Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 768: The Glamor

"No, wait!" Islinda cut in, her voice sharp with urgency.

Aldric and Lilith turned towards her, both looking surprised. Aldric blinked at her, curious to know what she was about to say?

"What exactly does she want from you, Aldric?" Islinda demanded, fixing him with a stern look. "Surely, you didn’t just promise her...." Islinda swallowed hard, "Your body?"

If that was the case, then Islinda was done with this deal. She would rather die than watch Aldric give his body to that damn witch!

Aldric’s eyes widened in shock at the accusation, while Lilith let out a small, amused laughter. Islinda felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, suddenly uncertain if she had misread the situation entirely.

"You think I would trade myself like that?" Aldric responded, his tone incredulous. "No, Islinda, the payment was access into the Fae realm. Witches aren’t allowed into the Fae realm without being on official duty or having permission. Those who do so illegally are severely punished if caught. But I can get her the access she needs."

Islinda felt a wave of relief wash over her, quickly replaced by an embarrassing flush. She had jumped to conclusions and made a fool of herself. Her cheeks burned with humiliation.

As if to add insult to injury, Lilith said smugly,

"If I wanted Aldric in my bed once again, I wouldn’t need to make him a deal. Aldric couldn’t possibly resist a body like mine." She tried to emphasize her point by reaching out to touch Aldric.

Two things happened simultaneously.

Something inside Islinda snapped, and before she knew it, she had moved. Her nails had turned to claws, and she was seconds away from slicing Lilith’s hand. Aldric, sensing her sudden movement, grabbed her wrist just in time, preventing the attack.

At the same moment, Azrael stepped in, his hand firmly gripping Lilith’s shoulder and pulling her away. His movements were so swift and precise that Lilith was yanked back just in time to avoid Islinda’s claws.

A tense silence fell over the room as everyone tried to digest what had just happened. Lilith, who had been seconds away from being struck, looked both shocked and furious .

"Perhaps now you’ll learn to keep your hands to yourself," Azrael reprimanded her, his voice cold and unyielding. He finally let go of her shoulders, stepping back.

Islinda’s heart was pounding in her chest, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She hadn’t realized just how deeply her feelings for Aldric ran until that moment. The thought of anyone else touching him had driven her to the brink of violence. She swore she could have killed Lilith.

And speaking of Lilith, the witch did not seem so pleased with what just played out. She said Aldric, her expression hardening. "You should control your pet," she hissed.

Islinda stepped forward aggressively, "Perhaps, I should show you what this pet can do," Her eyes turned black entirely.

Lilith, offended by the comment, lit up her hand with green magic.

"Alright, that’s enough!" Aldric interfered before things could get out of hand.

He pulled Islinda close to him, his grip on her wrist gentle but firm. "Listen to me Lilith, Islinda is not a pet. She’s my partner, and you will treat her with respect." he commanded her.

"But Aldric -" Lilith tried to protest.

"Do we have a deal or not?!" Aldric’s face has darkened, the shadows surrounding him and reminding everyone, the witch especially, why he wasn’t to be trifled with.

Lilith took a deep breath and straightened, smoothing her dress as she regained her composure. "Fine," she said curtly. "We have a deal, Aldric. I’ll create your glamour, and you will grant me access to the Fae realm."

Aldric nodded, his expression serious. "Agreed. But understand this, Lilith. If you betray us or anything happens to Islinda, you’d wish never to have known me."

"I am not stupid," Lilith said through gritted teeth, her pride wounded by his insinuation.

"I know," Aldric replied, his tone cool. "I’m just making sure of it."

He had dated Lilith in the past and knew her jealous tendencies all too well. The witch had an inferiority complex that drove her to enhance her features with the most complex and expensive spells, keeping herself young and perfect forever. But even that was not enough to satisfy her.

She had harbored a deep hatred for Maxi, mistakenly assuming that Aldric was in a relationship with her. Lilith had demanded that Aldric get rid of Maxi so she could remain the only female in his life. Unfortunately for her, Aldric was not one to commit himself to any woman. When he realized how controlling she was, he ended their arrangement.

Now, seeing the death threat on Aldric’s face, Lilith respected herself. She said to them. "Follow me."

While they moved deeper into her home, Islinda couldn’t hope but steal glances at Aldric. The sight of him defending her earlier made her heart skip a beat.

"What are you staring at?" He caught her.

"Nothing." Islinda lied to cover up her embarrassment. It seems being half Fae saved get the curse of always telling the truth. Not that the Fae were anything truthful. Such cunning creatures.

Aldric ignored her obvious lie and walked on, holding her tight. They entered Lilith’s inner chamber where she was to carry out the process.

The room was dimly lit, the walls lined with shelves filled with various magical artifacts and potions. The air was thick with the scent of incense and herbs, creating an almost suffocating atmosphere. Islinda’s senses were on high alert, every fiber of her being wary of the powerful magic surrounding them. So she stayed close to Aldric, her hand gripping his tightly.

She moved to a nearby shelf, her fingers dancing over various jars and bottles. Lilith busied herself with the preparations, gathering the ingredients while Aldric kept a close watch on her, his eyes never leaving her for a moment.

"Is this going to take long?" Azrael asked, his impatience evident.

Lilith shot him a glare. "Magic takes time, especially something as delicate and complex as a glamor. If you want it done right, you’ll need to be patient." She lifted a brow, "Or you can go find someone else to help you guys out?"

Azrael huffed but remained silent. He understood the importance of the glamor but wasn’t fond of being in Lilith’s presence any longer than necessary.

Lilith began chanting softly, her hands moving gracefully as she mixed the ingredients. The room seemed to hum with energy, the air growing thick with power. Islinda watched, fascinated despite herself. She had never seen magic performed at this level before.

"Islinda, come here," Lilith called when she was done, her voice breaking through Islinda’s thoughts

Islinda looked at Aldric for confirmation and when he nodded, she moved forward. "Yes?"

Lilith handed her a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid. "Drink this."

"Why? What is this?" Islinda asked with suspicion, she didn’t not trust the witch one bit.

Lilith snorted yet explained, "I would need to return you to what you looked like before this...." She gestured to the markings on her face, "This will help the glamor bind to you more effectively when the time comes."

"How is that even possible?"

"Are you questioning my capacity?"

Islinda sighed, then took the vial, glancing at Aldric and Azrael for reassurance. Aldric nodded, his expression serious. "Go ahead."

She uncorked the vial and drank the liquid in one gulp. It tasted sweet, almost sickeningly so, and it left a warm sensation in her throat. She handed the empty vial back to Lilith, who watched her with a keen interest.

"Good. Now, go lie down on the couch," Lilith instructed, her .

Taking a deep breath, Islinda moved to the couch and lay down, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Lilith stood over her, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You’ll need to brace yourself," she said, her tone almost gleeful.

"What do you mean?" Islinda asked, suspicion lacing her words.

"This stage will hurt a little," Lilith replied, her delight unmistakable.

Islinda narrowed her eyes, unsure whether the witch was joking or not. Before she could say anything more, Lilith began to chant in a strange, ancient language. The words were foreign and unsettling, resonating in the room.

Almost immediately, Islinda felt a strange tingling sensation spread through her body. It was as if invisible threads were weaving around her, pulling and tugging at her skin, changing her appearance. The sensation was eerie and uncomfortable, but bearable.

And then the pain came.

It was sudden and intense, searing through her body like fire. Islinda screamed, the sound ripping from her throat with a raw, primal agony she had never experienced before. Her vision blurred with tears, and she writhed on the couch, unable to escape the torment.

Through the haze of pain, Islinda saw Lilith’s face, a mask of cold satisfaction. It was as if the witch was reveling in her suffering, enjoying every moment of it. The realization cut through Islinda like a knife, adding a layer of betrayal to her anguish.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Islinda cried, her voice breaking.

But Lilith continued, her chanting growing louder and more intense. The pain reached a crescendo, and Islinda’s screams grew hoarse. She could feel her consciousness slipping, darkness creeping in at the edges of her vision.

Just when she thought she could bear no more, the chanting ceased. The pain ebbed away, leaving Islinda trembling and gasping for breath. She lay still, her body aching, her mind reeling from the ordeal.freeweɓnovēl.coɱ