Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 376: Bonded Mates

Chapter 376: Bonded Mates

The oppressive dark cloud dissipated as Anya departed, lightening the atmosphere. Kayla’s warning about the troublesome nature of the Fae proved accurate, as chaos seemed to follow Anya wherever she went.

With Anya gone, the attention shifted to Calan, and Issac took the opportunity to get to know the young male. Maxi always reprimanded Issac for being too harsh on Calan, but Calan seemed decent enough and Kayla already liked him. After a little bit of a threat from Issac, he reluctantly let them be.

Even after dinner was over, they continued to spend time at the table, joking and teasing each other. While the activity was enjoyable, Maxi couldn’t wait for it to end so she could talk to Issac alone. She could see that he felt the same way, evident by his incessant tapping on his knee.

As if the universe had heard their prayers, Oma excused herself from the table, claiming she needed some fresh air. Maxi knew Oma was smart and must have sensed the need for privacy among the younger ones.

Once Oma left, Maxi sprang to her feet and tugged on Issac’s arm, urging him to follow her. However, Issac hesitated, glancing back at Calan with a frown on his face. The thought of leaving the both of them unchaperoned bothered him.

"For the love of the gods, Issac, let the young ones be," Maxi insisted, tugging harder on his arm.

Issac followed reluctantly, turning around at the last minute to gesture with two fingers pointing at his eyes and then back at Calan in an ’I have my eyes on you’ signal, enough to make the boy shudder at the implied threat

"Oh, Come on!" Kayla exclaimed in frustration, throwing her hands in the air. "Can’t a girl date in peace in this household?" She glared at her brother until he retreated upstairs.

The hypocrisy of it all! Kayla couldn’t help but be annoyed that her brother, who was off having a private conversation with Maxi, was trying to control her love life. Not that she ever listened to him anyway.

Turning to Calan, who looked terrified, Kayla smirked and asked, "So, where were we?"

Calan shuddered, realizing that dealing with this family would be the death of him.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Maxi pushed Issac against the wall and slammed the door shut behind them. She pressed her ear against the surface to ensure they weren’t followed, knowing from experience that younglings could be unpredictable.

Satisfied with the silence, Maxi focused her attention on Issac. Without speaking, she sent her thoughts directly into his mind, asking, ’Can you still hear me?’

Issac’s eyes widened momentarily before narrowing in concentration. ’Loud and clear,’ he responded telepathically.

Maxi gasped in surprise, stumbling back from the shock of their newfound ability. Now that they were alone, she allowed herself to show the range of emotions she was feeling. She felt a mixture of shock, disbelief, confusion, thrill, and curiosity. Issac mirrored these emotions, but fear seemed to be his final expression.

"How is this possible?" Issac spoke aloud, still struggling to comprehend the situation. The idea of communicating through their minds was foreign and unsettling.

"I don’t know," Maxi sighed in resignation.

"What do you mean you don’t know?" Issac asked, his confusion evident. "You’ve always been able to get into my head. Maybe you somehow bestowed this ability on me?" Even he knew how ridiculous this sounded.

While this telepathic connection might seem like a blessing to others, Issac couldn’t help but feel alarmed and troubled by it. He cherished his privacy and the thought of someone being able to read his mind made him uneasy. How did it come about? Just what was the extent of this ability? Was it just to communicate mentally or could she read his mind? There was just so many questions.

Maxi paced across the room, running her hand through her hair in frustration. Issac had never seen her so disheveled and unsure, and it caused a tight feeling in his chest. He realized he was being a coward by blaming her for something neither of them understood.

"No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t make sense. You’re not my first lover; I’ve used this ability on many others over the centuries, and none of them had this reaction," Maxi explained casually.

Although Maxi was simply trying to explain the situation, Issac couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. He knew he wasn’t Maxi’s first relationship, but the possessive fury in his heart made him want to confront each of her past lovers. He would rip them apart for touching what was his? Issac caught himself and realized how irrational he was being. By the gods, what was going on with him?

Maxi continued, "You’re not a dark Fae, otherwise you would have the markings. And you’re not a horse shifter, otherwise we’d have a shared magical connection..." Maxi’s voice trailed off, her expression suddenly filled with shock. "No way."

Issac was now intrigued. "What?" he asked, eager to know what Maxi had discovered. He could see that she had stumbled upon something important.

Maxi shook her head in denial. "It can’t be possible," she muttered.

Frustrated with Maxi’s hesitation, Issac closed the distance between them and placed a hand on her shoulder, seeking her eyes even though she avoided his gaze.

"Tell me," he urged, his voice filled with anticipation. "What is it, Maxi? What have you found?"

Finally meeting his gaze, Maxi held it, her fear palpable as she whispered, "We can’t be bonded mates."

The revelation hit Issac like a punch to the gut. His hand fell from her shoulder, and he stumbled back, taking a few steps away from her. He looked at her, hoping she would tell him it was a joke, but her serious expression told him otherwise.

His world started to spin, and he brought a hand to his temple, feeling a headache coming on. He tried to speak, his mouth opening and closing like a drowning victim, until he finally managed to force out the words.

"That’s impossible. Dark Fae don’t have bonded mates. It’s part of our curse to never find our true mate."

"Or so they assumed," Maxi scoffed, her tone tinged with anger. "Who taught you that?"

"The history books... I don’t know... I can’t remember," Issac stumbled over his words, furrowing his brow in frustration. "We’ve always assumed-"

"That my kind is incapable of love," Maxi finished for him, her voice filled with bitterness. "You’d be surprised how much history has been erased by those in power when it doesn’t suit them."

Issac felt a sense of relief that Maxi’s anger wasn’t directed at him, but rather at those who had hidden this knowledge. It seemed that those at power wanted to maintain the doomed reputation of the dark Fae, while also preventing the courts from feeling pity for them. Having a true mate was considered the greatest blessing among the Fae.

Tentatively, Issac asked, "So, we are true mates?"

Maxi rolled her eyes at him, but continued to explain, "The concept of bonded mates often involves distinctive signs that signify the connection between two individuals. The most common signs are unique markings or symbols on their bodies, like tattoos or birthmarks. Some mates may also experience shared dreams or visions that reveal their bond and shared destiny. Others may even share supernatural abilities or powers, emphasizing their unique connection. And then there are those who have a telepathic link, allowing them to communicate mentally, sharing thoughts and emotions without words."

Maxi realized she had missed the signs right in front of her face, as they had been searching for nonexistent explanations for their telepathic bond.

"I forgot to mention the physical signs," Issac added, stepping closer to Maxi. "Like the tingling sensation I feel whenever you touch me, or the warmth that spreads in my belly when our lips meet. And most of all, the sense of completeness I feel when I’m with you. By the gods, I’ve been a fool."

Issac reached out and pulled Maxi against him, his arms wrapping possessively around her. He tilted her chin up with his finger, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Now I understand why I wasn’t afraid to pursue you, no matter how much you tried to push me away," he confessed.

Maxi’s breath caught in her throat as she felt the awareness prickling on her skin wherever Issac touched her. She had never felt this way with anyone before, and now she understood why. He was meant to be hers. Issac was made for her. It was no wonder she felt the need to taunt his soul; now, his soul was hers to claim, and in return, she was his.

They were bound together by fate, and there was no escaping the strange and terrifying feelings that came with it.

Drawing her face closer, Issac brushed his lips against hers gently, not forcefully or lustfully like she was used to. It was slow, tender, just like him. This was a real kiss, one that cracked her open, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.

She hated feeling vulnerable and exposed.