Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 484: Icy Hatred

Chapter 484: Icy Hatred

His people thought of him as a monster, but Aldric considered himself merciful. Though Islinda’s fate was sealed for the night, it wouldn’t be a violent demise, unlike his initial plans. She wouldn’t endure pain or awareness; she would simply slip into eternal sleep.

Aldric meticulously crafted the concoction, one of his renowned masterpieces—the Nightingale Slumber. A small dose could end a human’s life, while it would only incapacitate an adult Fae. Colorless and tasteless, this potion defied detection even by the most skilled poison tasters, given its delayed reaction.

In his twisted sense of mercy, Aldric had chosen a method that spared Islinda from a gruesome end. Yet, the first subject of his refined experiment was Islinda, his unwitting mate. The realization struck him like a sudden storm, and the mere acknowledgment of Islinda as his mate caused an unexpected pang in his heart. He was indeed a monster, wasn’t he?

The dark Fae prince entered Islinda’s room, moving solemnly toward where she lay. Even without checking, Aldric knew she was gone. The absence of Islinda’s familiar heartbeat sent panic coursing through his veins, leaving him haunted by the weight of his actions. What had he done?

He could feel Eli furiously banging on the door of his mind, wanting to be free. To see his mate. But he could not let him out. Aldric had no idea what he would do in this state. He could as well create a situation way worse than this. So Aldric tightened the lock around his mind, but that did not stop Eli’s feelings from rushing into him.

Aldric stood there, looking down at Islinda’s lifeless form, the weight of his actions settling on his shoulders like a lead cloak. He had taken away the one person who had managed to touch a part of him he thought was long lost.

Regret, guilt, and grief mingled in Aldric’s eyes as he realized the magnitude of his choice. The room felt heavy with the silence of the departed, and the air seemed to carry the weight of a decision that couldn’t be undone.

In that moment, the prince felt an emptiness that surpassed any darkness he had known. Eli’s emotions echoed through his mind, a haunting reminder of what he had lost. Yet, Aldric couldn’t afford to let the floodgates open. He had to remain in control, no matter how much the pain threatened to consume him.

Closing his eyes, Aldric struggled to shut out the whirlwind of emotions, both his and Eli’s. He silently sat down, staring down at Islinda. Her eyes were shut close in death, and his soul cried out in torture over his choice.

The room became a solemn sanctuary, filled only with the weight of remorse and the echoes of what could have been. His fingers gently traced the outline of Islinda’s lifeless form, a silent apology whispered to the stillness of the room.

Aldric’s face bore the marks of his internal struggle, the conflict etched in the lines of his brow. He was a prince haunted by the repercussions of his actions, a dark figure immersed in the profound regret that overshadowed the room.

As the minutes passed in the heavy silence, Aldric couldn’t escape the haunting images of Islinda when she was alive—her laughter, her defiance, and the spark that made her different from anyone he had encountered. Now, all that remained was a cold stillness, a reality he couldn’t undo.

He let go with a jerk as if electrocuted. He shouldn’t touch her. Those were the hands of a sinner. Instead his clenched fists trembled with the weight of guilt,

In that quiet space, Aldric grappled with the consequences of his choices, questioning the very darkness that had led him down this path.

Eli’s presence continued to surge beneath the surface, a persistent reminder of the mate they had lost. Yet, Aldric fought to keep those emotions at bay, unwilling to succumb to the vulnerability that threatened to break him.

In the room where his shadows danced with grief, Aldric sat by Islinda’s side, looking every bit the fallen prince drowning in the regret of a decision that would forever haunt him. Perhaps, this was for the best. In her next life, she would never entangle with the likes of him. In her next life, the gods would probably not give her such cruel fate and she would enjoy the privileges that she missed. He was greatly sorry, but this was the only way for the both of them.

Aldric had considered sending her far away, but it seemed an imperfect solution. Valerie’s obsession with Islinda might drive him to seek her out, and the thought of his own mate becoming entangled with another male was unbearable. The idea alone could lead him down the same path of folly as Eli.

Not to mention the other Queens. The royal family had their eyes on Islinda, and if she suddenly disappeared, they would suspect something was up and would poke their noses into his matter. But if she wind up dead, they would not be surpised. Such cruelty was expected from him.

He could not fake her death nor hide her either. The bond has already been established and he would seek her out continually. Even if he could somehow keep away from her, the same could not be said for Eli. He would cave into the bond and Aldric already had a taste of how reckless his alter ego could be when it comes to matter concerning Islinda.

Unable to send her away yet unwilling to keep her close, Aldric convinced himself that death was the only viable option, assuring himself that he had made the right decision.

With his head bowed in grief, Aldric remained oblivious to the subtle rhythm of a beating heart. It wasn’t until he lifted his face, lost in his sorrow, that his gaze collided with another’s. Islinda.

Dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events, Aldric was on the verge of celebrating what seemed like a miraculous reversal. However, his joy was abruptly cut short as a searing pain pierced through his chest. With wide-eyed astonishment, he looked down to find a knife lodged deeply in his heart.

Aldric’s gaze shifted from the wound to Islinda, and a chill ran down his spine as he witnessed the icy hatred reflected in her eyes. Enduring the agonizing pain, he felt the knife being twisted even deeper until blood spilled from his lips. Islinda, fueled by a newfound determination, rose from her position and fled.