Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 893: Baby Aldric

As the others filed out of the meeting room, Aldric, Islinda, and Maxi remained behind. The tension in the room lingered like a storm cloud, thick and heavy. Aldric turned to the general, his face grim.

"You do realize it’s an impossible mission heading to the barrier, right?" Aldric’s tone was calm, but his words were pointed.

The general sighed deeply, but said nothing. His silence emboldened Aldric to continue.

"Even when there were gaps in the barrier, the monsters were barely manageable. But now?" Aldric’s voice hardened. "Now you’re talking about a suicide mission. We’re sending soldiers to their deaths."

The general’s frustration boiled over. He whirled around, eyes blazing with anger. "And what do you want me to do?" he roared, his voice echoing through the tent. "King Oberon is down, Astaria is in chaos, and the other courts are barely holding on by a thread! What would you have me do?!"

Aldric met his gaze unflinchingly. "There are still citizens trapped in other parts of the city," he said, his voice cutting through the general’s fury like a blade. "We should focus on saving them, not sending the last of our army to their deaths at the barrier. We haven’t even seen the worst of the monsters yet. Do you know what happens when they face the wraiths? The soldiers’ weapons will be useless against them."

His voice dropped, heavy with bitterness. "Only dark Faeries can fight the wraiths. And congratulations, because my race is nearly extinct."

The general glared at him, frustration mingling with helplessness. "So what are you suggesting?" he demanded. "That we give up on Astaria? That we let the monsters take the city? This is the city your father, King Oberon, built with his blood and sacrifice. What are we supposed to tell him when he wakes up? That we didn’t even try?"

Aldric snarled, his patience wearing thin. "If he’s so disappointed, then maybe he should wake up now and deal with this mess himself! But he’s not, is he?"

"Prince Aldric!" The general’s voice cracked like a whip, his frustration tipping into anger at the disrespect toward the king. But Aldric was too far gone to stop.

"I don’t care about your rank or authority. Tomorrow, I’m taking the soldiers and we’re going to rescue the Faeries still stuck in the city. And while you’re at it, tell the witches to figure out who brought down that barrier. If it turns out to be a member of the royal family, then we’d better deal with them before they ruin us all."

The general clenched his fists. "Prince Aldric, I already told you—"

Islinda stepped between them, her voice firm and unyielding. "Enough." Her eyes locked on both Fae, and her authority immediately quieted the room.

"We’ve all had a long and difficult day. The last thing we need right now is to turn on each other."

The general opened his mouth as if to argue, but stopped short when he saw the look in her eyes. Since Islinda’s devastating display of power, no one dared to cross her. Her reputation as a greater monster than Aldric preceded her now. With a frustrated huff, the general turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

"Well, that went well," Maxi said with a smirk, leaning against the wall. She had been a spectator the whole time."At least you’ve proven that your talent for pissing people off is still intact."

Aldric bared his teeth at her, a dangerous hiss escaping from his mouth. Maxi didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze with a defiant snarl. While Aldric was stronger, she was older and no kid was going to treat her this way. The tension between them crackled, neither backing down.

Islinda, however, had had enough. She snarled, and the sound was like a roaring storm, deep and scary, echoing through the room with such force that it silenced both of them.

Her eyes were pitch black, and it wasn’t even Azula in control. Since the agreement between her and Azula, both had learned to share each other’s power and forms. This was Islinda now drawing on the darkness within, her raw fury barely contained.

Her dark eyes faded, and Islinda’s voice was like ice. "That’s enough. Both of you."

She stepped forward, her presence commanding. "We don’t fight each other. We’ve all had a rough day, and we need rest. We’ll think clearer in the morning."

Maxi, visibly irritated but unwilling to push further, shrugged. "Whatever you say," she muttered, turning on her heel and heading for the tent’s entrance.

As she stepped outside, she shifted into her horse form, a massive, dark stallion. Some of the Faeries outside jumped back in fear. The transformation startled them, and mothers pulled their children close as they stared at the strange dark Fae.

Maxi snorted, her breath visible in the cold night air, and galloped away, her hooves thundering against the earth as she disappeared into the night.

Inside the tent, Aldric’s eyes followed her, his jaw clenched. Islinda sighed, her gaze softening as she looked at him.

"You do know you can be annoying," Islinda remarked, her voice laced with a mix of affection and exasperation as her fingers brushed against Aldric’s cheek.

Aldric let out a low growl of annoyance, but despite the grumble, he closed his eyes, leaning into her touch.

The air between them grew thick with tension, an undeniable pull between them that had been building all night. Aldric shifted slightly closer, his intent clear. He was about to lean in for a kiss, the heat of the moment driving him, but Islinda pulled back just before their lips could meet.

"You stink," she teased, wrinkling her face playfully. "You need a bath."

He raised a brow in mock indignation, about to protest, but Islinda continued, "There’s a river close by. You can bathe there."

Aldric grumbled, "I could just have one of the Faeries draw a bath for me..."

But before he could finish, an idea sparked in his mind. His annoyance faded, replaced with a mischievous smirk.

"Well," he said slowly, "I can’t just go to the river alone at a time like this. With all these monster attacks, who knows what I might encounter?"

Islinda raised an eyebrow, immediately catching onto his game. "Oh really?" she asked, her lips curling into a knowing smile.

Aldric’s smirk deepened as he pulled her closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate tone.

"But then," he said, his eyes gleaming, "I’ve got nothing to worry about if you’re by my side. After all, I need a bigger monster to protect me."

Laughter bubbled up in Islinda’s chest, genuine and unrestrained. There was something so disarming about seeing the dark and imposing prince of the Faeries act like a mischievous child. How had this once terrifying figure become so endearing, so demanding in his own way?

"Fine," Islinda relented, shaking her head, still smiling. "This bigger monster will protect you."

With that, the decision was made. They left the camp behind, heading toward the river. It was several kilometers away and beyond the camp’s protection, but neither of them was worried.

If anything, it was whatever unfortunate creature might cross their path that should be concerned. Both Aldric and Islinda carried power and skill enough to deal with any threat lurking in the dark.

As they approached the river, the landscape opened up to reveal a serene and breathtaking sight. As if the moon intended to comfort them for their losses today, it was up and shining, casting a pale silver light over the entire scene.

The gentle sound of water flowing over smooth rocks filled the air, creating a tranquil melody that seemed to soften the edges of the world around them. The destruction that had befallen the city had not stained this natural beauty.

The riverbanks were lined with smooth, rounded stones, worn down by years of water passing over them, and a cluster of trees formed a natural canopy along one side, their branches swaying gently in the cool night breeze. The air smelled of fresh water and damp earth, mingling with the faint, distant scent of wildflowers that grew near the river’s edge.

The moonlight bathed everything in an ethereal glow, making the water sparkle like a field of diamonds.

"Beautiful," Islinda murmured as they stood at the edge of the water, taking in the scene before them.

"Almost as beautiful as you," Aldric said softly, though his voice held a teasing lilt, his eyes never leaving hers.

Islinda rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Flattery won’t get you out of this bath."

Aldric smiled knowing what he was doing. He began to unbuckle the straps of his armor. Piece by piece, his dark, worn battle gear fell to the ground with muted thuds, leaving him in only his tunic and trousers. Islinda watched silently, her arms crossed loosely over her chest, though her eyes betrayed the subtle tension that stirred within her.

Aldric pulled his tunic over his head, revealing his sculpted chest and the smooth, taut muscles underneath. Islinda swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. There was something about this moment, something more intimate and exposed, that made her heartbeat quicken.