Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 529: A Tantalizing Offer

Chapter 529: A Tantalizing Offer

"It would happen!" Valerie growled aggressively, his voice laced with a fierce determination that caught Islinda off guard. She instinctively took a step back, startled by the sudden intensity of his outburst.

"What?" Islinda gulped, her voice quivering with a mixture of surprise and apprehension.

Valerie’s power seemed to surge causing the temperature in the room to rise abruptly, enveloping Islinda in an oppressive heat that made her skin prickle with discomfort. Sweat beads formed on her forehead, and she instinctively raised a hand to fan herself, only to freeze as Valerie’s sudden movement caught her unprepared.

Before she could react, Valerie’s hands cupped her face with unexpected gentleness, sending a shiver down her spine. She stiffened, her breath catching in her throat as she found herself locked in his intense gaze. The world seemed to pause in that moment, leaving Islinda acutely aware of the warmth radiating from Valerie’s touch and the tension that crackled in the air between them.

Oh no.

He drew uncomfortably close, his presence looming over Islinda, who could practically feel the heat radiating from his body. Sensing her unease, Valerie paused, his hands still gently cupping her face, as he seemed to respect her boundaries despite their proximity. His voice, strained with emotion, broke the tense silence that hung between them.

"Didn’t I tell you," he said, his words weighed down by the gravity of their shared past and uncertain future, "I would free you from Aldric?"

Islinda swallowed hard, her throat dry with apprehension. This was not the way she had envisioned this conversation would go. As she looked up into Valerie’s eyes, their gaze locked and held, she couldn’t help but feel a rush of conflicting emotions wash over her.

In Valerie’s eyes, Islinda saw sincerity and genuineness, qualities that warmed her heart, yet simultaneously stirred feelings of guilt within her.

The idea of Valerie freeing her from Aldric filled Islinda with conflicting emotions. While the prospect of liberation from Aldric’s enslavement was undeniably tempting, she couldn’t ignore the weight of the indebtedness it would bring. She knew that accepting such a monumental favor from Valerie would bind her to him in a way she wasn’t sure she was prepared for. Despite knowing that the summer prince was nothing like his twisted brother, Islinda couldn’t shake the fear of owing him a debt she might never be able to repay. More than anything, Islinda knew what Valerie truly desired from her was something she could no longer give him: her affection.

Gone was the naive human who once believed in the possibility of a simple, happily-ever-after with Valerie. Valerie was not just Valerie; he was a crown prince, destined to rule Astaria, and he would need a partner of equal stature to rule beside him. Islinda knew she was not that Fae. She lacked the status and power necessary to be considered his equal in the eyes of his people. The realization stung, reminding Islinda of the insurmountable barriers that separated them.

Furthermore, there was the looming threat of Valerie’s psychopathic mother, who harbored a deep-seated hatred towards her and desired her demise. The looming threat of the queen’s animosity cast a shadow over any semblance of happiness Islinda could ever hope to find with Valerie.

While she was technically immortal and couldn’t die in the conventional sense, the thought nagged at her: what if this state didn’t last forever? Like a cat rumored to have nine lives, what if she too had a countdown, a finite number of chances before her immortality faded away? What if there’s a weapon out there that could kill her for real?

Also, if she’s somehow related to that demon from her visions, doesn’t it mean she has demon blood? What implications did that hold for her identity and her place in the world? The Faeries of Astaria, steeped in tradition and prejudice, would never welcome someone with such tainted lineage as their Queen.

Worse of all, Valerie wanted Aldric dead. Becoming Valerie’s queen meant she would be obligated to support him in his quest to eliminate Aldric, the dark Fae prince. Aldric’s malevolence was well-known, and for the safety of the people of Astaria, his death seemed justified. Yet, why did the mere thought of Aldric’s demise fill her with an inexplicable sense of dread?

The realization struck Islinda like a thunderbolt: like a fool, she had fallen hopelessly in love with the cruel prince. The depth of her feelings for Aldric, despite his flaws and transgressions, shook Islinda to her core. The mere thought of him meeting his end caused her heart to ache, as if a piece of her own soul would be lost with his passing. The air felt constricted in her lungs, suffocating her with the weight of her conflicted emotions. Only the gods could help her in this case.

In one word, there was over a thousand reasons why she and Valerie couldn’t get back together even if she wanted to. It was just impossible. Unlike his insistence, they were not meant together.

Islinda’s mind snapped back to the present as she registered Valerie’s voice, realizing he must have been speaking all this while. She watched his lips moving, but her thoughts had been consumed by the turmoil within her, only catching the tail end of his sentence.

"... need a human friend and Gabi could fill that void while keeping an eye on you," Valerie’s words echoed in Islinda’s ears, drawing her attention to the practical solution he proposed

The allure of Valerie’s offer was undeniable, despite the danger that came with it.Islinda has met some pretty amazing Fae in this realm like Maxi, Issac, Zaya and Aurelia who has shown her kindness and friendship. Yet, amidst their hospitality and warmth, Islinda still felt a longing for a deeper connection to her human roots.

Unlike the Fae, Gabi understood what it meant to be human. She shared her experiences, her fears, her hopes, and her dreams. In Gabi, Islinda found a kindred spirit, someone who could empathize with her struggles and offer genuine companionship born from shared humanity. Islinda found the offer difficult to resist.