Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 228: Die Like This

Chapter 228: Die Like This

What was he doing here? Aldric questioned himself for the nth time.

He was seated down with his legs crossed, his foot dangling in the air. Although the dark prince seemed lost in thoughts, his eyes were still fixed on the entrance of the connecting room with unnerving intensity, expecting that either Aurelia or Zaya would come at any moment.

Why was he going through all of this trouble of taking care of Islinda when he should just let her die and all of his problems would be over? No, Aldric told himself that it was not her time yet. Moreover, it would be a huge blow to his pride if Islinda slipped through his fingers and died. She was supposed to die in his hands, not of her making. He still needed her to complete his plans.

"Your Highness,"

His eyes snapped up and met Aurelia’s.

The female Fae swallowed at the intensity of the prince’s looks. He looked like he would take her head off if she said one wrong word.

"She’s modest." She informed him, trying her hardest to put on a smile that didn’t touch her eyes, thanks to the nervousness.

Aldric barely nodded, up to his feet, and ambled over to the room, hands in his pocket. He paused at the entrance, scanning the scene, noticing that the human was half awoken and Zaya standing a good distance from her.

He instructed her, "Get me a glass of water,"

"What?" Zaya inched closer as she hadn’t heard the prince properly, distracted by the tension in the room.

"Her body heats up more than usual causing more sweat and cools down. However, it leads to dehydration. I read somewhere that most of the human body is water, with an average of roughly about sixty percent. Therefore, she needs to drink enough so the lost fluid can be replenished. "

Zaya’s mouth fell open by the time Aldric was done. If he knew this much about the human body, then why did the dark prince hire her? Oh right, he doesn’t have healing powers and Islinda has proved to be a danger magnet.

" You do know you’re being useless to me right now, Zaya," Aldric sighed, when the healer kept gaping at him like a moron, "Get me water,"

"O-oh yes....Of course, my prince." Zaya stuttered and hurried away to meet his demands.

Aldric then moved to the bedside and sat down on the edge, staring down at Islinda who peered at him from heavy lids, feeling groggy with tiredness.

She mumbled, "Why are you here?"

Perhaps, it was because of the fever, her eyes glistened with her cheeks rosy. Islinda no longer poured sweat in torrents but her skin felt moist and she shivered a little.

"Weren’t you the one who called me when I was busy minding my business?" Aldric nonchalantly answered, busying himself by taking the cloth from her forehead and putting it in the basin. He soaked it again before returning the damp material to her forehead.

"I was not thinking straight, nor do I need your help," She said hoarsely, reaching to take the damp cloth off her forehead but Aldric swatted her hand and she winced in return. That hurts.

"Don’t try me," Aldric gave her an admonishing look and she lifted her somewhat cute yet pitiable eyes to him.

"What’s with the look?" The dark prince was uncomfortable with the strange expression on her face, which was made worse when her lips trembled slightly.

Was she about to cry?

"No way..." Aldric gasped in disbelief.

And yet a lone tear slid down the corner of her eyes.

"Don’t..." Aldric warned with an edge to his voice, dark shadows exuding off his body to prove how serious he was.

Yet that threat was useless on Islinda, as tears spilled from her eyes with a wail of grievance. To be honest, Islinda had no clue why she was crying, except that her body was aching everywhere and Aldric was being Aldric. Her emotions were all over the place and all she needed to bust out was Aldric hitting her.

"By the gods," Aldric stared at her horrified. This was much worse than he thought. No one told him that taking care of a sick human was equivalent to taking care of Fae children who were more repulsive than damn flies.

What should he do? Shut her mouth with magic? But then she would look at him with those eyes... ugh why did he come here?

"Fine. I am sorry, Islinda. Now close your mouth and stop behaving like a Fae child." Aldric apologized, in his own way.

Thankfully, Aurelia arrived right at that time so she did not have time to respond because he helped her sit up. He then took the glass from Zaya and fed her the water gradually until it was emptied.

"More," Islinda requested and Aldric turned to Aurelia with the glass.

It was a good thing Zaya came with a jar and all she needed to do was pour out another glass which she drained quickly.

"More?" Aldric asked unsure, when she made no other request.

Islinda shook her head slowly before returning to bed and Aldric helped her, at the same time handing the glass to Zaya who took it and vanished from the room, leaving the both of them. Aurelia must have understood the change in the atmosphere because she took her leave too.

"What else do you need my lady?" Aldric said with well-intended sarcasm. He leaned closer, his blue intense eyes boring into hers, "Do you know you are the only one who dares to order me around, Islinda? Had it been anyone else, I would have...." He trailed off, deciding not to bother the human with talks of violence.

"I didn’t force you to do it," Islinda argued, bringing the sheet up to her chin to cover herself more.

Aldric noticed that and snatched the sheet, tossing it to the ground.

"Aldric!" She shouted, shaking from both shock and the fever, "Give that back, I’m cold,"

"The sheet is too warm and may increase your temperature," He said thoughtfully.

"But I’m still cold, Aldric," She begged him.

Aldric stood and without a word took off his tunic while Islinda blinked up at him, gobsmacked. It wasn’t until Aldric was climbing into bed with her that she finally found her voice and asked in a panic, "What are you doing?"

"Shhh, you will understand soon, " Aldric hushed, wrapping his arms around the waist and pulling her flush against him.

Islinda was dumbfounded, her cheeks pressed against his firm chest, and swallowed. His cool and fresh musky scent wafted into her nose, shockingly calming her. There was still that underlying menacing energy around him especially when she noticed the black runic tattoo on his body that glowed golden whenever activated.

It must be her feverish brain at work because Islinda felt the need to trace them, only for Aldric to ruin the moment by saying, "Better soak up my rare kindness while it lasts, cry baby Islinda. You won’t get another chance like this."

The laughter that rumbled from his chest was a telltale sign Aldric saw her deep scowl. She was not a fucking crybaby for crying out loud. The tears were from the fever, her eyes being moist and all.

Nonetheless, Islinda gravitated closer to Aldric’s body, pulled in by the surprising warmth he emanated. How nice it would be to die like this.....

Her eyes closed in sleep.