Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 341: Start Of Her Punishment

Chapter 341: Start Of Her Punishment

Note: Gory and slightly disturbing Chapter ahead.

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"Darling, you’re up," A voice said and Islinda blinked, dazed. Her vision was blurry and she could not recognize the face hovering over her. Nor was she acquainted with the owner of the voice. It sounded foreign to her ear, but she was not plunged with the need to run away. She strangely felt safe.

Islinda still pushed up from the... bed? She continued blinking until things came into focus and found herself in a strange room. Her brows furrowed together in a frown, what was going on here? Where was she? The last thing she remembered was trying to... huh? What was the last thing she remembered?

"Darling," The voice that had been talking all this while finally came into view and she stared at him with a puzzled expression. A shadow crossed the man’s features as he somewhat sensed her confusion.

He tilted his head unsure, "Are you okay, darling? You seem a little bit out of place, "The stranger tried to touch her but Islinda jerked away from him as if he was poison.

Islinda slowly eased away from him, suspicion in her eyes, "Who are you? Where am I?"

"Tell me you’re pulling my leg right now, my darling wife,"

Islinda went rigid. Her mouth fell open and she stammered, "W–wife?" She was married? To him?

The man finally got off the bed, running his hand through his hair in frustration before he explained to her, his voice strained with emotion,

"We have been married for over seven years now, Islinda, "He shook his head, "I should have known not to leave you alone when you said the nightmares were returning. Look what’s going on now, your mind’s muddled, you can’t even remember things anymore, Islinda. You need treatment."

"I need treatment," Islinda just kept repeating the words after him like a fool. It just did not feel convincing enough –

That very moment, images assaulted her mind and she grunted, rubbing at the side of her head. As if to corroborate this man’s story, his face appeared in her mind and there she was too in the memory. They looked happy together and then there was the laughter of their children as they chased each other in the field.

"Thomas?" Islinda mentioned the name that came to her mind and watched as the man’s stern face eased just a little bit.

"Thank the lord," Thomas threw his head back in relief, wiping his palm down his face.

So this was her husband?

Looking around the room now, she was able to recognize her bedroom. But even as the images seemed true in her head, there was just this emptiness in her chest. Something was not right here.

"Mama!"

Islinda jerked up at the sound of that voice and had her breath knocked out when a small child bearing an uncanny resemblance to her stormed into her room with tears in her eyes and complaints on her lips.

To be honest, Islinda had no idea what the child was talking about because she was busy staring at her like a moron. She had always dreamed of having a family and to think she already had a lovely child simply stole the breath out of her lungs.

"Come closer, baby girl," Islinda felt this desperate need to touch and confirm this was real and not a dream.

The girl did as she instructed, lifting those beautiful-looking teary eyes and they collided with hers. Joy filled her chest and Islinda palmed her face with trembling hands, wiping the tears away.

"What’s wrong, baby girl?"

The little girl turned and pointed at the door, pouting, "It’s Jacob again, he pulled my hair and it was painful." She recounted the incident.

"Jacob?" Islinda whispered the name tentatively.

As if on cue, another cute little boy appeared and by the impish look on his face, he was obvious of what he had done to his sister and didn’t look one bit apologetic. Unlike the girl, the boy took his looks from his father and Islinda was once more in awe over the fact she had two children. This felt too good to be true.

Before Islinda could open her mouth and say a word, their father stepped in this time and scolded the child. Although Jacob apologized to his little sister, the glint in his eyes promised there was more where that came from.

"Now, you should leave and let your mother have some rest," He ordered them.

"No!" Islinda protested.

She had this urgency to hold these children in her arms and never let go as if they would be stolen from her anytime soon.

"Shhh, darling. Trust me, it’s for the best. You have all the time to be with them." Thomas told her, slowly urging her back to bed and her protest fell on deaf ears.

"Just sleep, darling,"

As if under some magical spell, Islinda’s eyelids grew heavy and she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore. She fell asleep.

However, the sleep was later interrupted by a sharp scream. Call it instincts or something, but Islinda sensed something was not right and tossed the covers aside, dashing across the hall barefooted.

She ran into the lounge and stopped short at the sight of the pool of blood. A sickening feeling in her guts when she traced the blood and found her husband on the floor, face down. However, that was nothing compared to the piercing pain in her chest when she found Jacob on the floor as well, staring at the ceiling with glassy eyes.

"No—!" A strangled whimper left her mouth. This can’t be happening.

"Hello Islinda,"

A shiver worked down her voice at the sound of that voice and Islinda rigidly turned to the entryway. She exhaled a sharp gasp upon seeing the familiar curl of her lips.

There he was.

The missing part of her memory.

And he had her daughter hostage.

Her legs shook and it was a wonder she was still standing.

"Aldric..." She pleaded with him. He cannot take her away too.

"Mummy...." Her child’s scared cries were like a stab to her chest. She had to save her.

Her lips trembled, "P—please spare her... please...."

But he smiled cruelly, "You had your turn, now is mine," his hand around her neck turned to claws and he sliced her throat open with one of the sharp ends while she watched.

"No!" Islinda screamed, crumbling to the floor.

At the same time....

"How long are you going to do this?" Maxi asked the dark Fae prince who was seated beside Islinda while she slept. He influenced her dreams. More like giving her nightmares.

Aldric turned to her with an icy look, "She betrayed me, this is just the beginning of her punishment."