Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 508: Aldric’s Pet

Chapter 508: Aldric’s Pet

Maxi stormed into Issac’s room, her frustration palpable in the tense set of her shoulders and the fiery gleam in her eyes. As soon as her eyes rested on Issac, she wasted no time in getting straight to the point, her voice edged with urgency and exasperation.

"Please tell me you have good news," Maxi demanded, her words laced with a sense of desperation. It was clear that she had reached her breaking point, her patience worn thin by the endless stream of challenges and obstacles she had faced since imprisoning Aldric.

The events of the past day had left Maxi reeling, her hopes of a swift resolution shattered by the relentless onslaught of dissent and defiance in the castle. One would think that with Aldric subdued, things would be better. But no, it was way worse.

Despite locking Aldric away and sealing off his dark influence, the situation had only grown more volatile in the palace. Maxi had lost count of the number of Aldric’s staff she had caught attempting to sneak into his prison and free him from his bondage.

To make matters worse, it wasn’t just blind loyalty to Aldric that drove their actions. Some of the workers were driven by fear, terrified of the repercussions they might face if they didn’t help the prince. It was quite laughable considering she and Issac would bear the brunt of his wrath. Maxi was already holding her breath for that terrifying moment.

The Others, particularly the guards, questioned Maxi’s authority, refusing to acknowledge her right to imprison Aldric and assert control over their affairs. And they quote, "She was nothing but Issac’s fiancée. She was a nobody".

Thanks to that challenge, Maxi’s fists bore the bruises of her efforts to install senses into their Neanderthal brains. She tried to maintain order and assert her authority in the face of mounting resistance. But despite her best efforts, the challenges seemed insurmountable, and Maxi found herself teetering on the brink of despair. The clock was ticking and it was only a matter of time before one of them succeeded and Aldric was out.

"It was difficult but I managed to track Prince Valerie down. He’s staying at a cottage bought under the name of one of his staff. I think he was aiming to throw off anyone who might track him." Issac said.

Other times Maxi would have been proud of Issac’s skill but she was so overwhelmed right now she wanted nothing but a solution to the problem at hand." And? " She said, a little too sharply.

However, Issac understood her plight, (their plight) and ignored her tone. He answered, "He didn’t want to let me in at first but I threatened to release Prince Aldric from our hostage once I returned and that gave him a change of heart."

Maxi groaned, rubbing her temple at the mention of "releasing Aldric". She was close to regretting doing this but if it meant helping Islinda, then she would do it again and again. Aldric was an idiot for attempting to kill his mate. Now she had Issac by her side, she could never think of harming him or putting him in danger.

On the bright side, they haven’t received any emissary or royal decree from the palace yet. The news had spread and this was a stain already on Aldric’s notorious reputation. The gods help her, Aldric would surely kill her.

Had it been any other prince, Maxi, and Issac would be on the run now for their lives. It was considered treason to bring harm to a royal. However, this was Prince Aldric, and no one was concerned about him. Not that you could exactly blame them, Aldric has never been delighted with anyone interfering in his business. He didn’t want their mock help or pity as he assumes. In one word, the Queens would be so delighted if Maxi held him hostage, a little bit longer.

"So what happened next? Did you see Islinda? How is she?" Maxi asked, eager to know that Islinda was safe. She was the one who thought it a great idea that Islinda was freed, it was her responsibility to ensure her safety.

Issac gave her an apologetic look, "I did not see her, but her scent was all over the place. Valerie explained that she didn’t want to stay with him, so he let her go."

"Good girl," Maxi uttered under her breath. At least she wouldn’t have to explain to Aldric that her mate was in another male’s house, not to mention, Valerie of all people. Aldric would lose it.

She asked, "I believe he didn’t send her away empty-handed?"

Issac said, "The Prince says he handed her enough money that would last a year and a map of the city. Above all, he has his second in command secretly tailing her in case she lands herself in trouble."

"Good." Maxi breathed.

Issac looked at her, concerned, "You have nothing to worry about, she’s safe. Once I’m done here, I intend to go look for her and keep an extra eye just in case. While Prince Valerie is honorable, he can never be fully trusted. He surely has his motives for being around Islinda especially now Aldric is down. Not to mention dangers lurk in every corner of Astaria and Islinda is on her own out there with little knowledge of our world. "

"Thank you." Maxi looked at him with appreciation in her eyes. She said, "I don’t know what I would have done without you."

"That is why you have me."

Issac was smug as he reached for her and Maxi allowed herself to be pulled towards him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed their bodies together, leaning in till their foreheads were touching. Cupping her face in his palms, he said, "You have nothing to worry about now. We will get over this together."

Maxi nodded her head in response, meeting his intense gaze, causing a surge of desire to course through her veins. She couldn’t deny the pull between them, a connection that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. As she looked at Issac, Maxi couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t marked her yet, a gesture that would bind their souls together for eternity.

She understood the implications of their bond, the merging of their very essence into one. Maxi, a dark Fae, knew that such a union was rare and powerful, capable of withstanding even the greatest challenges. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Issac harbored doubts about tying himself to her kind.

Despite his reservations, Maxi was prepared to embrace their connection fully, to offer her soul to him without hesitation. She longed for the moment when their destinies would be sealed when nothing could come between them except the finality of death.

The air was thick with anticipation and Issac was about to kiss her when she remembered something. "Wait —!" She shouted.

Issac groaned at the interruption which earned a chuckle from Maxi. She had always been the one eager to make a move on Issac but these days, the roles were reversed, and that itself was hilarious.

"Sorry...." Maxi said amid her laughter, "I have something very important to tell you, it’s about Islinda and Aldric...." She trailed off as a flicker of movement caught her eye, drawing her gaze to the window. With a start, Maxi noticed something perched on the sill, its presence sending a chill down her spine.

"Fuck." She cursed.

"What?" Issac noticed the change in her demeanor and when she didn’t answer, followed her line of sight. His gaze drifted to the window only for his blood to run cold.

There was a keen-eyed raven perched outside the window, its sleek black feathers ruffling in the cool breeze.

"Fuck." It dawned on Issac.

Aldric’s pet aka his spy Ravens.

Unbeknownst to Maxi and Issac, one of the birds had its beady eyes trained on them all this while, listening intently to every word exchanged between them, its sharp minds absorbing every detail.

"Catch that bird," Maxi whispered, her voice barely audible, Issac almost missed the instruction.

Before Issac could react, the raven took flight, its dark wings slicing through the air as it vanished into the sky. Maxi and Issac exchanged a worried glance, the weight of their unspoken fears hanging heavy in the air. Aldric now knows whatever they had discussed.

Determined, Maxi hurried to the cell where Aldric was confined. As she entered, she found Aldric seated on the bare floor, bound but with the raven perched on his lap. The bird, a silent observer, had been the one who spied on them. It had flown back to its master and now, Aldric was stroking its head with an unsettling calmness.

When Aldric raised his gaze to meet Maxi’s, his icy blue eyes bore a chilling intensity, sending a shiver down her spine. With a cold edge to his voice, he spoke, "He’s a pretty thing, isn’t he?"

Maxi gulped. Aldric knows it all. He knew that Valerie took his mate. What in the Fae has she done?