Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 475: The Monster Inside — 1

Chapter 475: The Monster Inside — 1

"My Prince!" Aldric was suddenly interrupted in the midst of his magical experiment. With an exasperated groan, he turned to see who had dared to interfere with his work. Everyone in the palace, except Islinda, knew about this place, but they were wise enough not to enter it for good reason.

Only two people could interrupt him while he was busy in the lab, and if he had to guess, it was probably Isaac. Maxi would not refer to him with that title; Isaac was the formal one. He shouldn’t have shown him the secret passageway to access this lab.

Except, it was Kalamazoo who had been sent by his superior, Isaac. The fae sure hadn’t wasted any time in establishing the hierarchy. In one word, Kalamazoo wanted nothing to do with this place, but he had no choice when Isaac sent him with important news.

However, all of Kalamazoo’s bravado vanished when he walked into the dark fae prince’s laboratory. He had heard rumors about it from the staff, but actually entering it was another thing. Now, he had a first-hand experience.

Hidden within the depths of the palace was Prince Aldric’s secret laboratory. A heavy, ornate door concealed the entrance, its surface etched with ancient symbols that glowed with an otherworldly luminescence when touched by Aldric’s hand.

Upon crossing the twisted threshold, guarded by flickering fae bulbs that danced with an eerie, hypnotic allure, one would find a surreal amalgamation of mystical apparatuses and arcane artifacts scattered across the room. Dimly lit by a soft eerie glow, the lab exuded an air of secrecy and experimentation. If Aldric aimed to frighten anyone from accessing the lab, it was working.

The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, intermingled with an underlying note of something sinister. The walls were lined with shelves holding vials of iridescent liquids, emitting a faint ghostly glow. Strange, pulsating crystals jutted from the ceiling, casting shifting shadows that seemed almost alive.

The centerpiece of the laboratory was a circular platform adorned with intricate symbols, resembling a mystic sigil etched into the cold stone floor. This platform served as the focal point for Aldric’s experiments on his dark fae heritage. Runes and glyphs were inscribed around the edges, pulsating with a faint ominous light as if resonating with the magic coursing through the prince’s veins.

Aldric’s worktable stood in the center, cluttered with scrolls filled with arcane writings, ancient tomes bound in leather, and meticulously drawn diagrams detailing the intricate aspects of fae magic. Unearthly specimens preserved in jars lined the edges, displaying the variety of flora and fauna influenced by Aldric’s experiments.

Globes of shadowy energy hovered around the laboratory, manifestations of Aldric’s dark powers harnessed for his research. These shadows moved with eerie intelligence, responding to the prince’s commands as he delved into the secrets of his lineage.

In one corner, a mirror reflected Aldric’s visage, capturing the intensity in his eyes. The laboratory echoed with a soft hum of magical wards, ensuring the secrecy of Aldric’s experiments and shielding the mystical energies from prying eyes.

Unfortunately, the ambiance within the secret lab had been interrupted by Kalamazoo’s presence, and the poor fae knew that from the way Aldric pinned him with a death glare. His gaze fell on the specimen on the prince’s worktable, which twitched continuously as if experiencing a convulsion. Then it fell deadly still. It was dead.

Kalamazoo swallowed nervously and lifted his gaze to see Aldric staring at his dead specimen with an unreadable expression. Though they had no idea what Aldric did in this lab, there was always the suspicion that the dark fae prince was pushing the boundaries of magic and science in his quest to understand the mystery of his dark fae heritage and power.

And he just messed up one of his experiments. At that moment, it dawned on Kalamazoo why Isaac chose him for this errand. The damn fae sent him to his death!

When Aldric finally lifted his face, Kalamazoo shuddered. He was going to die. It was confirmed. Aldric began to stride towards him with purpose, and with each step he took, the poor fae saw his life flash before his eyes.

Just when Aldric was a step away from him and lifted a hand in a threatening gesture, he shouted desperately, "Islinda got into a fight!"

At once, Aldric’s hand halted and the menacing expression shifted into a tight scowl this time.

"What did you just say?" Aldric inquired.

Kalamazoo licked his lips nervously, quickly answering before he changed his mind. "She got into a fight with Sura."

"Did she die?"

"W-what? N-no. Just a few injuries, and she has been taken to the healer," he answered.

Aldric looked at him for a long time, enough to make him scuffle from foot to foot. But to his surprise, the dark fae prince burst into laughter.

"I am so proud of her. She’s finally unsheathing her claws. The fae would never respect her if she doesn’t develop a backbone, and they continually pick on her. Good work, Islinda. Good work," Aldric said to himself with a smile.

Kalamazoo stood frozen, thinking to himself that Prince Aldric was truly crazy. There was no way he was going to last in this job.

"Although, I’m curious, what brought about the fight? I know Islinda, and she would never risk her life to fight a fae unless provoked," Aldric said, his curiosity evident.

"Well, the thing is..." Kalamazoo scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Speak. Don’t omit a thing." Aldric sensed hesitation from him.

"I was not at the scene, but accounts from witnesses said that Sura had called Islinda a whore, and she retaliated," he confessed cautiously, eyeing Aldric to gauge his reaction.

Aldric stiffened.

"What did you just say?"

"S-she called her a whore."

"Is that so?" Aldric’s voice turned cold, sending shivers down Kalamazoo’s spine.

"Sura suggested that she was a whore for bedding Crown Prince Valerie and you at the same time. Although I think some words might have been exaggerated, she claimed that she was a freak for fooling around with a monster like you."

"Interesting," Aldric breathed. He then turned to Kalamazoo with a sinister curl of his lips. "It seems my staff has forgotten how much of a monster I can be. It’s about time I jolted their memory a bit."

And thus, that was how the dark fae prince went in search of Islinda in the infirmary. Aldric wasn’t really angry at her, but at the whole situation. No one had the right to call Islinda a whore, except him. She was his alone. No one else.

"I can explain," Islinda lifted her hand in a bid to explain, seeing his furious expression. "I didn’t really have a choice, and you should see the way I beat her up--"

Islinda was still in the middle of explaining when Aldric wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her to him, bringing his lips down on hers forcefully. Islinda was completely frozen, her eyes wide from the shock. That was not the reaction she had been expecting, considering how he looked like he was about to destroy the entire fae realm. But instead, he was about to destroy the entire fae realm for her.

For a few minutes, Islinda stood unreactive until he bit her bottom lip, and she yelped in pain, making room for his tongue to enter. Things got heated at that point, and Zaya roused from the shock, quickly giving them room.

Islinda didn’t even realize it until now, but whenever Aldric kissed her, she lost all sense of awareness. Nothing else mattered except the feel of his lips on hers and the way his touch left a trail of fire.

She kissed him with the same ferocity, his hand around her waist tightening to the point of nearly breaking her in two. Not that she minded, at least not at that moment. But even with no space between them, it still wasn’t enough. She wanted to feel more of him, his skin on hers. The gnawing heat between them burned fiercer and fiercer, and Islinda knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before she succumbed to it.

Breaking away for air, they both stared at each other, uncertain and clueless about what to say. Aldric hadn’t expected to ravish her lips the instant he laid eyes on her. He only knew he had to see her and hold her. His instincts pushed him to do so much more, and he couldn’t resist. He liked it. He loved it.

With no words to say, Aldric rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he stared deep into her eyes, caressing her cheeks, and she let him. It was a nice sensation, and he could do this forever.

Fuck. No.

Aldric suddenly jerked away from her and Islinda had to admit that it hurt her. He always accused her of not knowing what she wanted and yet, he was way worse. She sensed Aldric withdrawing from her. He confuses her. One moment he looked like he wanted her and the next like he wanted her dead. And an addition of his living alter ego did not make things easier either.

"Come, I have something to show you." He said, taking her hand in his and began to lead her.

Islinda had no idea where he was taking her but one look at their intertwined hand, had her smiling unconsciously. She followed obediently, awaiting what he had to show her with great anticipation.

However, that smile fell from her face when they got into the courtyard.

By the gods! The blood drained from her face.

What has Aldric done?