Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 882: Not Responding

The arena fell so silent that even the wind could be heard as the Faeries stood frozen in various stages of shock. It was unbelievable. No, this must be a fragment of their imagination. Yet, Aldric, who was being suppressed by Valerie’s flames, yelled once again.

"I surrender! So stop already!"

And that was it. They had heard it right. Aldric was really surrendering to Valerie. It was hard to believe. No one would ever think Aldric would give up. After all, this was the dark Fae prince they were talking about. Everyone knew Aldric would rather die than lose to his long-time rival, Valerie.

As soon as the effect of the shock wore off, there was an uproar in the crowd, and the anger was directed at Aldric. Faeries were powerful creatures who valued strength above all else. They would have preferred Aldric to die and have his legacy live on as the fearsome dark Fae prince rather than continue as a coward.

They began to spit words of outrage and boo him. Some even started to throw things in his direction, but thanks to the barrier, the objects slipped off as if passing through glass.

But Islinda cared nothing for the crowd’s scorn. All her focus was on Aldric’s well-being. Her heart raced in her chest, her anxiety growing with every passing second. From her vantage point, she could see that Valerie wasn’t stopping. Despite Aldric’s clear surrender, Valerie’s attack continued, his flames still blazing.

"Why isn’t he stopping?" Islinda asked Isaac, her eyes wide with fear. "Aldric has given in already! He should stop!"

Isaac frowned as well. In a death duel, when one fighter surrendered, the victor was supposed to stop. But Valerie wasn’t stopping. The thought worried Isaac because there was no law against Valerie killing Aldric even after a surrender.

"He’s not letting Aldric go! He should let Aldric go!" Islinda panicked.

In her terror, Islinda’s persuasive power unwittingly rippled out in waves, her magic casting a spell over the winter Faeries and even some from the other courts, all except for the summer court. Her emotions took hold of them, and suddenly, the crowd’s fury turned to demands for mercy.

"Let him go! Let Prince Aldric go!" the enchanted Faeries chanted in unison, their voices rising in protest.

"What is he waiting for? He should have let Aldric go already!" King Oberon demanded from his seat. While his Fae nature rebelled at Aldric surrendering, he was relieved that his son wasn’t going to die—if Valerie didn’t finish him off.

There may not have been a rule preventing a victor from killing his opponent after surrender, but this was Aldric, his beloved son. Moreover, he couldn’t allow Valerie to kill his own brother.

"Tell the witches to lower the barrier! Now!" King Oberon barked orders to his knights, who immediately moved into action. If Valerie wouldn’t let Aldric go, Oberon would interfere himself.

Unlike Oberon, who had shot to his feet in frustration, Queen Maeve sat calmly in her seat, anticipation lighting her face. "Come on, what are you waiting for? Kill Aldric already!" she muttered to herself, on the edge of her seat.

If it were possible, Queen Maeve would have killed Aldric herself, but she couldn’t interfere in the fight.

Back in the arena, the truth of Valerie’s situation remained hidden from everyone. While it appeared he was choosing not to stop, the reality was that Valerie couldn’t stop. The drug fueling his power had pushed him beyond control. He had tapped into his abilities so deeply that he could no longer rein them in. Valerie was caught in the storm of his own making, his magic running wild, unchecked. Not to mention, a part of him didn’t want to stop, either. Aldric had to die!

Aldric’s screams cut through the chaos as his ice magic was devoured by Valerie’s flames. The heat intensified, licking at his skin, threatening to burn him alive.

"Aldric!" Islinda screamed, wrenching herself from Isaac’s grasp. She pushed him aside, her panic overwhelming her as she started toward the arena.

But Valerie’s flames flickered, the intensity suddenly waning. He had pushed himself too far, and now, the effects of the drug were wearing off. Valerie, drained of his power, collapsed onto the ground, weak and empty. His body crumpled under the strain, his energy spent.

At the same time, Aldric fell. His magic dissipated, leaving him vulnerable. He crumpled, barely conscious, as the last of his strength ebbed away. The pain was too much to bear, his limbs heavy, his vision blurred. Through the haze of pain, he saw a figure rushing toward him.

It was Islinda.

Her voice, her cries, reached him through the fog. She was calling his name, her tone desperate. Aldric’s lips curled into a faint, bittersweet smile as he watched her, the world fading at the edges of his consciousness.

He was going to miss her.

With that final thought, Aldric’s eyes slid shut, darkness claiming him as the battle finally came to an end.

Islinda ran towards the arena the second the barrier dropped. She rushed to Aldric’s side, collapsing beside him. Her hands trembled as she reached for him, shaking him gently. He wasn’t breathing. Panic surged through her, and with tears streaming down her face, she screamed, "Help me! Help me, please!"

Her cries pierced the arena, but for a moment, no one moved. Then, Prince Theodore appeared, sprinting toward her. Guards rushed in, pulling Islinda back so Theodore could tend to Aldric. She fought against their hold, desperate to stay by her mate’s side.

Theodore knelt beside Aldric, his hands glowing with healing power as he pressed them to Aldric’s chest. His face was tight with concentration, sweat forming at his brow. Islinda watched, her hope crumbling as each moment passed and Aldric remained unresponsive.

Theodore poured more healing energy into Aldric, but nothing changed. He wouldn’t wake. Tears blurred Islinda’s vision, her sobs breaking through the silence. "Please, don’t leave me," she whispered, but no matter how much power Theodore used, Aldric remained still, his body motionless, his chest unmoving.