Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 867: Chosen Queen

With her previous dress destroyed by Azreal, he had another one brought for her. Being a king with wealth at his disposal certainly had its perks. Back in the Fae realm, Gabbi would never have dared to ruin the few good clothes she could barely afford.

Unlike her first dress, which had been chic and fashionable, this new one was undeniably regal. The striking black gown had a deep V-neckline, and the feathered texture gave it volume and movement, creating a dramatic and luxurious appearance.

The asymmetrical hemline, shorter in the front and longer in the back, gave it a high-low effect that added even more elegance. With her long, flowing hair complementing the dress’s bold style, Gabbi looked every bit the queen.

"You look good enough to eat," Azreal said, his dark eyes locking onto hers as he took her hand and kissed it.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, your majesty," Gabbi playfully hit him on the chest. Despite her teasing, she felt confident in her skin.

The dress had transformed her, making her look every bit the queen she was meant to be. Not to mention, the color matched Azreal’s wings, making them look like a formidable power couple.

Presenting a united front, they stepped out, her arm looped around his. The moment they emerged, all eyes were on them. No one passed without taking a second or even third glance. Gabbi held her head high, undeterred by the attention.

Azreal had told her his people would meet them. Various tribe leaders, important subordinates, and elders awaited in the grand hall. As they arrived at the doors, Gabbi paused to take a deep breath.

"Are you okay?" Azreal asked, sensing her hesitation.

"Yes, I am." Gabbi steeled herself, tucking away her emotions like she had seen Azreal do countless times. "Let’s do this," She thrust her chin up.

Azreal nodded, and at his command, the large doors were pushed open, creaking loudly as they announced their arrival.

As soon as they entered, all eyes were on them. Despite the initial shock of having so many eyes on her, she didn’t falter. Azreal’s presence grounded her, giving her the strength to move forward.

As they walked deeper into the room, Gabbi realized Azreal hadn’t been exaggerating about the tribes’ different traits, despite their shared Ravenkind lineage.

One figure had a completely raven-like head on a human body, while others had beaks for mouths, and some had replaced their legs with bird limbs.

Gabbi was grateful that Azreal had given her time to adjust before this moment. Had she been exposed to all of this at once, she might have shrieked or fainted from shock.

Seeing the Ravenkind in their natural forms was unnerving, and for the first time, she understood Drusilla’s betrayal a little better. It was hard to imagine anyone being comfortable in the presence of beings that looked like nightmares come to life.

But not everyone was so monstrous. Some held human traits, with strong wings folded behind them like Azreal’s, while a few appeared completely human.

The latter surprised Gabbi, though she knew better than to think they were truly human. It was all a façade, perhaps meant to calm their queen and prevent her from fleeing in terror.

It was clear now that some factions of Ravenkind were opposed to her, hoping to frighten her into fleeing. Well, they had miscalculated. She had Azreal, the king of monsters, by her side. So why fear any other creature when the fiercest of them was her mate?

As she scanned the room, Gabbi made mental notes of those who appeared more human. She would need allies if she were to survive in this kingdom. After all, they had already planned to kill her while unmated. Who knew what they would do now that she was mated?

Suddenly, she sensed a shift in the room. There was a collective sniff — one strange, eerie sound that sent a chill down Gabbi’s spine. And then outrage rippled through the crowd.

Anger so potent, thickened the air, manifesting in various ways: some made strange bird-like noises, others gestured wildly, while some outright voiced their disapproval. Yet, a few seemed confused, even intrigued.

An elderly Valravn female stepped forward, snarling. "You promised! You said you wouldn’t mark her! You’ve broken our trust!"

Azreal was unable to speak, overwhelmed by the accusations coming from all sides. Gabbi felt bad for him, wondering if she had pushed him too far by wanting the mark. But that guilt was quickly replaced by anger. How dare they think they had the right to make decisions for him?

"Enough!" Gabbi’s voice rang out with such force that those nearby shrank back in fear.

She glared at them, her eyes blazing with anger. "How dare you speak to your king that way?!"

Her words held them in stunned silence, even Azreal stood amazed by the force of her command. His chest swelled with pride. This was his queen.

But the moment was shattered when a young Valravn woman broke free from the tension, rushing to Azreal’s side and grabbed his arm.

"Tell me it’s not true," she begged. "You couldn’t have marked that human. She’s too weak to be queen. You deserve better."

Gabbi couldn’t pinpoint whether it was the degrading words or the woman’s audacity to touch Azreal that set her off. An intense anger roared inside her, buzzing in her ears and prickling her skin as though something was clawing to get out.

All Gabbi saw was red. "Get away from him. He’s mine!" Gabbi swiped at the Valravn woman, who screamed and stumbled back, clutching her face.

When she pulled her hand away, there were five bloody slashes across her face, causing the room to gasp in shock. The crowd stared at Gabbi in awe, their jaws dropping open.

Gabbi was confused by their wide-eyed stares until she looked down at her hands.

She screamed.

Her hands were no longer hands—they were talons.

"She’s chosen by the gods!" someone cried from the crowd. "She’s our queen!"

And just like that, the room filled with similar cries. One by one, all the tribes fell to their knees, bowing their heads, making strange guttural noises in their throats in reverence, as they called her "Queen."

But Gabbi wasn’t focused on them. She stared at her taloned hands, panic rising. Hyperventilating, she backed away.

"Gabbi... calm down...I can explain," Azreal said, trying to reach for her.

But Gabbi shot him a look of betrayal, her vision fading to darkness as she fainted, Azreal’s concerned face the last thing she saw.