Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 509: Reject You As A Mate

Chapter 509: Reject You As A Mate

"Care to let me in on a secret," Aldric’s voice cut through the silence like a knife, his icy blue eyes glinting with a dangerous edge. Maxi’s throat went dry, her pulse quickening with fear as her eyes flickered to the Raven. Aldric knew it all. He knew that Valerie took Islinda. His mate was with another male. Maxi swallowed. She was doomed.

The raven, as if sensing the tension in the air and didn’t want to be caught in the middle, took flight, its departure leaving an eerie stillness in its wake as Maxi struggled to find her voice.

Maxi took a step forward, "I can explain...." But the deadly look from Aldric stopped her in her tracks and her feet were rooted to the ground as if the dark Fae prince had frozen her with one glance. Thankfully, his winter power was subdued, otherwise Maxi would be a popsicle by now.

Aldric stood up finally with excruciating slowness, his gaze never wavering as he walked towards Maxi, his steps deliberate and menacing. But Aldric could only get only as far as the chains could let him before he was pulled back.

"What do you want to explain, Maxi? Tell me. When did you intend to tell me that Valerie has my mate?" Aldric’s voice dripped with taunting sarcasm, each word laced with venom.

Maxi’s jaw clenched in defiance as she met Aldric’s icy gaze head-on. "Oh. She’s your mate now?" Her tone was sharp, dripping with disdain. "You should have thought of that when you attempted to poison her."

Aldric’s reaction was immediate, a primal growl rumbling from deep within his chest as he bared his teeth in a feral display of rage. He pulled at the chain that bound him, the metal rattling against the stone floor with each forceful tug, the sound echoing through the chamber with ominous intensity.

"That is in the past and between Islinda and I to resolve. However, you dare to send my mate to Valerie? Do you know what you have done?"

"Oh, don’t you dare put that blame on me, Aldric! Don’t make it seem as if I intentionally sent Islinda to Valerie!" Maxi scolded him, her voice filled with righteous indignation as she closed the distance between them, their eyes locked in a fierce confrontation. With each word, their breath mingled in the charged air between them.

"What happened is my fault as much as it is your fault. If only you agreed to let Islinda go, then Issac would have gotten her settled down in a place where we have our eyes on her. However, you had to scare her right into the arms of your nemesis, Valerie! So tell me, whose fault is that?!" Her words rang out with fiery intensity, punctuated by the rapid rise and fall of her chest as she fought to control her emotions.

Aldric was rendered speechless, his usually sharp tongue failing him as Maxi’s words struck a chord within him. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly, unable to conjure a retort in the face of her impassioned rebuke.

In the tense silence that followed, Issac burst into the room, his expression shifting from anxiety to relief upon seeing Maxi unharmed. However, his relief was short-lived as he sensed the escalating tension in the room. Without hesitation, he moved to stand beside Maxi, a silent display of solidarity and defiance against Aldric’s simmering wrath.

When Aldric’s icy gaze fell upon him, it was filled with a potent mixture of loathing and the promise of vengeance, igniting a spark of fear in Issac’s eyes even as he stood his ground. However, Maxi needed his support the most now. So he get over the fear.

Aldric’s voice was almost coercive as he spoke, his tone slow and deliberate. "Then release me," he demanded, his eyes boring into Maxi’s with a fierce intensity. "I’ll get Islinda myself. I promise not to harm either of you, and Islinda will be back here where she is safe, away from Valerie or whoever else might harbor ill intentions against her. No one can protect my mate more than me."

"M-mate!" Issac exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock at the revelation.

He remained speechless for several moments, his mouth agape as he turned to Maxi, silently seeking an explanation. Maxi subtly shook her head, indicating that she would address his questions later.

"I’m afraid I cannot do that, Aldric," Maxi replied firmly, her tone unwavering. Aldric’s expression fell before it twisted into a mask of rage.

"I decided to forgive you and your new pet for your grievances, and yet you decline?" Aldric taunted Issac, his words dripping with disdain.

"There is no need to forgive me since I am not letting you out today," Maxi growled, a low rumble emanating from her chest as she defended Issac. "And he’s not my pet. Issac is a living being capable of making his own decisions and is not to be controlled in the same way you try to control Islinda."

Aldric’s voice thundered through the cell, his fury palpable in the air. "You defy me again, Maxi," he accused, his eyes ablaze with anger. "You have betrayed me, Maxi. Betrayed our bond, our trust."

Maxi lifted her chin defiantly, meeting Aldric’s gaze head-on. "No. I am only protecting Islinda from you and keeping the promise I made," she retorted, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You say you are worried about Islinda and want to protect her from Valerie. Why don’t you just be truthful for once, Aldric, and admit that you want to keep Islinda from Valerie because you’re afraid she might realize what a better male Valerie is and reject you as a mate!"

"Shut up!" Aldric launched forward with a snarl, causing Maxi to take a step back, her heart racing with fear. Issac positioned himself protectively in front of her, ready to defend against any potential attack from Aldric.

Maxi’s confidence returned, and she continued, "But that’s the truth, isn’t it, Aldric? Your fear of being abandoned is so overwhelming that you don’t even realize you’re suffocating those who choose to stay!"

"Just because we stayed long enough doesn’t mean you know everything about me, Maxi!" Aldric retorted angrily.

"Sure, I don’t know everything about you, but I know enough to understand that letting you out right now in this state would be a disaster," Maxi countered, her tone resolute. "Having a mate is new territory for you. If you want to ensure Islinda doesn’t run away again, then it’s time you took this opportunity to think about how to treat her better. I’ll keep her safe and release you when you’re calm enough. I am not stupid enough to unleash a storm of fury that would engulf everyone in its destructive wake. You are not stable at the moment, Aldric." Maxi said firmly

"I will make you regret this," Aldric vowed, his words dripping with venomous intent. "You will rue the day you crossed me, Maxi." His promise of vengeance hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over Maxi’s desperate attempts to reason with him.

Maxi shook her head pitifully. "I can’t help but wonder if it was a mistake taking your hand the first time we met," she murmured. "You promised me that you would create a new world for our kind—a world where we wouldn’t be discriminated against or treated like the scorn of this realm. A world where there would be hope and peace for our offspring. But if you can’t even treat your own mate better, I wonder how much hope there is for our people. Will you control them all the same way you try to control Islinda? Perhaps Valerie should take the crown instead."

Aldric went deadly still upon hearing those words from Maxi. The dark Fae horse shifter had always been his most loyal supporter, but now, hearing doubt from her was enough to break his heart. What had come over him? He wasn’t usually like this. However, the thought of Islinda and Valerie being together was driving him crazy. This was why he didn’t want a mate. It was a distraction. He was slipping. It was only a matter of time now before he made a mistake. Aldric needed the crown of Astaria if he wanted to survive.

Maxi saw the moment Aldric gave in, his shoulders slumped and his face showed utter devastation. She felt pity for him. Throughout his life, Aldric had been sure of one thing: taking over the throne of Astaria. Nothing else mattered. Not the lives of others. After all, he had nothing to lose. But now, he had everything to lose. His mate.

Maxi should have said something comforting to him, but she was disappointed at the same time. However, in the end, she wavered and promised him, "You don’t have to worry about Islinda. She’s safe."

Aldric did not reply, nor did he move from his position. He was probably contemplating his next move. No matter what, the dark Fae prince was a trickster, and he would always think of ways to turn a disadvantage to his benefit. So Maxi left with Issac before he changed his mind and threatened to kill them. Again.