The excitement had nearly fizzled out by the time Islinda returned and Maxi was tamed compared to earlier. They ate dinner in comfortable silence, at least for some, Islinda was full of nerves trying to predict how much time was left before Aldric succumbed to the drugs.
"Am I that handsome you can’t help but steal glances at me, princess?"
Islinda choked on her food when her eyes collided with Eli’s and she began to cough to the point tears slipped down her face and she reached blindly for water.
"Here," Eli beat her to it, bringing the glass to her lips and she downed the whole thing.
"Shh, easy there, princess." The dark Fae prince was attentive to her needs, rubbing her back till she recovered from the coughing fit.
Islinda lifted her face to thank Eli and couldn’t look away. She was held spellbound, slightly breathless at the care and adoration in his eyes. He was so sweet. However, her heart squeezed painfully at the thought of betraying him. It was not her fault though, if only they had met in a better place and time. If only Eli had his own body and he was not the same as Aldric, then perhaps, she might have considered staying.
"Aww, the both of you are so adorable," Maxi commented, and the both of them broke out of the haze, the moment ruined for them.
Maxi continued, "Tell me though, when are we expecting babies? Have I told you that I love those cute adorable little demons with their chubby arms and innocent eyes that promise not to harm until they’re pulling your hair –"
"Maxi!" Issac hushed her, his eyes hard and reproving.
She really had no filter or boundaries. Perhaps it was years of limiting herself to her shifter form, Maxi did not have great relating skills and tended to blow most conversations, often resulting in misunderstandings, hurt feelings, lost opportunities, and unmet expectations. He had to work on her people skills, or else her meeting with his mother was doomed.
"Oh. You’re Dark Fae, so no adorable babies...." Maxi trailed off, realizing what her words had caused.
The tension was thick and bound the hall like a noose. Eli stiffened as if someone just slapped him on the face and Islinda noticed it and held her breath. The room was so silent that if one dropped a pin it could echo loudly.
Eli let out a nasty, sardonic laughter that did nothing but heighten the tension in the hall that one could cut with a knife. Everyone held their breath, watching the scene with anxious anticipation and waiting for Aldric to explode.
Instead, he turned in his seat and faced Islinda with a twisted smile, "Princess, I find that I’m suddenly interested in babymaking, so would you help me create a damned dark Fae child that would run loose?"
Islinda stiffened and she had no idea if it was because of Eli proposing he got her pregnant or the shock he knew of the derogatory words Aurelia had said to her earlier. Perhaps it was both and it rendered her speechless.
Aurelia bristled at the spot and Islinda had no doubt the Fae must believe she tattle on her. If only she knew this was the least subject she would bring up with Aldric. The walls seem to have ears indeed and Islinda could only hope at this point that it kept her own secret.
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