Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Islinda Was Dead

"Your Highness!"

"Fuck!" Valerie cursed under his breath as he had no choice but to halt at once. He had planned to sneak out of the palace undetected and had intentionally dressed subtly while walking with his head lowered, but it seems that was not enough. They still found him.

Only that it was not "they" but "he" and it was a face that he didn’t expect to see.

"Derek...." Valerie stared at the tall, imposing Fae in front of him with unbelieving eyes. Derek was no other than his second in command and he had seen him fall the day the wraiths attacked them.

Islinda had occupied his mind that he hadn’t thought about him. Valerie did not blame her, after all, she helped him grieve. He had lost a lot of good men that day and it was nice to see a familiar face. But this was not the right time or place for he had somewhere to be.

Nonetheless, it didn’t stop him from pulling Derek forward and wrapping his arms around him, hugging him tight.

"I’m so sorry... " He murmured, "So sorry that I didn’t come back for you."

Derek stepped back from the hug and shook his head, "No, you did the right thing, your highness. Do not blame yourself for surviving by all means because I would put my life down for you over and over again. The others understood that as well when they took the role of protecting you."

He continued, "My survival was a miracle and I couldn’t search for you because I was recuperating from my injuries. But I’m good now and I would ensure to keep you safe this time knowing the gods returned me to you once again ...." His gaze roved over Valerie, taking in his simple and dark clothing only for his lips to press into a thin line, "Are you planning to sneak off your Highness? "

Valerie sighed deeply, pinching the space between his brows. Of course, Derek has been with him long enough to know what he was up to. But Valerie could not tell him that he was planning to go into the human realm. As much as the Fae was loyal to him, he was overly passionate about his safety.

For the first time, Valerie loathed whoever set up the wards around the palace that stopped him from using the portals. He could have easily opened a portal in his room and gone after Islinda, but there was magic in place to stop it.

While the medallion was hard to get by since it was a relic of the royal family and gifted by the king to whoever he wanted, anyone could get a witch to make them one since they are the ones capable of creating it with their magic. In one word, it was for the protection of the royal family so assassins couldn’t open a portal inside the palace and murder members of the royal family.

Just because Fae lived long lives doesn’t mean they were incapable of dying and the royal guards were there to stop that from happening. The royal family was the pillar and powerhouse of Astaria and if anything were to happen to them, the kingdom would be destabilized and thrown into pandemonium, giving their enemies the chance to ruin Faerie. That cannot happen.

"Your Highness...." Derek called him again, drawing his attention to the present.

Valerie swallowed, looking at him with indecision. What was he going to do? Tell him the truth or not?

He made up his mind.

"I need to go to the human realm."

"What?!" Derek shouted only to look around to see if he had drawn any attention and when no one paid them looks, he stepped closer to the prince, speaking to him in a hushed tone,

"That is too dangerous, your highness. Your return is a miracle, why would you plunge headfirst into danger again? It does not make any sense. Not to mention your father, the king would have my head if anything happens to you this time. I’m sorry but I cannot let you make such a risky move." He said apologetically.

However, Valerie’s eyes hardened, his jaw set and his voice was firm, "I don’t expect you to understand but I have no choice. I have to go, Derek."

Derek opened his mouth to speak but words failed him and they ended up in a moment of silence. Perhaps, it was the pleading in Valerie’s eyes but he gave in with a sigh.

"Fine, you can go," He said, only to add almost immediately, "But I would come with you."

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