Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 506: Trouble Was Brewing

Chapter 506: Trouble Was Brewing

Everything happened in the blink of an eye, one moment Islinda was bidding Gabi goodbye and the next her money was missing. She had to applaud the thief though, he was swift and Islinda would not have noticed except she once lived in the slums and was used to these petty shenanigans, which was no wonder she quickly realized with a sinking feeling that her purse had been stolen. Damn it! She should have hidden that in her boobzies!

Without hesitation, Islinda acted on instinct, shoving Prince Wayne into Gabi’s surprised arms and darting after the fleeing thief. "Hey! Get back here!" Islinda yelled.

As the boy realized he had been caught, he quickened his space.

"Oh, damn you little thing!" Islinda cursed under her breath. Anger and adrenaline surged through her veins, propelling her forward with an unnatural speed that matched the boy’s own agility.

The boy was definitely a local with the way he weaved effortlessly through the crowded marketplace and his size made it easy for him to squeeze through limited space. However Islinda was nimble too and her determination meant that she was relentless. That was the only money she had on her and would not lose it!

So through winding alleys and hidden corners of the city, Islinda pursued the thief relentlessly, her determination unwavering despite the obstacles in her way. At one point seeing her relentless pursuit, the boy fearfully exclaimed, "Why wouldn’t you stop chasing me?"

"Give me back my purse and maybe I’ll stop!" She panted.

"No!" He retorted.

"Then I’ll hunt you down to the end of this realm, you pesky rodent!" Islinda was clearly annoyed.

Traders and onlookers scrambled out of their way, startled by the commotion Islinda’s pursuit caused. The young boy, seeing that Islinda was shockingly catching up to him, turned back and began to throw anything he could get his hands on at her while he ran.

Islinda pretty much dodged most of it knowing this was the futile efforts of a frightened prey, however, an apple caught her in the face and that pretty much aggravated Islinda. She saw red.

It wasn’t until she finally caught up to the thief in an open space, tackling him to the ground with a forceful thud, that Islinda realized the extent of her newfound speed.

"Let me go!" The thief struggled beneath her grasp, but Islinda held firm, her eyes blazing with fury as she reclaimed her stolen purse.

Breathless and triumphant, Islinda rose to her feet, her heart pounding with adrenaline as she checked her purse and ensured that its contents were intact. Despite the chaos and commotion of the chase, she felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that justice had been served, even if it came at the cost of a tiring pursuit through the streets of the Fae city.

With her belongings safely back in her possession, Islinda turned to confront the young thief, fully prepared to give him a piece of her mind for his reckless actions. However, as she opened her mouth to speak, her words caught in her throat when she noticed something unexpected – the slight pointedness of the boy’s ears, a telltale sign of his half-breed heritage.

Islinda’s shock was palpable as she stared at the boy, her mind racing with a flurry of conflicting emotions. She couldn’t quite explain her fascination with half-breeds, nor could she fully articulate the soft spot she held for them deep within her heart. It was as if some invisible force drew her to them, compelling her to empathize with their plight.

Perhaps it was the overwhelming sense of pity she felt for them, knowing that they lived in a constant state of limbo, neither fully Fae nor fully human. They were outsiders in both worlds, unable to find a sense of belonging no matter where they turned.

Or perhaps it was the realization that her own child, should she ever have one with a Fae, would share a similar fate. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, stirring a maternal instinct within her that she couldn’t ignore.

The young boy was propped up on his elbows and was looking at her with what looked like resentment in his eyes as if it was actually an offense for retrieving her property stolen by him. The brazzeness should piss her off, yet, Islinda couldn’t help but see a reflection of her own fears and uncertainties in his eyes. In that moment, she felt a surge of compassion wash over her, a desire to protect and nurture him as if he were her own.

However, their moment was interrupted by Gabi’s arrival with Prince Wayne, accompanied by two stern-looking Fae in blue uniforms, patrol guards. Fuck. Islinda realized the gravity of the situation.

"There you are, Isla! Thank the gods you’re safe!" Gabi exclaimed in relief, but Islinda’s focus remained on the boy, sensing trouble brewing for him.

Locking eyes with the half-breed, Islinda discreetly signaled for him to flee. Unfortunately, before he could make a move, one of the Fae officers caught him.

"Is he the one?" the officer asked, gripping the struggling boy.

Although the question was directed at Islinda, she hesitated, knowing her response could seal the boy’s fate.

"He seems to be the one, officer," Gabi answered, assuming Islinda was too stunned to reply, trying to help her.

"Let me go!" The boy protested, his struggles in vain.

"You should release him," Islinda intervened.

The other officer raised an eyebrow, appearing bewildered. "Didn’t he steal from you?"

"Yes, but—"

"He’s to receive a hundred lashes. That’s the penalty for theft at his age. An adult would face far worse."

"Then I forgive him. Please, just let him go," Islinda pleaded.

"It doesn’t work that way. Rules are in place to handle vermin like him. I doubt this is his first offense. He must be punished to serve as a lesson to the others," the officer holding the boy, insisted.

"He’s just a child."

"A kid that would become a nuisance one day. Not that any of these half breed spawns proves to be useful." He said callously, enraging Islinda.

"You don’t know that." Islinda said defensively, her hands clenched. She hated that officer’s tone.

The officer looked at her clearly with annoyance in his eyes, "What do you know? You are a feeble human whose lifespan would end in a twinkle of an eye. However, I’ve lived long enough to see the infestation of these vermin. No good thing ever comes out from these half-breeds. No, it’s a disgrace actually, for our kind to sully themselves with your kind. At least, you humans die eventually, but these ones live longer, tainting and bringing disgrace to the legacy of the Fae."

Stunned by his words, Islinda stood speechless, her gaze shifting to the half-breed, who defiantly retorted, "The lady forgave me, so let me go, you pointy-eared pricks!"

"How dare you speak back, vermin!" The Fae roared, striking the boy.

Blood rushed to Islinda’s head at that action and Islinda knew it at that moment. She was definitely causing trouble.