Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 349: Leave The Fae Realm

Chapter 349: Leave The Fae Realm

It was too hard to believe that she was staring at the divider but the evidence was right in front of her. Emotions clogged her throat as she stared at the shimmering wall she had dreamt of almost every night and day. All she had to do was cross it and she would be out of here. Islinda longed to touch it, to feel that it was real, her hand unconsciously reaching for the wall only for the scales to fall from her eyes.

No way. Her head snapped in Aldric’s direction, staring at him with narrowed eyes. There was no way Aldric would stand there and watch her leave the Fae realm just like that. This must be another of his ploys again. Islinda couldn’t help but remember that day he dragged her to the Fae realm, he had given her the illusion of freedom only to snatch it away from her cruelly.

She tipped her head, "What’s the catch?"

"What?" He feigned ignorance.

Islinda shuffled from foot to foot trying to ease away the nervousness. She pinned him with a look, "Don’t play pretend with me, Aldric. If there’s anyone who knows you thoroughly, it’s me and you of all Fae don’t hand freebies. So tell me what is this?"

"If you know me that well then you should know I don’t like to be questioned when I reveal the kindness in me," He said, lifting his head high, "You wanted freedom, there it is in your face. Don’t you want to take it?"

The wheels were turning in Islinda’s head, pondering over the offer. She kept her face blank but the fingers tapping against her side repeatedly was a straight giveaway that she was nervous as hell.

"You’re lying. " Islinda called him bluff. She cannot believe him. No, she couldn’t afford to believe him. The disappointment would crush her.

Aldric shrugged, "I guess we would never find out if you’re able to leave the Fae realm or not."

What if he was serious this time? Islinda’s hesitation was almost perceptible. As much as she shouldn’t, faint hope grew inside of her. What if Aldric had a change of mind? Even if he bound her to a bed this morning all because she attempted to escape? There was the doubt again.

Perhaps, he simply wanted her to leave on his terms and not her sneaking out from under his nose? Sadly, this was the thing about hope, it left you blinding to the truth.

"Come on then, let’s leave. There’s not much to see here and I’d rather be in my castle investigating the incident in the ballroom. My family members responsible for the attack will finally get enough sleep today," He clucked his tongue in annoyance, stretching his hand for her to take.

Aldric was probably disappointed, he could not get to torment the family member forever.

"Wait!" Islinda exclaimed before he could get any closer, saying begrudgingly, "Fine, I’ll take it."

At once, Aldric’s eyes lit up as if his birthday had come early — thus if he celebrated it at all. His eagerness alone should have told Islinda all that was to know, but she was desperate to get the hell out of there.

He swept a hand towards the divider with an impish smile, "Ladies first, my little human."

The look on his face alone gave Islinda pause. Wasn’t she playing right into his palm? Fuck it! She was doing this.

Islinda took several steps back to gain enough momentum as she prepared to run through the wall, intending to knock down any obstacle the twisted prince might erect on her way.

She ran into the wall and it felt like slamming into a body of jelly. The familiar tingle of magic washed over her even as the shimmering divider generally felt soft, smooth, and cool to the touch. Her body sank in partially through the thick, jiggling wall and when it seemed like she might go all the way through, she was dragged out. Like literally sucked out.

Islinda’s stomach sank.

No way. She had almost made it through, what happened? Islinda could swear she had caught a glimpse of the human world, felt the air, and had been within touching reach only to be drawn back here.

"No, no, no..." Islinda shook her head stubbornly. This cannot be happening. Not when success was at her fingertip.

So she tried it again, this time adding more force, thinking she might break through the wall that way. But the case was the same and she was spat back.

"No!" Islinda screeched, on the edge of desperation which was the aftereffect of hope. This is why she shouldn’t have had any expectations, now it was killing her from the inside.

Islinda went at it until the fifth time when she couldn’t take being violently thrown back anymore. She whirled and stalked toward Aldric, her face a mask of fury.

"You bastard! This is your doing isn’t it?!" Islinda accused him, her eyes flashing with raw power. How dare he play with her?

But even with her non-threatening small figure, Aldric lifted his hands, palms out, "Why don’t we find out then?"

As soon as the words were out, he vanished right in front of her, Islinda was too worked up to be startled. She was oddly satisfied with his leave and stubbornly stomped over to the divider. Standing a few feet away, she drew a long breath and zeroed in on the target with determination. She was going to leave here by all means.

Islinda charged forward, pushing into the wall with her arms in front and teeth gritting with the effort just as the shimmery wall with a slightly gel-like texture stretched and waned. Just when it seemed like she was gaining through, it rebounded, and Islinda was knocked back so hard the breath left her lungs.

"By the gods...." Islinda moaned, pain licking up her back and her world spinning. It was not enough her face was still throbbing from the wind storm earlier, and now this. Her body was full of injuries.

However, the unmistakable face of Aldric hovered above her even though she was seeing ten of him.

His sarcastic voice echoed clearly into her ears, "So, how did the escape back home go?"