Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 570: A Favour Owned

Chapter 570: A Favour Owned

"Stop. Looking. At. Me. That. Way," Islinda commanded, her tone firm as she fought to maintain a stern expression.

"What way?" Aldric countered, meeting her gaze with a daring challenge. "Tell me, Islinda, what way am I looking at you? I don’t recall you stipulating any clause in your ground rules that I can’t—"

"Don’t —!" Islinda interrupted, her glare sharp as she locked eyes with him. She could sense the overwhelming, primal desire emanating from him, crashing into her with relentless intensity. A deep ache pulsed within her core, sending a shiver down her spine, and she suspected her pheromones had reached him, judging by his sharp intake of breath.

The scorching intensity in his gaze made her breath catch, and she struggled to maintain composure as a sinister chuckle rumbled from Aldric’s throat. As his chilling laughter subsided, a frigid atmosphere enveloped the room, sending a shiver through her. With purposeful strides, Aldric closed the distance between them, his presence dominating the space.

Looming over her, their bodies almost touching, he lowered his head and whispered, "Keep deceiving yourself, love."

Islinda fought to suppress a shiver of pleasure, maintaining her impassive expression as they locked eyes intensely. The tension between them hung thick in the air until they were interrupted by someone’s arrival.

Stepping back from her, Aldric increased the distance between them, his gaze scrutinizing her. It was only then that he realized she hadn’t packed anything, despite his earlier instruction.

"You packed nothing?" Aldric asked, taken aback.

"I have nothing here," Islinda replied absentmindedly, her attention drifting to Aurelia and the fae servants bustling about with their loads, searching for two absent Faeries. "I don’t even know my role anymore in this place; you haven’t decided yet. So I don’t know what I should pack or if I should pack at all." She locked eyes with him, stating firmly, "A hostage has nothing, does she?"

Aldric was utterly flabbergasted, exhaling a sigh and pinching the space between his brows. He had thought having a mate would simplify things, but it seemed he had just embarked on the wildest ride of his life.

He didn’t utter a word to Islinda, instead, he commanded the nearest servant Fae, "You, come here."

The Fae’s eyes widened with apprehension as she was summoned, exchanging nervous glances with Aurelia, likely fearing the worst. Everyone knew Prince Aldric’s reputation. With a reassuring signal from Aurelia, the servant bravely stepped forward.

Aldric directed her, "Go to her room and pack up every single thing you can find in there, especially the thicker clothes." Then, turning to Islinda, he held her gaze firmly as he added, "You’re not going to freeze on my watch."

Blushing with embarrassment, Islinda realized her oversight. Blinded by anger and resentment, she hadn’t considered the unforgiving coldness of the winter court. It was moments like this that she chastised herself for her foolishness.

The delay was clearly her fault this time, and an awkward silence fell over them all as they waited. Unable to bear the weight of her guilt any longer, Islinda blurted out, "Sorry."

Aldric’s brows lifted in surprise, and he turned to Islinda with a look of wonder. Although he heard her apology, he sought confirmation that he had heard correctly. "What did you just say?" he asked.

"Nothing," Islinda retorted, her lips pressed together tightly.

Aldric stared at her, a small smile forming on his lips. He didn’t press her further, and as a result, the tension between them eased slightly. They stood in a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

The Fae assigned to pack Islinda’s things was swift and efficient, arriving earlier than expected

"All is set, my prince," Aurelia informed him.

"Good, let’s go," Aldric ordered, heading for the door and expecting Islinda to follow. However, she did the opposite.

"Where are Maxi and Issac?" Islinda frowned, still scanning their entourage for any sign of them.

Aldric’s demeanor shifted abruptly, and Islinda, attuned to his every mood swing, sensed that this was not a good sign.

Suspicion crept into her gaze as she confronted him. "Where are Maxi and Issac, Aldric? What have you done this time?"

All day, Islinda had a nagging feeling that she was missing something important. So much had transpired in one day that she hadn’t taken a moment to think about her two favorite people until now.

Aldric turned to her slowly, a cold, unyielding look in his eyes as he replied, "What did you think happened to them?"

Islinda’s heart raced as she entertained the worst possibilities. Surely, Aldric couldn’t have killed them! Maxi was his family, and he wouldn’t be so callous as to end her life over a petty offense. But her concern shifted to Issac; Aldric wasn’t as attached to him as he was to Maxi, making Issac seem "disposable."

"Where are they?" Islinda desperately clung to the hope that they were merely incapacitated somewhere. They couldn’t be dead.

Aldric’s response sent a chill down her spine. "I simply returned the favor. They imprisoned me, so I imprisoned them. Case settled. They’ll have a week to contemplate their actions while I’m at the winter court. I’m sure they’ll have plenty of time to reflect on what they did wrong." His words dripped with venom.

"No, you would not!" Islinda commanded, stepping forward with authority, her hands balled into fists.

"Interesting," Aldric remarked, a dangerous gleam flashing in his eyes. "I didn’t realize you wielded authority over me, Islinda. I, the dark Fae prince of Astaria!" His voice echoed through the room, shadows seeming to swirl around him, adding to the ominous atmosphere.

Islinda swallowed, feeling a wave of unease wash over her as she realized the gravity of her actions. Commanding Aldric in front of everyone was a mistake; it made her appear in control when she wasn’t.

Aldric’s expression was so menacing that Islinda wanted to shrink away in fear. But then she remembered something, and her posture straightened as confidence surged within her.

"No," she said firmly, her voice steady. "It’s not an order. I’m simply collecting on a favor, dearly beloved dark Fae prince of Astaria."