Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 481: Broken — 2

Chapter 481: Broken — 2

Music Recommendation — Take Me Home by Jess Glynne

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"Get out!"

That word from Aldric had felt so out of phase with reality for Islinda that she had stood frozen with shock until his cold, twisted face had her fleeing out of his room. The whole world had ceased to exist for Islinda. Nothing ceased to matter anymore.

Everything was blurry as Islinda ran through the corridor and she realized it was her tears clouding her vision. She blinked a few times to make out the way. Her head hurt and her ears rang and she realized she had run past her room without thinking. All she wanted to do was get away from Aldric; she didn’t even know where she was headed anymore.

She ached all over and the soreness between her legs was the harsh reminder that moments ago she had lost to the throes of passion and the thought alone was a stab to her heart. Islinda always knew that Aldric was a cold, calculating, and cruel bastard and she shouldn’t have given in to him, but him treating her like this? She never saw it coming.

Aldric likes sex. She had seen the way he was with Rosalind and she had thought since his alter ego Eli was enamored with her, it would be so much better if they did it. For a moment there, she had thought there was something special between them. She thought they shared a connection, only for him to break her like this.

Islinda was so embarrassed and hurt, something threatening to tear her vital organ straight from her chest. She looked around, scared. Where the hell was she? Even her brain wasn’t working anymore. Why was everything and everyone so against her today?! Why was this happening to her?

She should be chill with his rejection, yet why did it hurt so much? Islinda sobbed, scared. She was still in nothing but the sheet wrapped around her body and padded out barefooted. To make it worse, the sheet smelled of their lovemaking and the tears fell faster down her cheeks.

Blinded by the tears, it was no wonder she bumped into someone when she turned the corner.

"What — Islinda?" called the voice she had bumped into.

Islinda had not stayed back to see who she had run into. She was so embarrassed and didn’t want anyone to see her in this state. However, the voice felt so familiar she furiously cleared her eyes and turned only to freeze.

"A-Aurelia....?" Islinda let out a hoarse whisper. She would have looked shocked to see her but Islinda was battling with so much emotion at the moment.

"Precious goodness, why are you....." Aurelia was still saying, trailing off when her gaze roved over Islinda’s body. "Oh." She said as it finally dawned on her.

Without a word, she went over and took Islinda in a comforting embrace. "The gods above! You’re safe now, child." She said, patting Islinda on the back.

Islinda couldn’t hold it in anymore as everything came crashing down. She sobbed, raw and unrestrained, the grief trying to tear her apart. It hadn’t felt like this with Valerie and he had been good to her, so why was she so hungover that monster that cared not a bit about her? Why did her heart have to beat for him? Valerie had his flaws, but he would never hurt like this. He would not treat her as if she was dirt. She hated him. She hated Aldric!

"Shh, no more tears, young mistress." Aurelia comforted her.

"P-please don’t call me that?!" Islinda snarled through a hiss.

"Fine, Islinda would do. Come, let’s take you to your room. You are a mess." Aurelia said softly, leading her away.

It felt like an eternity passed when Islinda stopped crying. Although the tears stopped flowing, she felt cold and numb inside. Islinda was so detached from her surroundings that she didn’t even realize Aurelia had taken up the whole work of bathing her. Even the hot water had not been soothing enough to shatter the ice that had formed around her heart. Islinda retreated somewhere deep inside where nothing could hurt her anymore.

Aurelia’s melodic tune echoed through the room as she delicately brushed Islinda’s hair. Despite the gentle care, Islinda sat there, a lifeless figure, her eyes fixed on the reflection in the mirror. The light and excitement in her eyes were gone. The cold rejection from Aldric had left her emotionally drained, turning her into a mere shadow of her former self. The tune seemed to dance around Islinda, a haunting melody that mirrored the emptiness she felt within. She was tired of everything.

"Young miss," Aurelia called and Islinda’s eyes met her through the mirror. "By chance...."She swallowed, hesitant to speak yet summoned the courage to continue."Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"You could feel better —"

Islinda did not speak. No, there was no need for words when she glanced up at Aurelia with eyes as cold as glaciers.

The Fae shuddered but otherwise got the point. She lowered her head, "My apologies."

Without a word, Islinda stood and walked over to her bed only for Aurelia to offer, "By chance, my lady, do you want something to eat? It’s dawn and from what I’ve heard, you haven’t anything to eat all day —"

"Just let me be, Aurelia."

"Oh. Okay." Aurelia said with a bit of disappointment, her head hanging low.

Islinda might be a bitch right now but she still had a compassionate heart. She turned to Aurelia, an apologetic look in her eyes.

She said, "Thank you for your help, Aurelia, but right now..." She took a deep breath, "I just want to be alone." Her voice cracked in the end.

"Of course, I understand, my lady," Aurelia said, bowing low and left.

As soon as the door closed, Islinda was enveloped in silence. She took in a shaky breath, looking around her room before dragging herself to the bed.

Islinda lay down on the bed and stared at nothing, the memory of the day returning slowly and alongside the tears. Her heart ached so much and she lifted a hand to her chest, beating it.

Why does it hurt so much? Why couldn’t she be as emotionless as that bastard, Aldric?

Why did she have to fall in love with a monster?