The morale of Aldric’s troops surged, and they chased after the retreating attackers, determined to make their enemies pay dearly for their incursion. Aldric’s gaze remained cold and unyielding, his focus fixed on the retreating figures.The sight of his soldiers pursuing the retreating attackers filled him with grim satisfaction.
With his chest heaving from exertion, Aldric’s eyes scanned the battlefield, ensuring no threat remained. The battle had been won, for now. Aldric knew this was just the beginning; the Raysin family would not give up until they had exacted revenge on him, on Islinda. Wait a minute...
"Fuck!"
Aldric abandoned everything and sprinted towards his quarters. He had gotten carried away with the thrill of battle and forgotten his promise to check on her, even though he had charged Kalamazoo to protect her.
Aldric hadn’t even reached his quarters when he bumped into Kalamazoo. His heart skipped a beat, fearing the worst, especially when he saw Kalamazoo clutching his bleeding side.
"Where is she?!" he demanded.
"She escaped. I tried to stop her, but she attacked me," Kalamazoo managed to say.
Aldric didn’t waste a second. He bolted to his chambers, breathless by the time he got there, only to find the bed empty. He picked up the chains and realized they hadn’t been picked but broken. Either Kalamazoo had been foolish enough to fall for her tricks, or she had been strong enough to break the chains and had been playing along with him.
"Fuck!" Aldric cursed, punching his fist into the wall out of frustration. No, she couldn’t have gone far. He had to find her.
Aldric ran out of his room, frantically searching everywhere. Panic began to set in. What would he do if the demon was really gone? She was in Islinda’s body, for crying out loud! He couldn’t lose his mate like this!
There was no sign of the demon in the places he searched. Just as he was about to call his men for help, he stumbled upon something uncanny.
Some enemies had managed to break into his castle, and it wasn’t uncommon to find a body or two in the hallways. However, this time, bodies littered the way to one of the rooms as if the enemies had targeted someone inside.
Aldric’s heart went cold. He ran in.
"Islinda!" he called, heart racing and expecting to see Islinda’s body on the ground.
However, Aldric arrived just in time to see the demon decapitate an enemy, and the headless body fell to the ground in a heap.
Aldric was dumbfounded at the sight. Islinda’s still-naked body was splattered with blood, and there was no guessing whose handiwork it was. Hers.
"For the record," Azula said, licking the blood off her fingers, "my name is Azula."
Strangely, Aldric thought her name sounded cute, until she ruined the moment by saying, "Islinda is gone."
His face turned grim at once. "I told you not to leave the room."
"Well, guess who doesn’t do well with orders. Me," she retorted.
"Fine, you have proven that you can protect yourself. However, it’s time you returned to the room until I figure out what to do with you."
Azula gave him a blank stare, looking as if she didn’t understand a word he just said.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Azula? Go to the room, now."
"No."
"No?" Aldric’s eyes narrowed, his demeanor darkening.
"You see," Azula began, "I didn’t take over my rightful possession of this body only to have my freedom taken from me again. I don’t answer to anybody, and as much as we had a good time together, it’s time to move on. However, I’m sure you can find someone other than Islinda to fall in love with, dark Fae prince. So goodbye."
A pentagram suddenly lit up beneath Azula’s feet, and Aldric’s eyes went wide, recognizing it for what it was. No way in hell was he letting her leave with his mate’s body.
"Goodbye, love." Azula blew him a kiss as her body began to vanish through the portal. Just when she was halfway through, Aldric’s shadows lashed out and curled around her waist.
"You are not going anywhere!" he declared.
With a grunt, he forcefully pulled her out of the portal, throwing her across the room. Azula groaned as she knocked into the wall. When she opened her eyes, they flashed red with anger. That asshole!
"I guess this is how it goes then," she said, rising to her feet and clenching her fists in fury.
Azula charged at Aldric, her eyes blazing with fury. Her movements were swift and precise, aiming to catch him off guard. But Aldric, battle-hardened and vigilant, sidestepped her assault effortlessly, treating her like a petulant child flailing at a seasoned warrior.
Azula’s frustration mounted as her attacks failed to land. She spun and lunged, but Aldric dodged each move with a cold, calculated ease that only further enraged her. His face remained impassive, and his eyes locked on her with a steely determination. Azula’s breath came in ragged gasps as she realized he was toying with her, exploiting every opening to wear her down.
Her gaze darted to the door nearby. With a sudden burst of speed, Azula made a desperate dash for it, her fingers outstretched to grasp the handle. Just as her fingertips brushed the wood, Aldric’s hand shot out, seizing her by the hair and yanking her back.
Azula shrieked, the pain and indignation fueling her wrath. She twisted in his grasp and headbutted him with all her strength. The impact sent a shock of pain through Aldric’s head, causing him to stagger momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, Azula wrenched free and bolted toward the door again.
But Aldric, recovering quickly, lunged after her. His determination was palpable as he tackled her, dragging her back before she could escape. Azula fought with the ferocity of a cornered animal, her nails clawing at his skin, but Aldric’s grip was unyielding.
Their struggle carried them into the kitchen, a confined space that became a battleground. They crashed into walls, knocking over shelves and scattering utensils. Pots and pans clanged to the floor as Azula twisted and turned, trying to break free. Aldric’s hand, now bleeding from her scratches, tightened around her wrist.
He was not letting her go.