Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 716

Chapter 716: Little Vixen

The air in Aldric’s mansion was thick and heavy as it dawned on the servants, who had been left behind and enjoying his absence for days, that their little vacation was over. The dark Fae prince was back, and it was time to behave.

Aldric’s sudden arrival on the lawn, carrying Islinda in his arms, disrupted the brief respite the servants had enjoyed. They whispered anxiously among themselves, their previous relaxed demeanor replaced by nervous energy. One servant, who had stumbled upon Aldric as he materialized out of nowhere, stood frozen in shock.

Ignoring the servant, Aldric moved with purposeful strides toward his quarters, cradling Islinda carefully. His focus remained entirely on her, not sparing a glance for anyone else. The servants, accustomed to his unpredictable comings and goings, had maintained the mansion in pristine condition, always ready for his return.

Once inside his room, Aldric laid Islinda gently on his bed, brushing aside a stray lock of her hair that had fallen across her face. He lingered for a moment, his gaze softening as he watched her sleep. Then, with a determined set to his jaw, he straightened up and left the room.

Aldric headed directly to his secret lab, aware that danger still lurked even within the walls of Astaria. The Raysin family’s thirst for vengeance meant they would inevitably come for Islinda. He had no time to waste in fortifying his defenses.

In his lab, Aldric rummaged through shelves and drawers, finally retrieving a crate of peculiar spherical objects. Each ball was filled with a dark liquid, ominous particles suspended inside. He examined one closely, a cold, cruel smirk curling his lips as he did. Satisfied, he carefully picked up the crate and left.

Aldric, a seasoned warrior and cunning strategist, knew his castle’s defenses and vulnerabilities intimately. He methodically placed the spheres in critical locations, ensuring they were well-hidden yet strategically positioned to thwart any intruder. In the garden, he tucked one ball between the hedges, its dark surface blending seamlessly with the surroundings.

As he set the final sphere, a Raven, one of his loyal spies, landed on his shoulder and cawed loudly, flapping its wings.

"Yes, I know, I missed you too," Aldric said, a rare warmth in his voice as he acknowledged the bird’s greeting.

Aside from the birds spying for him, the communication bond he shared with the animals was one of the gifts Azrael, the Raven King had bestowed on him.

It cawed again.

Aldric’s brows furrowed as if finding it hard to respond to whatever the Raven just said. He tilted his head, unsure, saying,

"You cannot exactly call it a betrayal, it’s not like you folks like the winter anyway," Aldric protested.

Another Raven soon joined, perching on his other shoulder. It cawed, and Aldric chuckled, responding to their silent communication. "See, listen to him, mate, he actually makes more sense than you right now."

The first Raven tilted its head, cawing more insistently.

"You can’t make such a claim. I’m not picking sides here. I like you all equally."

The Raven cawed again, clearly unconvinced.

"No," Aldric shook his head in exasperation, "I am not doing that!"

Suddenly, the Raven darted forward and snatched one of the balls from Aldric’s hand. His eyes widened in alarm as he froze, understanding the potential catastrophe if the bird dropped or shook it.

"Give it to me, number five," Aldric commanded, his voice steady despite the tension.

The Raven cawed defiantly.

Aldric rolled his eyes, "I can’t make you number one. He’s right here," he pointed to the other Raven still perched on his shoulder.

The bird obviously did not like Aldric’s answer, and he saw the moment the stubborn Raven made its decision.

"Oh, shit," Aldric cursed as the bird flew away with one of the delicate spheres.

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