Everything unfolded so swiftly that it took Islinda over a minute to grasp the reality that Elena of the Raysin family stood before them in the flesh, embracing Aldric. She hugged the dark Fae prince? She wasn’t recoiling from him like the others?!
Suddenly, without warning, a wave of jealousy and rage surged through Islinda. She couldn’t fathom its origin, but she felt tempted to tear the woman away from Aldric, to slap her across the face and jolt her back to reality, then to drag her by the hair back to wherever she came from. How dare she touch Aldric?! How dare she lay hands on what was...
Islinda was startled by the snarl that nearly escaped her throat, and in utter disbelief, she glanced down to find her claws had emerged. They had surfaced, as if ready to tear Elena apart with them.
By the gods, what was happening to her? Islinda quickly scanned the room to see if anyone had witnessed her startling transformation. To her relief and irritation mixed together, everyone seemed engrossed in the spectacle of Aldric and Elena’s embrace. This granted Islinda enough time to close her eyes, quell her anger, clear her thoughts, and will her claws to retract.
When she reopened her eyes, Islinda was relieved to find that her claws were gone, just as she had imagined. She couldn’t explain how she knew to think that way, but it had come to her instinctively. Now, she wouldn’t have to seek out Theodore to calm her down whenever she lost control and her claws emerged.
However, Islinda’s joy was short-lived when she witnessed Aldric and Elena still entwined in their embrace. She had never considered herself the jealous type, but perhaps it was the undeniable allure of their union that stirred something within her. The sight of them together was like a painting come to life; two formidable Fae of equal standing, captivating and otherworldly, one embodying darkness while the other radiated fiery brilliance.
Yet, a twisted part of Islinda snarled and rebelled against this idyllic image. Aldric and Elena, she insisted, would never be compatible. It wasn’t merely because of her personal distaste for the Fae. The dark Fae prince was not suited for perfection; he was too broken, too scarred by his past. Aldric wasn’t flawless enough to thrive in Elena’s world.
Suddenly, Aldric abruptly pulled away from Elena, and any semblance of enjoyment in the embrace evaporated as a storm brewed in his eyes, darkening his expression.
He gripped Elena’s wrist so tightly that she winced in pain. Unmoved by her discomfort, Aldric interrogated her fiercely, "What do you think you’re doing? How did you get here, no..." His eyes narrowed with suspicion, "What are you doing here? What are you up to, Elena of the Raysin family?"
This time, Islinda’s gaze flickered towards Elena with a similar suspicion. What exactly was Elena doing here? Wasn’t she supposed to be Valerie’s fiancée? Why was she betrothed to the older brother but embracing the younger one?
Because she had a thing for Aldric, her unconscious mind supplied, almost mockingly.
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