Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 350: Bound To Him In Service

Chapter 350: Bound To Him In Service

"To be honest, it was very satisfying watching you make a huge fool of yourself," Aldric said, his hand clasped behind him and delightfully relishing in her embarrassing moment.

Islinda groaned, shaking away the dizziness. Unlike Aldric who found her condition amusing, it was not funny to her at all. She struggled to her feet and the first thing she did once she was stable was to shove Aldric in the chest.

"What did you do?! What have you done to the divider?!" She screamed in his face.

"Ahh, I see that is clear to you now."

"What?" Islinda croaked, a tear running down her face.

He tilted his head, his gaze roving over her, "Hope is a dangerous thing isn’t it?"

"Fuck you, Aldric!" Islinda shoved him once again, the hurt cutting through her, "You said this is my opportunity to escape! You baited me!" She laughed bitterly, wiping away at the tears that now streamed down furiously, "But then this is one of your games, isn’t it? You were always one, sadistic bastard and I was the one to fall for the same lie over and over again. You sure are one lying Fae."

That sentence got to Aldric because the amusement died in his rage and Islinda shivered as face twisted in rage. He pulled her flush to him before Islinda could even blink and she had to hold her breath, as the anger pounded through his body.

He growled, "What did you just call me? A liar? When did I ever lie to you, little human?" His eyes darkened, his hands digging into her arm so tightly it hurt. Islinda wanted to cry out in pain but refused to give him the satisfaction.

"My words were clear Islinda and I quote, ’Islinda still has an illusion that she can leave the Fae realm, it’s time I vaporize that hope.’ That was exactly what I said to you not long ago in the drawing room right before we got here. What about this? I quote, ’If you want freedom, there it is in your face. Don’t you want to take it?’ or this, I quote again, ’I guess we would never find out if you’re able to leave the Fae realm or not?’ So tell me, little human, when did I lie?"

Islinda glared at Aldric, tears coursing down her cheeks unchecked. She should have known that this Fae would destroy her. The signs had been there and yet she chose to ignore them. Islinda had endured the Fae realm because she believed that she would escape one day. She thought all of this would end with just an opportunity — the same opportunity she had this morning and moments ago — only to realize that she had her hopes high for nothing. There was never a way out. Aldric had been telling the truth — all this time — she was stuck in this realm with him for the gods knows how long.

Sadly for Islinda, the ignorant human had pushed the dark Fae prince to the wall. He pressed on with the matter, "You were so deluded with hope that you ignored my warnings and I think that I’ve been patient enough already," Aldric lifted her hand and that was when Islinda saw something that had never been there in the first place.

"What the hell..." Islinda broke away from him, staring at the mark on her wrist with horror even if the artwork was so spectacular it nearly stole her breath away.

It was the tattoo of a snowflake inside a darkened band. It was a striking design with the black band serving as the outline and border of the tattoo, encasing the delicate and intricate snowflake pattern within. The snowflake itself is meticulously designed with intricate details, capturing the delicate nature of the winter crystal.

The contrast between the dark black band and the lightness of the snowflake symbolizes the contrast between light and darkness, beauty and strength, fragility and power. It was akin to Eli and Aldric, the good and bad powers always warring....

Oh no.

The blood drained from Islinda’s face and she began to wipe at her skin all to no avail; the mark wouldn’t come off.

"No, no, please...." Desperation laced Islinda’s voice as she wiped furiously at the mark till it turned red. She even clawed still there were scratch marks and drew blood and yet nothing happened. The mark was unaffected, not that the same could be said for her bruised skin.

"What have you done to me?!" The abhorrence in her eyes matched the disgust in her tone. Any ounce of affection Islinda had for Aldric vanished at that moment. Tattoos bore different meanings and purposes, but one given by a Fae could only mean one thing, servitude. Especially one permanently etched on her skin.

Aldric let out a sneer, "You mean what hadn’t been there? I guess someone didn’t realize that I was kind enough to glamor the mark that bound you under my service ever since your arrival because I was afraid the puny human would break. Why do you think you’re unable to leave through the divider even though you’re right in front of it? Any idea? "

By the gods, no.... It finally dawned on Islinda, her lips trembling and the words unable to leave her mouth.

Aldric grinned wickedly having read the answer right on her face. He answered for her," You made a deal with a Fae and it’s binding, or have you forgotten? So yes, it was quite nice seeing you plot your plans and thinking you could escape me. But then I hate to announce to you that even if you had used the medallion, you wouldn’t be able to leave Astaria."

"And please...." He laughed cockily, "Don’t insult my intelligence. Do you think I never caught on the secret meetings between you and Rosalind?"

Islinda’s stomach sank. Don’t tell her....

"Yes, you guessed it right. You and Rosalind were an odd combination and I sensed at once you had something up your sleeve. I intentionally kept the suspicions away from your precious Eli so he could see you for who you are and in the end, the message was passed. Thanks to you, Islinda, I killed two birds with one stone. Eli has learnt his lesson and I have one less spy in my castle. So really, thank you for letting me use you. "