Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 588: The Darkness Lurking In Her Mind

Chapter 588: The Darkness Lurking In Her Mind

Music Recommendation: I’ll be there —Jess Glynne

---------

The king’s guards arrived shortly after, and Issac couldn’t help but feel relieved. Anya’s overconfidence in her ability to overpower and torment Maxi had inadvertently led to her downfall, and had failed to divulge that his mate was a dark Fae. It transpired that Anya had a connection within the Fae guard and had enticed him with the promise of a significant revelation. Consequently, the guard arrived accompanied by only a handful of his comrades, intrigued by the unfolding events, only to stumble upon Anya’s death instead.

Backup had been summoned, and now soldiers swarmed the arena, launching into their investigations. It was a grim reminder that murdering a fellow Fae was a grave offense, though apparently, only the royal family held such privileges, Issac mused sarcastically. If only Anya hadn’t dragged the King’s army into this mess in the first place, her death might have gone unnoticed.

Issac, Kayla, and Oma stuck to the agreed-upon story: Anya’s obsessive jealousy over Issac’s newfound mate drove her to plan Maxi’s murder in a bid to take her place. Though not the entire truth, as Fae, they exploited the loophole, conveniently omitting Maxi’s dark Fae lineage

Moreover, as soon as the soldiers learned that Issac and Maxi were mates, the tide of judgment swiftly turned in their favor. No one dared to interfere with mates; they were considered twin souls, a divine blessing from the gods. The Fae held a deep reverence for their deities, and invoking their wrath by meddling with a bonded pair was unthinkable.

Maxi’s glamour had been restored, the ring now adorning a different finger. The soldiers had brought along a healer who promptly tended to her lacerated finger, leaving it as good as new. Issac observed Maxi as she flexed her stitched finger, displaying a detached demeanor as if she couldn’t care less about its functionality and he had no idea what to make of the situation.

He had observed the soldiers’ horrified expressions upon discovering Anya’s lifeless body and had been compelled to investigate for himself. Stepping into the scene, he was met with a sight that nearly made him sick. Anya hadn’t met a peaceful end; Maxi had made sure of that. It was one of the most brutal forms of torture he had ever witnessed—Maxi had skinned Anya alive, both literally and figuratively.

Using the same knife Anya had wielded to stab her earlier, Maxi had meticulously scraped away Anya’s skin while she was still conscious. It was a gruesome ordeal, made even more effective by the fact that Fae healed quickly. However, the knife was made of iron, which impeded Anya’s natural healing abilities, allowing Maxi to systematically strip away her skin tissue.

Issac couldn’t bring himself to articulate the ghastly sight of Anya stripped of her skin; it was a scene too horrific and deeply disturbing to describe. Raw and exposed, Anya’s body bore a reddish-pink hue, with muscles, tendons, and organs laid bare, creating a grotesque and unsettling spectacle.

Despite enduring such a torment, Anya somehow managed to survive the ordeal. It was clear that Maxi’s intention hadn’t been to end her life swiftly but rather to subject her to a slow and agonizing demise. Maxi began methodically, severing Anya’s digits, then her toes, before progressing to remove entire limbs. Only when Maxi was certain that Anya had endured enough torment while still alive did she mercifully end her suffering, tearing out her heart from her chest.

It was, by far, the most harrowing death Issac had ever witnessed. Anya’s demise was marked by a look of terror in her eyes, as though she had encountered the Harbinger of Doom while still among the living. Perhaps, in Maxi, Anya had indeed met her harbinger, delivering justice before her ultimate end.

The scene was gruesomely macabre, offering a glimpse into the darkness that dwelled within Maxi’s psyche. While Issac found himself genuinely disturbed by her actions, he couldn’t ignore the fact that Anya would have shown no mercy if their positions were reversed. Yet, in hindsight, Maxi could have shown more restraint. However, Maxi had been triggered and the horse shifter had lived enough to see enough horrors he might not be privy to.

Nevertheless, Issac’s affection for Maxi remained steadfast. If anything, he felt a sense of pride in her strength. He couldn’t shake the feeling that, even without his intervention, Maxi would have found a way to free herself and liberate his mother and Kayla. He had merely made the process "easier" for her. Still, he wished she would allow him to care for her at times.

Thankful for his presence, Issac couldn’t help but wonder how Maxi would have navigated the situation with the soldiers and the inquiries surrounding Anya’s demise without him. Fortunately, his influence—and his formidable position as Prince Aldric’s second in command—played a crucial role. The incident was downplayed as an act of self-defense, sparing them from critical scrutiny, and allowing them to return home without further complications.

Without hesitation, Issac strode over to where Maxi sat, effortlessly scooping her up in his arms like a princess. Surprisingly, Maxi didn’t resist, a silent acknowledgment of her exhaustion. Resting her head against his shoulder, she closed her eyes, drained from the events that had unfolded.

The king’s guards arranged for a carriage, ensuring their safe passage back to Aldric’s castle. Meanwhile, arrangements were made to notify Anya’s parents of her demise, while they themselves would be questioned to ascertain any involvement in the incident.

For the first time, Oma and Kayla set foot inside Aldric’s castle. Despite Issac’s assurance that the dark Fae prince was absent, they couldn’t shake their apprehension, glancing around cautiously as if expecting him to materialize out of thin air.

Following the distressing incident, they needed to stick together as a family and discuss what had transpired. However, that discussion would have to wait until after they had rested. Issac settled Oma and Kayla in the same room, understanding his sister’s reluctance to be alone after such a traumatic experience.

"You both should rest," Issac advised gently. "I’ll have the available servants draw you baths and prepare dinner. Tomorrow we will talk. But for tonight, let’s focus on sleeping and restoring our energy."

Despite his words, Issac knew deep down that sleep would elude them tonight.