Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 356: Puppet Master

Chapter 356: Puppet Master

Thank you Amanda Upton and DaoistRV48bk whose comments added to the development of this Chapter!

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It was Maxi, and Aldric eased up a bit, having assumed that Islinda woke up and had come to give him hell. But even the rest of the relief was halted because he saw the turbulent look in the horse shifter’s eyes and his curiosity was piqued. What did he do this time? Everyone was coming at him today. It was beginning to get exhausting.

"Islinda is sleeping peacefully in her room," Maxi stated.

"Of course, she’s secure," Aldric concurred, keeping his expression blank but his body was full of tension. His brows slightly narrowed, disturbed, "Don’t you want her alive?"

"I think that question should be directed at you else you wouldn’t go on with the rest of your plan?"

"What?"

Maxi closed the space between them, raising her voice on him, "The ball, Aldric! And don’t you dare play ignorant, you know Queen Maeve would attempt to take her life having failed here, yet, you would still go with her, wouldn’t you?"

Aldric looked the other way, speaking without looking her in the eye, "Queen Maeve gave clear instructions, didn’t she, that I come with the human?"

"Bullshit Aldric! Bullshit! The both of us know that it is within your power to do something about that," Maxi called him out on his weak excuse.

Eyes flashing with anger, Aldric jerked his head to the side, staring down at her sourly, "My entire plan is dependent on Islinda attending the party that night and I would not risk it whether she survives or not. If she dies anyway, I guess she was not destined to be the protagonist of this story."

"And you wonder why she attempts to run away from you? Even if she’s your sacrificial lamb, show her a little bit of respect." Maxi sneered, defending Islinda.

The dark fae prince lost his temper and growled in her face, "I ALREADY CLOTH, FEED, AND GIVE HER A PLACE TO STAY! WHAT ELSE DOES SHE WANT FROM ME?!"

"MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING SPACE AND STOP TOYING AROUND HER WITH HER FEELINGS! MAKE YOUR FUCKING INTENTIONS CLEAR!" Maxi yelled back at him and Aldric was taken aback by the blazing intensity of her anger. She has never talked to him this way.

Maxi was not here to fool around and continued, "You kidnapped and confined her against her will because you knew she was in love with your brother, and you were so jealous of that affection you were starved of—"

"I’m not jealous of any affection!"

"Do not interrupt me till I’m done speaking, you brat!" Maxi wagged her finger at him in warning while Aldric’s eyes widened in surprise and a bit of embarrassment, feeling like a child being reprimanded by an older figure.

And yes, the horse shifter was indeed older than he was. When pitted against the horse shifter, Aldric had no doubt that he would win but Maxi had centuries of experience, and with one wrong move on his end, he would be defeated. So no, Maxi was better kept as an ally than an enemy. She knew enough of his secrets that he can’t let her go. They would rather die together.

"You use, threaten, and try to kill her and you wonder why she betrayed you out of self-preservation, forgetting that every creature reacts to instinct and Islinda didn’t feel safe under your watch. Who else would trust a Fae who has the intention to use and harm them? And now you dare to confuse her with your alter ego?!"

Aldric frowned, "In case you haven’t noticed, all I have done is push Islinda away, nor am I exactly likable. In one word, I didn’t seduce her, Eli did." He pushed the blame to his other half who was not available to defend himself of course. How convenient.

"Oh, Aldric," Maxi said in a sing-song, "Don’t give me that pathetic excuse, you already showed interest in her, and don’t think I didn’t know of the little kisses here and there. I might be confined in my horse form all day but I’m aware of the little secrets that go behind these walls. You’re not the only one with a network of information. " She hinted at his crows that kept him updated on the happenings in the castle.

Aldric’s throat bobbed up and down out of guilt.

Maxi went on," Eli picked up on your feelings —"

" I don’t have feelings —"

"You are the host, it is your body and mind, and Eli wouldn’t show interest in her if you hadn’t done the same thing first."

"By the gods," Aldric groaned in annoyance, lifting his face upwards and running his hands down his features. He retorted, "Is this what you’re here to talk about, Maxi because I am so not in the mood for it." She was now crossing the line.

Maxi shook her head in pity, "Do you even know what Rosalind told me when I interrogated her? She said Islinda gave up on the plan. She did not want to go ahead with it already, that was why Rosalind had to drug her and attempt to abduct her out of the palace. Humans are prone to emotions and the gods know whatever twisted mind she has, but she is falling for you already," Maxi smiled wryly," Or would I say your other half? But then, you cannot like a piece of someone without the whole of him’

Boom!

It sounded like an explosion went off in Aldric’s head and he was frozen in shock, his mouth ajar as the words echoed in the deep recess of his mind. ’you cannot like a piece of someone without the whole of him’

"No!" The words were ripped from his throat like the cries of a wounded animal. He looked at Maxi with furious eyes, "I warned her not to fall for him. How could she blatantly disobey me?!"

Maxi scoffed, "As if there’s an on and off button for emotions." She added, "But then I could be wrong and that feeling is reserved only for Eli. After all, you did say, there’s nothing likable about you and I’m sure Islinda is not a birdbrain."

The bitter truth should comfort him but instead, jealousy reared its head like an ugly beast inside of him and Aldric never felt such great loathing towards his other half. Towards his own self.

Aldric lifted a face full of cold fury towards Maxi, "If you’re done talking, you can leave now."

"Of course, I’m not done talking. I’m here to tell you that our partnership ends if Islinda dies on that night."

"Maxi —" He growled low in his throat, but threats didn’t work on her. She played by her own rules and he couldn’t lose the only partner he had.

"Issac and I will be leaving to pay respect to my future in-laws, so I’m not going with you. You are the puppet master, draft your plans carefully this time." Maxi turned to leave only to announce,

"Also, forgive Issac. Your other half already made a deal with Islinda, honor it you entitled prick!"

And with that, she departed.