Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 526: Another Time, Another place

Chapter 526: Another Time, Another place

Valerie, focused on preparing a meal, uttered with a calm yet firm tone, "You’re down," addressing Islinda without turning his gaze toward her.

Islinda approached quietly, aware that her presence hadn’t gone unnoticed by the Fae. She wasn’t surprised by Valerie’s keen perception; after all, the Fae were known for their superior senses. Standing beside the summer prince, she offered her assistance, "Do you need help with anything?"

Valerie’s response faltered as his gaze shifted towards Islinda, his eyes widening in surprise. "No, I don’t... think I need one," he managed to finish his words, his tone slightly flustered. The unexpected sight of Islinda seemed to have momentarily thrown him off balance.

Islinda’s cheeks flushed as she sensed the intensity of Valerie’s gaze, prompting her to shift uncomfortably on her feet. With a nervous scratch at the back of her head, she glanced up at Valerie shyly, questioning, "Do I look so strange?"

"Ye—No!" Valerie’s response came out as a shout, his own fluster evident as his eyes remained fixed on her. The unexpected intensity of the moment seemed to catch him off guard, adding to the awkwardness of the exchange.

Islinda had gathered her hair into a ponytail, a seemingly simple act that nonetheless caught Valerie’s attention. Accustomed to seeing her with her hair down, especially since they met during the cold winter season when she sought warmth, the sight of her in such a casual style left him momentarily stunned.

The simplicity of the ponytail highlighted Islinda’s striking bone structure, leaving Valerie momentarily speechless. His gaze lingered on her slender neck, a reminder of their intimate moments together, igniting memories he struggled to push aside. He couldn’t help but recall the sensation of kissing the delicate column of her neck, and the traitorous thoughts stirred within him.

By the gods! Valerie chastised himself for already having a physical reaction down there that served to heighten his discomfort, knowing that Islinda was not receptive to such advances. At the moment.

"No?" Islinda’s innocent yet captivating gaze met Valerie’s, her head tilted slightly in curiosity.

Valerie’s throat tightened as he took in Islinda’s appearance once more, his gaze lingering on her with a mixture of admiration and longing. "You look perfect," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper, unable to conceal the sincerity behind his words.

The intensity in Valerie’s gaze caused Islinda to flush and avert her eyes. Why was he looking at her like that? They weren’t together anymore. She hadn’t pulled her hair up to seduce him; it was merely to conceal the streak of white that had appeared in her hair.

Islinda could somehow sense it,

Valerie was beginning to suspect there was something odd about her.

If he noticed the change in her hair, he might start prying into her affairs, something she wasn’t ready to confront.

A tense silence hung between them as their gaze locked, Islinda felt the heat in Valerie’s eyes intensify, causing her stomach to churn with nervousness. It wasn’t because she harbored any feelings for him, but rather the anticipation of having to reject him, which she knew would be awkward and embarrassing.

Thankfully, Valerie broke the silence by clearing his throat and dispersing some of the tension in the air. "You should go have your seat in the dining area. I’m already done here," he suggested, providing a welcome opportunity to divert their focus away from the awkwardness of the moment. Islinda nodded in agreement, relieved to have a reason to escape the awkwardness of their brief encounter.

Lost in her thoughts, Islinda made her way to the dining room, her mind preoccupied with the recent interactions with Valerie. Suddenly, she was jolted out of her reverie as her gaze met the piercing blue eyes of a certain Wrry cat. Startled, Islinda nearly screamed, her heart racing at the unexpected encounter.

Prince Wayne was already seated comfortably, his vertically elongated blue pupils fixed on Islinda with an intense scrutiny that sent a shiver down her spine. Despite her efforts to remain composed, Islinda couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that the cat’s gaze instilled in her. She had to admit, there were times, like now, when the Wrry cat’s presence downright creeped her out.

Startled by the sudden fright, Islinda deviated from her usual routine and took a seat across from Prince Wayne instead of beside him as she typically did. With a wary gaze, she found herself scrutinizing her adorable Wrry cat for the first time, a sense of suspicion creeping into her thoughts.

The recent dream had shaken Islinda to her core, causing her to question everything she thought she knew about herself and her reality. In this state of heightened awareness, even Prince Wayne, whom she had always trusted, fell under suspicion.

As Islinda’s thoughts raced, she couldn’t shake the memory of Aldric’s deception in the human realm, where he had disguised himself as Eli. That encouraged the thought in her mind: What if her seemingly ordinary Wrry cat held secrets beyond her understanding?

Prince Wayne’s enigmatic demeanor added another layer of uncertainty. His mysterious nature, intelligence, and occasional mischievousness echoed traits she associated with the Fae, stirring doubts about his true intentions. Was he merely a Wrry cat, or was he something more?

As if to exacerbate the situation, Prince Wayne chose that moment to climb onto the table, his unexpected intrusion disrupting the already tense atmosphere. Normally, Islinda would have promptly shooed him off and scolded him for his behavior, but she found herself immobilized by a curious mix of intrigue, anticipation, and fear.

With each graceful step, Prince Wayne approached Islinda, his movements fluid and deliberate. Soon, he stood directly in front of her, his mesmerizing almond-shaped eyes locking onto hers. Islinda’s breath caught in her throat as she stared into the depths of his enigmatic gaze, unable to tear her eyes away.

Her back rigid with tension, Islinda felt as though she were peering into the very soul of the Wrry cat, searching for any hint or sign that he was something more than he appeared to be. With each passing moment, the air between them crackled with an unspoken tension,

leaving Islinda on edge as she awaited any revelation that Prince Wayne might offer.

As Islinda continued to scrutinize Prince Wayne’s mesmerizing eyes, a peculiar warmth washed over her, enveloping her in a sense of familiarity and comfort. Despite her initial apprehension towards the Wrry cat, all traces of fear had dissipated, leaving her captivated by the charm and grace of Prince Wayne.

Drawing closer, Islinda found herself lost in the depths of his blue eyes, each glance pulling her deeper into their soothing embrace. It was as though she had known those eyes before, their familiarity tugging at the edges of her memory. She racked her brain, searching desperately for the source of this inexplicable connection.

And then, in a sudden moment of clarity, recognition dawned upon her like a bolt of lightning. The realization hit her with such force that she felt her breath catch in her throat. Those eyes—the same eyes that now gazed back at her with such depth and intensity—she had seen them before, in another time, in another place.