Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 852: Rest

Islinda had a million questions swirling in her mind, but she held them back as she and Aldric marched silently back to their room. She could only glance at his hardened expression, wondering what thoughts were storming inside his head. His jaw was clenched, his eyes distant, as if already lost in some dark, impenetrable place.

The moment they entered, Aldric let go of her hand without a word, leaving her to close the door behind them. Islinda didn’t just close it; she bolted it with every lock she could find. The fear of the king’s armies coming after them, after Aldric’s violent display, gripped her. At least this way, she thought, they’d have some warning if an attack came, buying them time to escape—hopefully.

When Islinda returned, she found Aldric sitting on the edge of the bed, his head lowered and clasped between his hands. The sight broke her heart. For a moment, she didn’t know what to do. She stood there, helpless, before finally making her way to the bed and standing in front of him. Without words, she offered comfort, her presence speaking for her.

At first, it seemed Aldric would ignore her, lost in his despair. But then, to her surprise, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him. His grip was so firm that it nearly crushed her waist, but Islinda said nothing, enduring the discomfort. She could feel the weight of his pain, anger, and tension, and she didn’t care if it hurt. If this was what Aldric needed, she would bear it.

Suddenly, a guttural, beastly sound tore from his throat, startling her. It happened again, and then Islinda realized— Aldric was crying. The sound was raw, almost primal, as though he didn’t know how to release his grief. Aldric, the one who had always seemed so strong and unshakable, was breaking in front of her.

Islinda froze. She had seen many people cry in her lifetime, but never Aldric. He had always been the unyielding rock, the one who bore the weight of everything without faltering. But now, the agony in his sobs was so visceral, so deep, as if his heart had been shattered into a million pieces.

Tears streamed down his face, and Islinda felt his pain as if it were her own. She tightened her hold on him, as much for her own comfort as his, and began to stroke his hair, whispering soothing words, "Don’t hold it in. Let it all out."

Aldric’s sobs intensified, his cries like those of a wounded animal. It was as though all the pain he had buried over the centuries was finally coming to the surface, and he didn’t know how to handle it. Islinda knew that he had never allowed himself to grieve like this before. No wonder it was tearing him apart now.

"Why did she hurt her?" Aldric choked out between sobs. "My mother never hurt her. She never hurt anyone!"

His fingers dug into Islinda’s waist so hard that she felt blood start to trickle from the cuts, but she didn’t flinch. If anything, she welcomed the pain. It was nothing compared to the emotional torment Aldric was enduring. He could unleash everything on her, and she would take it all if it meant easing his suffering. Aldric had been holding it in for far too long and now it was breaking free.

"Jealousy, envy, power," Islinda murmured, still stroking his hair. "Those are the excuses people use to hurt others. Most times, they don’t even have a reason. They just want to see others in pain because they’re miserable themselves."

"I should have stopped her," Aldric muttered fiercely, the anguish in his eyes blazing. "If she hadn’t gone on that trip, maybe things would’ve been different."

Without warning, Islinda grabbed a fistful of Aldric’s hair and yanked hard, pulling his gaze sharply to hers.

"You were unborn for crying out loud, Aldric!" she snapped at him."What could you have possibly done from the womb? You may have powers that make you nearly a god, but you’re still flesh and blood."

Aldric blinked at her, understanding dawning, or so she thought, until he whispered, his voice broken, "I should never have been born."

The sharp slap that met his face was quick and fierce. Islinda’s breath came in angry huffs as her eyes blazed with fury.

"Don’t you ever say that again," she snarled, "Not ever. I don’t care what you think, or what anyone else thinks, but I, for one, am grateful you were born."

Her voice softened as she reached up to caress his face, her eyes filled with a tenderness he rarely saw. "You are Aldric, a child born of two courts, King of the Dark Faeries, my mate, and the father of our child. I couldn’t be more thankful to have met you."

Aldric stared at her, stunned by her words. Slowly, his hands loosened their grip on her waist. He reached up, tracing the lines of her face with trembling fingers. "How can you love someone like me, after all I’ve done to you? I’m a monster, Islinda."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed before opening again, this time with fierce determination. "Then you’re my monster," she murmured, "and I’m not letting you go."

A small, weary smile tugged at the corner of Aldric’s lips. He sighed, leaning back slightly. "I’m just so tired, Islinda."

"Then rest," she replied, "Let me take care of you."

Islinda pressed soft kisses along his face and neck, her lips trailing down his skin as she moved between his legs. When she unzipped his pants and freed him, Aldric’s breath caught in his throat. He shuddered at her touch, groaning as she stroked him, her hand warm and firm.

Islinda kept her gaze locked on his, smiling softly as she lowered her head.

Aldric groaned as she took him into her mouth, the pleasure overwhelming him. Her movements were slow at first, deliberate, but soon she quickened her pace, sending Aldric into a frenzy.

He gripped her hair tightly, unable to control himself as she brought him to the edge. With a final, powerful thrust, he let out a loud, beastly growl as he climaxed, collapsing back onto the bed, spent.

For a moment, he lay there, panting and dazed. Islinda crawled up beside him, resting her head on his chest, her fingers gently tracing patterns over his skin.

"Rest," she whispered softly.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Aldric allowed himself to do just that.