Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 573: See Through The Act

Chapter 573: See Through The Act

Everything unfolded so swiftly that it took Islinda over a minute to grasp the reality that Elena of the Raysin family stood before them in the flesh, embracing Aldric. She hugged the dark Fae prince? She wasn’t recoiling from him like the others?!

Suddenly, without warning, a wave of jealousy and rage surged through Islinda. She couldn’t fathom its origin, but she felt tempted to tear the woman away from Aldric, to slap her across the face and jolt her back to reality, then to drag her by the hair back to wherever she came from. How dare she touch Aldric?! How dare she lay hands on what was...

Islinda was startled by the snarl that nearly escaped her throat, and in utter disbelief, she glanced down to find her claws had emerged. They had surfaced, as if ready to tear Elena apart with them.

By the gods, what was happening to her? Islinda quickly scanned the room to see if anyone had witnessed her startling transformation. To her relief and irritation mixed together, everyone seemed engrossed in the spectacle of Aldric and Elena’s embrace. This granted Islinda enough time to close her eyes, quell her anger, clear her thoughts, and will her claws to retract.

When she reopened her eyes, Islinda was relieved to find that her claws were gone, just as she had imagined. She couldn’t explain how she knew to think that way, but it had come to her instinctively. Now, she wouldn’t have to seek out Theodore to calm her down whenever she lost control and her claws emerged.

However, Islinda’s joy was short-lived when she witnessed Aldric and Elena still entwined in their embrace. She had never considered herself the jealous type, but perhaps it was the undeniable allure of their union that stirred something within her. The sight of them together was like a painting come to life; two formidable Fae of equal standing, captivating and otherworldly, one embodying darkness while the other radiated fiery brilliance.

Yet, a twisted part of Islinda snarled and rebelled against this idyllic image. Aldric and Elena, she insisted, would never be compatible. It wasn’t merely because of her personal distaste for the Fae. The dark Fae prince was not suited for perfection; he was too broken, too scarred by his past. Aldric wasn’t flawless enough to thrive in Elena’s world.

Suddenly, Aldric abruptly pulled away from Elena, and any semblance of enjoyment in the embrace evaporated as a storm brewed in his eyes, darkening his expression.

He gripped Elena’s wrist so tightly that she winced in pain. Unmoved by her discomfort, Aldric interrogated her fiercely, "What do you think you’re doing? How did you get here, no..." His eyes narrowed with suspicion, "What are you doing here? What are you up to, Elena of the Raysin family?"

This time, Islinda’s gaze flickered towards Elena with a similar suspicion. What exactly was Elena doing here? Wasn’t she supposed to be Valerie’s fiancée? Why was she betrothed to the older brother but embracing the younger one?

Because she had a thing for Aldric, her unconscious mind supplied, almost mockingly.

Islinda’s stomach twisted with discomfort as she shot a glare at the Fae. She scrutinized Elena from head to toe and begrudgingly admitted her beauty: tall, slender, graceful, with perfect curves in all the right places. It was no surprise the Queens desired her for their son. Elena not only hailed from a powerful lineage but possessed a flawlessly sculpted body. The Fae was undeniably perfect.

As if sensing Islinda’s gaze, Elena’s eyes met hers and locked in a brief but intense exchange. In that moment, they swiftly assessed each other, recognizing the inherent rivalry between them. It appeared that not just humans, even among the Fae, females remained naturally wary and competitive, inclined to view each other with suspicion and disdain.

It was the intense hatred lurking in the depths of Elena’s eyes that puzzled Islinda. Even during their few interactions at the palace, it seemed as though the Fae harbored animosity towards her. Initially, Islinda had attributed it to her history with Valerie, assuming that Elena felt threatened by her presence and thus easily despised her.

However, Islinda’s connection with Valerie was now a thing of the past. So why now was Elena interested in Aldric when she could have Valerie all to herself? Islinda couldn’t shake the feeling that Elena had ulterior motives, and she was intrigued to uncover them.

For someone who had been glaring intensely at her, Islinda’s head spun when Elena unexpectedly burst into tears.

"Please, not you too, Aldric," Elena pleaded through her sobs. "You don’t know what I’ve endured these past few days at the hands of the Queen. She’s been forcing me to marry Valerie, and when I refused, she locked me away, ensuring nobody knew of my suffering. I only managed to escape, hoping you would be the one to help me evade this fate. But now, you too..." Her voice cracked with despair.

Elena sobbed with raw intensity, the sorrow in her voice and the tremors wracking her body eroding every ounce of suspicion anyone harbored towards her, softening their hearts in the process.

By the gods, Islinda realized, a chill running down her spine. This one was a skilled manipulator, if not a liar as well. But Fae do not lie; they can only bend the truth so far until it snaps. Elena was dangerous, and Islinda hoped Aldric realized that too..

Islinda lifted her gaze to meet Aldric’s, eager to discern his thoughts. Yet, his expression remained as inscrutable as ever, leaving her unable to decipher his intentions. In that moment, all Islinda could do was hope that Aldric could see through Elena’s facade. The dark Fae prince was astute, and she trusted he wouldn’t be deceived by such a ruse.

"Fine, you’re in luck. We’re just about to make a trip to the Winter Court. I’m sure my dearest Queen mother wouldn’t mind you tagging along," Aldric announced, offering Elena a welcoming smile.

Islinda’s heart sank.