Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 750: A Better Future

News finally reached Aldric that Azula would be spending the night at the palace, and as expected, the thought did not sit right with him.

His eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened as he processed the information. The room seemed to shrink as his anger and anxiety surged. He began pacing back and forth, his footsteps echoing ominously.

Issac, trying to remain calm, watched Aldric’s increasingly frantic movements which made him quite dizzy. "Prince Aldric, perhaps it would be better if you —"

"Don’t," Aldric snapped, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. Issac swallowed hard and fell silent, knowing better than to push further. He would simply endure this else he unfortunately becomes the victim of the dark Fae prince’s transfer of aggression.

Aldric’s mind was full of thoughts. That tricky old Fae called Oberon! He should have known that he was up to no good! He must really want death for attempting this on him. Although the both of them has had a somewhat tricky relationship, King Oberon has always been careful around him in fear of him acting out. It seems he has become softly lately that they none took him for granted.

It frustrated Aldric to no end knowing that he was far away from Azula, the one person he couldn’t afford to be distant from. Who knows what schemes were unfolding in the palace at this very moment? Who even knows what the heck the demon was up to? He trusted Maxi but she couldn’t possibly protect her identity and Azula’s identity at the same time.

Not to mention he had a hard time dealing with Azula’s ruthless antics, not to mention Maxi of all people. Although the rune he had placed on her body gave him some peace, allowing him to sense her, it still felt insufficient.

The rune was a connection, a piece of himself linked to her, meant to track her wherever she was. Yet, tonight, it felt tenuous, like a whisper in the dark. The rune was quiet, almost as if in a slumber, signaling that Azula was safe—for now. But how long would that last? The uncertainty gnawed at him, his anxiety and frustration mounting with each passing second.

"I think I need to get to the palace. The competition is tomorrow anyway. I’m sure Father wouldn’t mind my little visit," Aldric was unable to take it anymore.

"Oh no, you don’t." Issac rose to his feet as well and blocked Aldric’s path. "Aldric, think about what you’re doing. This is a bad idea. What if you get on your father’s nerves for real this time and he harms Azula?"

Aldric’s eyes flashed with anger at the thought. "I would burn down the whole kingdom if anything happens to her."

Issac held his ground, his voice firm. "That’s exactly why you need to calm down. If I could remember clearly, this was why you pushed Islinda away in the past because you were scared of tapping into your emotions and losing your senses. Now look where you are right now."

He continued, "Have you forgotten that the likes of Queen Maeve and Queen Nirvana are in the palace. Have you forgotten what they’re capable of doing? All these years, Queen Maeve has been looking for ways to get rid of you. She’s not stupid and if you walk into that palace right now, you’d be playing right into her hands. Think about it. What do you think the king’s wives will do if they realize Azula is your weak point? You’ll be vulnerable."

Aldric paused, the tension in his muscles evident as he processed Issac’s words. His breath came in heavy, controlled bursts, and his fists clenched and unclenched. The truth in Issac’s words cut through his rage, leaving him feeling exposed and frustrated. freewēbnoveℓ.com

"I know you’re worried, I am too. You’re not the only one who has a forbidden mate in the palace. But rushing into this won’t help Azula or Islinda. We need to be smart about this. For her sake. For their sake. "

"So, what am I supposed to do? Just sit here while she spends the night in that viper’s nest?" He retorted, glaring at Isaac.

"You have sent your birds out, haven’t you?"

"Yes, I did." Aldric answered gruffly.

Aldric had deployed nearly all his birds to the palace, their tiny mechanical forms flitting through the air with precision and purpose. However, the palace was heavily guarded, and there were few places his birds could hide without being discovered and shut down. The palace guards were not stupid; they knew how he operated. In the Fae realm, everything was possible. Even the most innocent lizard crawling the walls could be a weapon fashioned against you.

Aldric could witness everything through the telepathic connection they shared, seeing through the bird’s eye. His birds had already found their limited perches, some among the leaves, others in the dense foliage of the gardens, but always with caution. Aldric watched through their eyes, his frustration mounting. He could see the palace, the grand halls, and even glimpses of the royal family moving about, but not Azula. She remained elusive to him. .

The guards patrolled diligently, their eyes sharp and their movements deliberate. Any misstep could lead to their discovery and his plans unraveling.

"From their position, they can’t get any closer to Islinda without being discovered. I hate this feeling." Aldric muttered.

"Azula is a demon and she has proven to be able to take care of herself. Moreover, Maxi is in there and I trust she would rather die than watch anything happen to Islinda’s body - although I certainly wish that does not happen." Issac understood that they had roles to play as underlings to the dark Fae prince and it requires sacrifice as times.

"I can feel the bond and it’s possible. She doesn’t seem to be in any danger of any kind." Issac said to him.

For the first time, Aldric felt a pang of envy in his heart. If it wasn’t for Azula’s interference, he would be enjoying his mate by now. But he knew, deep down, that if it wasn’t for Azula, Islinda would have been dead by now. He just wished things hadn’t turned out this way and that he had his mate in his arms.

"I hate this," Aldric muttered, his voice filled with frustration.

"I hate it too," Issac replied softly. "You’re so absorbed in your own drama that you don’t realize others are going through the same. I almost don’t want Maxi to go. What if her glamor falls? What if King Oberon or any other high Fae sees through it? Then she’d be dead for real, and I’d be left mateless. After all, who would believe that a light Fae is mated to a dark Fae?" Issac laughed mirthlessly.

Aldric felt a pang of pity for Issac but remained silent. Like Issac said, he was a selfish bastard who cared only about Islinda. If push came to shove and he had to choose between his mate, Islinda, and Maxi, he would save Islinda, trusting that Maxi would save herself. Just the same way Maxi would likely save Issac and leave him — so he assumed. Mates above all.

Issac broke the silence. "Moreover, the competition is tomorrow. Focus on that. Show your father and everyone else that you’re not to be trifled with. As much as I trust your ability, I haven’t seen you practice, and that is quite disturbing."

Issac straightened up and faced Aldric. "Maxi told me that your intention is to create a world where the dark Fae and light Fae can interact without problems. I don’t know how possible that is, and to be honest, it sounds like a pipe dream. But for her sake, I am willing to support and believe you."

Aldric saw the earnestness in Issac’s eyes and was completely dumbfounded. However, Issac was not done.

"I don’t know if it’s possible, but I intend to start a family with Maxi, and I don’t want a world where my offspring would constantly be in danger. Which is why I pledge you my support and loyalty at this moment." Issac fell to his knees in front of a dumbfounded Aldric.

To think that he had been angry about Issac’s rebellion, yet here he was pledging to support his cause. An unknown lump formed in Aldric’s throat, but he pushed the emotions down.

"I apologize for my outbursts, and I swear now to remain by your side until we achieve the purpose of truly uniting Astaria. An Astaria for all kinds of Faeries, whether dark, light, wild, hybrid, or human. It will be a safe haven for all."

Aldric looked down at Issac, an inexplicable feeling swelling in his heart. He reached out and placed a hand on Issac’s shoulder, helping him rise.

"Thank you, Issac," Aldric said, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. "Your pledge means more to me than you can imagine. And together, we will create the Astaria that we dream of."

He added at the last minute, "Now, I really need to go practice."

Issac smiled.