Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 550

Chapter 550: Suspicion Leads To Investigation

As morning dawned, Islinda struggled to pull herself out of bed, her body weighed down by an exhaustion that seemed to penetrate deep into her bones. Despite having caught a few hours of sleep after the incident, she appeared worse for wear, as if the weight of the night had settled heavily upon her shoulders.

Dark circles cast shadows beneath her eyes, and her bloodshot gaze betrayed the inner turmoil she still grappled with. With each movement, she felt the weight of fatigue pressing down on her, making it difficult to muster the energy to face the day ahead. Despite the sunlight filtering through the window, there was a heaviness in the air that mirrored Islinda’s weary state of mind.

At first, upon waking, she had hoped it was all just a figment of her imagination, a terrifying dream from which she would soon awaken. However, as the fog of sleep lifted, the reality of what had transpired sank in, and Islinda’s heart clenched with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

The thought that Valerie whom she had once loved and trusted could attempt such a heinous act filled her with a profound sense of betrayal. She had sensed a shift in Valerie’s demeanor, a darkness that seemed to consume him, but she never imagined he would stoop to such depths.

The thought made a shiver run down her spine, and Islinda wrapped her arms around herself protectively. She had once suspected that whatever feelings Valerie had for her were gone, now replaced with the obsession to defeat Aldric. It seemed the signs weren’t far off if he now intended to lay with her forcefully.

At the same time, Islinda couldn’t shake the image of the shocked and apologetic look in Valerie’s eyes as if he hadn’t meant to do so. Well, he did say it. Yet wasn’t that the same excuse every culprit used? Islinda was left reeling, her mind swirling with thoughts.

One thing weighed heavily on Islinda’s mind: she couldn’t remain in this place any longer. The mere thought of facing Valerie, of reliving the haunting memory of that incident, filled her with discomfort. The trust that had once bound them together had been irreparably shattered, replaced by an overwhelming sense of unease. She no longer felt safe with him.

Despite Valerie’s remorseful demeanor and apologies, Islinda couldn’t shake the lingering fear that gripped her heart. The memory of his behavior from the night before, the way he had seemed almost possessed by some dark force, left her trembling with apprehension. What if he were to succumb to that same influence again? What if he were to come to her room once more, driven by the same reckless impulse?

If he dared to cross that line again, she might kill him this time, consequences be damned. Sadly for her, Islinda would be punished for killing a royal out of self-defense. Who would believe her anyway? The Fae would be too furious to listen to the woes of a human.

Not to mention Valerie’s mother, Queen Maeve, harbored a deep-seated animosity towards Islinda. The mere thought of a human being responsible for her son’s demise would only stoke the flames of her hatred. Even if Islinda were somehow declared innocent, Queen Maeve’s vengeful wrath would know no bounds.

No corner of the human or Fae realm would offer refuge from the Queen’s relentless pursuit of justice, or rather, vengeance. Islinda knew that her life would be in constant jeopardy, her every move shadowed by the looming threat of a painful demise at the hands of Queen Maeve.

Islinda groaned in exasperation, covering her face with her palm. With her departure just two days away, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Gabi would undoubtedly bombard her with questions if she suddenly decided to leave the prince’s safe abode. What excuse could she possibly offer? Islinda couldn’t bring herself to confide in Gabi about recent events. Despite their close friendship, she still hadn’t fully trusted Gabi with such sensitive matters. If only Maxi was here.

A knock on her door startled Islinda, causing her spine to stiffen involuntarily. She had assumed it was Valerie and didn’t know how to face him, but to her relief, the door opened to reveal Gabi, peering in with a grin. "Arise and shine, sleeping beauty," she teased.

A great relief washed over Islinda, and she flashed her newfound human friend a smile. "Good morning to you too, Gabi," she answered politely.

With that warm invitation, Gabi entered the room. However, when her gaze fully settled on Islinda, she visibly frowned. "Why do you look so miserable?" Gabi asked.

Islinda sighed, rubbing her palm down her face, and came up with the most convenient excuse. "I couldn’t sleep last night. I was thinking about a lot of things," she replied, hoping Gabi wouldn’t press for more details.

"Is this about the dark Fae prince again?" Gabi inquired, her face darkening with fury on Islinda’s behalf.

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