Islinda stared back at Aldric in wordless amazement. Her mouth fell open and closed on its own while her eyes were wide from the shock he treated her to.
At once she squirmed, trying to ease out from beneath him but Aldric only pinned her down with his body and her effort was futile. It was a huge mistake at the same time because their bodies were pressed flush so that she could feel his form. All these muscles beneath the clothes, no, she can’t go there.
Islinda swallowed numbly, she was not a novice to Aldric’s mean schemes but what bothered her was how far he would go all just to get an answer from her. She did not remember being mandated to respond to his ridiculous question, not that she had any choice.
"Why won’t you talk?" Aldric asked with a twisted smirk that made him look all the more devilish, "Is the question too hard for you?"
"That is a stupid question, Aldric. You are not Valerie." Islinda glared at him with indignation to show that she was displeased with his action.
If he really cared about her, he would not open up an old wound that she wasn’t over with completely. And to think he was comparing himself to Valerie made her a whole lot furious.
However, either Aldric did not notice the building anger inside of her or he blatantly ignored it and went ahead to say, "I am not Valerie, but you can imagine me as one. All I just need is for you to answer my question."
But the dark prince caught himself at the last minute as his face twisted with disgust, "No, don’t imagine me as that pompous prick, just take him out of the picture and imagine me instead as your prince charming. What would it be? Would you have fallen for me?" He asked with expectations, awaiting her answer.
Islinda furrowed together, disturbed at the fact that the dark prince dwelled on an alternative that would have never happened. At this point, she could not tell if this was a test or prank, or both. By the gods, she could feel a headache approaching.
"Valerie is gentle and kind. With your wicked character, Aldric, I hardly doubt I wouldn’t have put an arrow in your chest myself." Islinda gave him the truth as it was.
Had it not been for the fact he possessed superior abilities, she would have killed him for murdering Ryder and her family members.
To be honest, Islinda had expected Aldric would be disappointed by her answer, after all, her response did not favor him, but to her surprise, he burst into laughter that left her confused. What was funny about what she said? She basically admitted she would have killed him. Was committing murder funny?
"Just as I thought," Aldric said with a crinkle in the corners of his eyes, "Our meeting would have been a rather sizzling, romantic one. From enemies to lovers has always been a glorified and lovely genre."
Islinda was gobsmacked, giving the Fae strange looks as if he had lost a damned mind.
"You are mad." She blurted out.
Aldric laughed, "Did you just realize it now, darling? Why do you think everyone avoids me for a reason?" He tucked her hair behind her ear, and the slight contact with her skin made a thrill that shouldn’t be there course through her.
Islinda let out a slight gasp, but other than that, schooled her expression. She blamed that reaction on her body’s normal response to a male. A handsome one at that. It pained Islinda to admit that. Even so, Aldric was crossing the boundary and she had to stop him.
"Get off me, please." She begged him with a sigh.
For a moment there, she thought Aldric was going to be stubborn and ignore her plea, instead, he said, "If you say so, darling."
And he was off her in a twinkle of an eye.
Islinda swallowed in large breaths, still finding it hard to believe that he let her go just like that. However, she sat up before the fiend decided to change his mind and make her life harder.
As if he could read her thoughts, Aldric told her, "As far as you are under my roof, I would not touch you without you asking me to. However..."
And that clause alone was enough to make her heart pound. "There was always a catch when dealing with a Fae" the words rang in her head.
"I would tease and play games with you. I would push your buttons, possibly drag you to the edge to see how much you can take. After all, you do belong to me and you’re mine to do with as I wish."
He went on, "However, I am not that heartless. So you can comfortably live under my roof for the rest of your human life. Perhaps then, when I’m king, I will finally grant you the freedom you desire. Let’s just hope the crown comes to me quickly and not in a hundred years when your bones are too weak and you don’t find pleasure anymore. "
Islinda’s face fell at once, what had she been expecting in the first place? A declaration of everlasting love? Who was she kidding? Aldric needed her for one reason and that was to bring Valerie down. The Fae had no heart to give and she began to ponder if her plans to make him fall for Rosalind was even achievable. It seemed so distant now.
"Thanks for the words of wisdom, Prince Aldric. I will take careful note of it from now on. " Islinda stated coldly.
Now that Aldric reminded her of her role in his life, she also recalled why she hated him in the first place. And to think she had let him get too close to her made her skin crawl. She had been frolicking with the enemy. Perhaps she was wrong and some Fae’s were indeed born evil.