Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 296: The Bond

Chapter 296: The Bond

"Princess Isla, are you alright?" The stall owner asked, breaking her train of thought and cold reality dawned on her. She was lusting after Eli. Sure, she had always been attracted to his good looks, but it was nothing this intense.

The way Eli stared back at her hinted he had an idea of her lustful thoughts too and she turned the other way, blushing hard. The gods help her because she had no idea how to survive tonight being this horny.

Islinda did not want to sleep with Eli because she felt she would be giving a part of herself to someone who didn’t deserve it. Sure, Eli was cute, loyal, thoughtful, and sweet, but he was just a part of the dark prince he would not let out. Soon Aldric would take over and it would not surprise her if he used that against her.

She created space between them, intentionally focusing on the stall owner who instructed her on what to do and pretending to be oblivious to his heated stares.

"So I lift the blood to his muzzle and when he’s tasted it, the bond is established. Just like that, it’s over? Would I feel anything special? Also why the blood though? I thought there would be some witchy spell or something extra magical to bind us together?"Islinda peppered him with question, having had high expectations.

"You’re human and wouldn’t feel anything at all. Also just as your words, blood is binding too. Once both of you are bound, the cat belongs to you and will not harm you. You are practically its mistress." He explained to her.

"Okay. Although, I’d prefer being called its caretaker. I don’t know you Fae, take care of your pets but this is my baby from now on," Islinda declared, following his instruction.

She was distracted while letting the cat taste her blood and screamed when it bit down so hard that tears escaped her eyes. She let go of the cat instinctively and he dropped to the ground.

"Princess!" Eli shouted, coming to her side and holding up her finger that was bleeding profusely from the wound. But Islinda was not listening because she gasped aloud, her mind elsewhere. Far, far away from this world.

It felt as if something or someone had reached deep down inside of her, tugging at the strings of her soul and they fused, a painful heat searing the exchange.

"Islinda?" Eli’s voice broke through the haze, "Are you okay?"

Islinda quickly straightened up, realizing she had been bending over all this time. She wiped away the sweat from her forehead, wiping her clammy hand down her dress, slightly shaken.

"What happened?" She asked, confused. Why was everyone looking at her strangely.

"You were screaming. I thought you were in pain and.... " Eli swallowed, his expression taut, "I didn’t even know how to help."

Islinda noticed the way his hand that reached for her face shook slightly and she felt bad for putting him through such stress.

He pushed the hair away from her face, confessing with a strange vulnerability in his eyes, "I was so afraid. I have never felt this helpless and I don’t like feeling that way at all."

Islinda forgot how to breathe. Eli was honestly concerned about her and it made a strange feeling swell in her chest. No, this was bad. Islinda retreated from him, not just physically, but emotionally and he lowered his hand, a bit disappointed.

"No. I was fine. It just felt painful for a moment. Thanks " Her eyes searched for the stall owner instead and found him, "Didn’t you say that was supposed to be simple? It was painful."

The Fae in question looked as confused as she was, "I did. The blood was supposed to establish the bond, nothing else. I have no idea why you reacted that way. Can you tell me what? Perhaps then I might be able to understand what happened?" He inquired.

Islinda opened her mouth to speak, but had no idea how to describe it. How do you explain something you don’t understand? She wet her lips with her tongue and was about to say something when her eyes dropped to the ground and she noticed her cat was missing from the spot she had last seen him.

Her heart leaped at once, "Where is my cat?" She queried the stall owner, noticing the way his eyes widened slightly before he quickly covered it up.

He knew!

"Where is my cat?!"Islinda asked firmly this time.

" I–"

"Fae can’t lie, so don’t try to evade my question either. I know you have him, what have you done to him?!"

The stall owner nervously pointed to her side and Islinda turned, thinking it was in the direction of her abducted cat, only to realize he was indicating Eli was the culprit. Of course, she should have known that it was him! He was the only Fae who would react in such a way once she was endangered. The stall owner behaved weirdly; she quickly assumed he was the culprit, forgetting all about the vengeful Eli.

"Where is it?" Islinda asked straightforwardly.

"I don’t like the cat. There is something off about it and look, it hurt you." He claimed, but Islinda was not in the mood for excuses.

"Just give me the cat, Eli, you never like anyone anyway. Nor can You judge him based on one accident. Moreover, it’s just an animal who misbehaved for the first time. I’ll teach it not to bite next time." She begged him, exhausted by his over-protectiveness.

"Do you know princess? I would sacrifice the world to save you and that includes unnecessary pets I deem dangerous. I told you Wrry Cats are untrustworthy and it’s obvious it’s already worked its charm on —"

"Just give me the damn cat!" Islinda snapped at him, shocking not only everyone but herself as well. It was not common to see a human raising her voice on a Fae. Mortals were often the submissive ones.

"I’m sorry," Islinda quickly apologized, wiping her palm down her tired face, "I didn’t mean to shout at you. The moment got to me. I like the cat and I fought for it. You helped me fight for him. I already see a place for it in my life and I already bonded with it. I don’t want to lose it." She said, giving him an apologetic look.

For a moment, it seemed like Eli would not accept his apology only for him to sigh, "Let’s hope I don’t regret this. "