonetheless, she just piqued his curiosity.

"Fine, I love finding things out for myself anyway. It gives me a sense of accomplishment." Aldric said thrilled, forging ahead as Zaya got out of his way.

It wasn’t until he got to Islinda’s bedside that his brows furrowed at the small body hidden beneath the sheet and Zaya turned on the Fae light so it shone faintly.

Even with that, Islinda didn’t react to his presence, more like, she didn’t notice him until Zaya was by her bedside and roused her gently, "My lady, Prince Aldric is here now."

Islinda did not open her eyes at first, but when she did, it took her quite a while, and had to drag her eyes lid open. She blinked at him, disoriented, almost as if she didn’t recognize where she was. Or who he was. Or maybe it was because of the lack of light. Humans do have bad eyesight, after all. Aldric refused to believe something was wrong with her head.

"Aldric?" She blinked up at him, trying to be certain.

"Of course, darling, the one and only," However, the frivolity in his tone did not match the seriousness in his eyes. The furrowed brow now deepened into a frown when he saw beads of sweat gathered on her forehead.

Islinda surprisingly reached for Aldric, taking her hand in his, before smiling wryly, "I think I’m going to die soon," She croaked.

At once, Aldric’s mouth twitched, yet he declared, "I would say that is a cause for celebration, my darling, you finally got what you wanted. Sadly, you forgot one thing..." He leaned over the bed, "I told you, no one else has the right to take your life but me." He snarled at her.

But even with the evident threat in his voice, Islinda grinned sheepishly, and that didn’t sit right with Aldric. He turned to Zaya with dark eyes,

"What have you done to her? She almost sounds stupid." He asked, exuding menace.

"I didn’t do anything. I got the Fae wine out of her body as you instructed. But perhaps, because she’s human, the residue didn’t go well with her fragile body and I think she’s sick right now."

"Sick." That single word sent dread through Aldric. His mother had been sick too. And the sickness took her.

"Is she going to die?" Aldric asked, an edge to his voice. He did not go through the troubles of getting the human, only to lose her like this.

Zaya swallowed, "I don’t think so." She added nervously, "I think so. I have done everything possible in my power to revive her and pray that she survived tonight."

Nobody needed to tell Zaya that the prince was about to threaten her again when a tiny voice broke through the tension.

"I’m cold. I–I’m very cold," Islinda began to shiver and shake like a leaf in winter.

"I don’t have much information about human ailments, but I’ve seen symptoms like this amongst half-breeds and I think she’s running a fever," Zaya filled Aldric in before the dark prince had the chance to ask, "She would survive this." She hoped so.

Muttering a curse beneath his breath, Aldric instructed Zaya,

"Get me a towel and basin,"