Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 713: Aldric Killed Islinda

Islinda was Fae?

The news kept spinning over and over in Aldric’s head. Of all the things he imagined Islinda could be, a Fae, no, half-breed was the least of it. Not that he thought she would be anything other than human. To Aldric, half breed or not, Islinda was still the sweet, naive human he had tricked and whisked from the human realm. Islinda was still Islinda to him. Nothing had changed about her. Hopefully.

"What do you plan to do now?" Andre’s voice broke through his tumultuous thoughts.

Aldric’s eyes snapped to his brother, his expression hardening. "Do what?"

"For starters, look into her lineage? Find her mother? I don’t know how beneficial the move would be, but something tells me Islinda would be delighted to reunite with a living relative. That is if she’s living at all," Andre’s face changed as he added, "I’ll suggest not telling her about the plan until you’re certain her mother’s alive. You wouldn’t want to shatter her hope."

"There will be nothing like that," Aldric said, his voice firm. "She abandoned her for years. She has no business returning to her life."

"You don’t know the whole story. Perhaps she really didn’t have a choice," Andre argued, his expression earnest.

Aldric stepped closer, his gaze icy. "If there’s anything having expectations for family members has taught me, it’s to never have hope. Islinda has been doing well without her, and like you said, the trace is cold. Either she doesn’t want to be found or she’s involved in a mess I wouldn’t want Islinda tangled in. If there’s anything Islinda needs, I’ll provide it and will protect her."

Andre lifted a brow, his expression challenging. "You mean ’we’ will protect her?"

A low growl rumbled from Aldric’s chest. The tension between them crackled like a live wire.

"Oh, come on, if it hadn’t been for my presence and great contributions here, you would still be under the witch’s influence. Not to mention, Islinda killed Elena—"

"You cannot be sure of that," Aldric snapped, his jaw clenched, though he knew the truth all too well.

Andre held his gaze, unflinching. "She killed her. I returned to the scene, compiled evidence and testimony from Maxi. Islinda was definitely not human when she ripped Elena’s head clean from her body. Takes a certain amount of strength and brutality to get that done. Islinda must have been pissed off as hell and exacted revenge. Nonetheless, I’d rather she killed than get killed. However, that’s the problem. Possessed by a witch or not, Elena is still from the Raysin, and they will want revenge." He placed his hand on Aldric’s shoulder, his voice dropping to a somber tone. "You cannot do this on your own, brother."

For a moment, their eyes locked, and it seemed as though Andre’s words might have reached him. Aldric’s gaze wavered, a flicker of doubt crossing his features, but then he shoved Andre’s hand away, his expression hardening once more. "I’m taking Islinda to the Winter Court immediately, and you are not going to follow!" he declared, pointing a finger at Andre to emphasize his command.

Andre’s face twisted with frustration. "Hiding Islinda will not solve what’s coming, Aldric!"

"Who said anything about hiding her?!" Aldric snapped back. "I am only taking her to a place where I can protect her properly!"

His voice was a harsh growl, echoing off the stone walls. As much as he was the Winter Court’s high lord, it didn’t mean that he had their complete trust, and anyone of them could betray him just when he least expects it. His castle back in Astaria would offer the best protection.

"So you take her back to the Winter court and then what happens?" Andre incessantly questioned Aldric even as he stormed out of the room and went over to Islinda, picking her up from the bed and walking out, ignoring him.

"You know that she’s going to stand trial for Elena’s death!" Andre suddenly shouted, causing Aldric to halt in his steps.

He walked up to his side, saying, "News must have reached the Raysin family, I can only imagine how much ruckus they must be causing right now. This is not the time to be stubborn Aldric, let’s sit down and think about how to handle this." He pleaded.

"If they want Islinda, they would have to get through to me first." Aldric said, his eyes flashing with the promise of danger for anyone that dared to lay a hand on his mate.

With that, Aldric left with Islinda while Andre was left standing. In the end, the idiot still took Islinda to Astaria where he thought she was safe. Wait a minute, the thought suddenly clicked in his head. If Aldric left for Astaria? What then happened to the Winter court? There were many unresolved issues and with Karle dead, there would be no high lord to lead.

At once, Andre ran out through the corridors, hoping to catch up with Aldric. He managed to locate him outside the palace but it was too late because Aldric had already summoned a portal with the medallion.

"No, Aldric, wait —!"

Aldric stepped through the portal and vanished.

"Great!" Andre threw his hands up, cursing under his breath.

His running around the palace must have drawn attention because some Fae guards arrived seconds later.

"News flash, your leader just took off." Andre pointed at his back.

*******

"What?!" Queen Maeve yelled when she heard the news, slamming her palm down on the table and the poor wood broke into two.

Her eyes flashed with anger at the Fae who just arrived with the news. "What do you mean Elena is dead?"

The servant trembled from her outburst, especially seeing the flames that erupted from the Queen’s hands. Queen Maeve looked as if she was about to blow up.

"T-that is what I heard" He stammered.

"How did she die?" Her gaze narrowed, "Who killed her?"

"To be honest, my Queen, the news is kind of confusing and I don’t know the truth —"

"What do you know exactly?!" Queen Maeve raised her voice, the fire in her hands flaring with her temper.

"They said some witch possessed her and that Aldric killed her after she charmed him."

Queen Maeve let out a trembling breath. Although she hadn’t confirmed the details of the news yet, the summer Queen already made up her mind about Aldric. She always knew that the damned prince was never happy that Valerie had gained a strong partner, one that would help his ascension to the throne.

Now, he succeeded in taking her away. He killed Elena. Of all the ways he could have stopped Valerie’s progress, he had to kill his queen. She would have been queen of Astaria. Anger filled Queen Maeve’s veins and with a loud yell, she grabbed the nearest flower vase and smashed it against the wall.

Aldric! Aldric! Aldric! Why was he such a thorn in her side? Maeve had thought that after causing Nora’s downfall, that her legacy would have ended there. Like mother like son, both were an itch that wouldn’t go away. A parasite that sucked at her progress.

"Ahhh !" Queen Maeve turned her frustration on her room, burning and destroying everything that she got in her bath.

Although Queen Maeve had not exactly been close to Elena, she was still family and mourned the loss. Elena did not deserve such fate, especially not in the hands of that bastard, Aldric.

At once, Queen Maeve’s eyes turned feral and gleamed with the need for vengeance. Oberon would not be able to defend his son this time. Perhaps even while dead, Elena still served her family. There would be no death duel anymore, it would be Aldric’s execution instead. She would not let this go. Neither would the Raysin family.

*********’

Valerie returned to the capital under the cover of the night. Not only was he not in the mood to entertain visits from anyone, especially his mother, but the shame threatened to overwhelm him. To think that he had been kicked out by his own grandfather.

If his mother were to hear that, he could only imagine the embarrassment and look of disappointment on her face. Hence, he returned to the palace without drawing attention.

He had barely settled down when his door abruptly opened and his heart raced, thinking his mother might have somehow gotten news of his arrival — she was the only one that could barge in rudely like that.

However, to his surprise, it was Derek.

"I can’t help but wonder if you lost basic courtesy —"

"Elena is dead."

What?" Valerie was dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe. "Which of the Elena are you talking about?"

"Your fiancée, your highness. I’m talking about Elena of the Raysin family."

The news hit Valerie like a punch through the gut. "What are you talking about? What do you mean Elena is dead?!"

"They said Aldric killed her," Derek revealed.

Valerie’s face paled right before his hands balled into a fist. That bastard.