Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 404: Told Her Everything

Chapter 404: Told Her Everything

Islinda and Valerie occupied the stone bench, an undeniable thickness of tension hanging in the air. A noticeable space was between them on the bench, and Islinda kept her gaze straight ahead, avoiding eye contact as if fearing her determination would waver. Despite her aversion towards him, a lingering part of her still held a desire, and she was determined to extinguish that flame. The realization was clear – she and Valerie could not be together.

"I’m waiting. Start explaining," Islinda said gruffly, her anger veiled for the moment.

Valerie let out a deep sigh, his breath visible in the cold air. He turned to face her and replied, "I will answer any questions you have, Islinda. Where do you want me to begin?"

"Did you ever truly love me? Was our connection in the human realm real, or was I just a means for you to enjoy your burden? Did I ever really matter to you?" Islinda wanted to ask him. However, when she looked into his eyes, all she could say was, "You told the Faeries that I was merely the human who nursed you back to health, that there was nothing between us. Why did you say that when we both know the truth?" Her eyes searched his desperately, hoping for an answer that held the key to everything.

"I had no choice," Valerie answered, holding her gaze.

Islinda leaned back, disappointed by his response.

Noticing her rejection, Valerie continued, "I never expected to see you that night, Islinda. I thought you were dead."

"Dead?" Islinda frowned, taken aback.

He laughed bitterly, "Did you think I would go back on my words? I promised to come back for you after leaving the human realm, and I did. But then I overheard villagers talking, saying your entire family had perished. So, I assumed..." Valerie trailed off.

"That I was dead," Islinda finished, a note of horror in her voice. "Oh gods, Aldric..." She finally realized that Aldric, the dark Fae prince, had orchestrated the demise of her family, leading to Valerie’s misunderstanding. If only Aldric had not intervened, Valerie would have taken her away that night, and perhaps she would not be in this situation now.

Valerie could see the change in her expression and continued explaining, "So, you can imagine how shocked I was when I saw you with Aldric. I had been planning our future together, and suddenly I was mourning you. I was caught off guard and had to deny our relationship to keep you safe from my mother, as well as protect my crown from Aldric. I was careless, and I forgot that my sadistic brother would stop at nothing to ruin my happiness. He knew what you meant to me and wanted to destroy it. I couldn’t put you in danger, so I denied our connection."

Islinda didn’t know what to say. She had believed all this time that Valerie was ashamed of their relationship because she was human. But now she understood that he was trying to protect her. Conflicting feelings stirred inside her, and her heart ached.

Raising her head, her expression hardened. "That is still not a reason to swap my soul. You wanted to put me into another fae’s body without my consent!"

"I was trying to protect you!" Valerie argued.

You violated my rights and my body!" Islinda snapped. "You wanted to make me someone I’m not. I understand the limitations of being human in the Fae realm, but I would rather die than steal another fae’s life, memories, and identity. You were trying to uproot me, and I refuse to be a fake!"

"There was nothing else I could do, Islinda! If I had the chance to ask for your opinion, I would have. But you were trapped in Aldric’s grip, and I had no idea what he was doing to you. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see were nightmares of him torturing you just to get to me. The guilt nearly killed me, knowing it was all my fault. If I hadn’t crossed into the human realm, Aldric would not have found me. But I couldn’t do anything because you were bound to him. So forgive me for trying to save the human I love in an unorthodox way. I was desperate to keep you safe." Valerie spoke unapologetically.

Islinda’s mouth opened and closed, no word coming as she reeled from the severity of this revelation. However, one thing that dawned on her was that all of this happened between of Aldric. He disrupted the" supposed future" with Valerie. And he was not going to stop?

"Islinda," Valerie whispered sadly, and she met his gaze, her heart racing. "I would never intentionally harm you. I only wanted you by my side."

As she looked into his sincere eyes, Islinda’s heart fluttered, and a strange energy hummed between them. She couldn’t help but remember the good times they had shared, and the energy continued to pull them together like magnets.

She stared at Valerie, his red hair was pulled into a high ponytails, held together by a golden ornament, the tendrils framing his face. His heated golden eyes bored into hers and his sharp features appeared even more gorgeous. He looked the same, except things were no longer the same between them.

But Islinda quickly snapped out of it. She shook her head and said, "I admit, I was angry with you for a long time. But hearing your side of the story, I don’t think I have any strength left in me to hate you anymore."

Valerie’s features brightened at her confession, until Islinda added, "However, that is all in the past now. It’s time for us to move on with our lives."

His expression contorted into something ugly, and he rasped, "What?"

There was no way he had heard her correctly. It couldn’t be true.

Islinda took a deep breath and said with her eyes closed, "It’s time we moved on with our lives."