"Your Highness!" Isaac raised his hands in surrender as an intense ball of flame was hurled at him.
And just like that, Prince Valerie came close to murdering someone else again, thankfully, the figure leaped away in a timely fashion. Only stopping short when the figure addressed him by his title.
After Islinda left, Valerie had never felt such peace since he arrived in the human realm. That kiss had done something to him and he could not wait to see her the next day. Although it was getting frustrating that he could only see for a few hours; he wanted to spend more time with her.
Strangely sleep overtook him again, but even with his eyes closed, his other senses were alert and when he heard movements, he knew then that he wasn't alone. Nor was it Islinda this time. It was getting late and the human would not risk coming back here for the fear of her life.
Valerie's breathing was ragged and there was tension in his body until he recognized the figure was a Fae, not a human and he let out a breath of relief.
"Your Highness," Isaac called with more confidence knowing he wasn't going to attack him anymore.
"Who are you?" Valerie asked, a note of distrust in his voice.
Issac was just a common soldier and not among the elite regimen guiding the loyal family, hence it was not surprising Prince Valerie was not able to recognize him.
He bowed his head, introducing himself, "I'm Issac, one of the soldiers among the search parties sent by the king to search for you since your disappearance. Luckily enough, I stumbled into the human realm and now have found you." Issac repeated his words exactly the way Prince Aldric instructed him.
While Prince Valarie was the future leader of the kingdom of Astaria, he was currently employed by the cruel prince and his loyalty was currently with him too. Also, Isaac liked his head on his shoulder and Prince Aldric never goes back on his threats.
"Is that so?" Valerie was able to relax now, his hand resting on the side where he was injured. Now that the adrenaline coursing through his veins had burned away, he could feel the throbbing pain of the wound.
"You're hurt," Isaac said, walking over to check up on him only to step back when he realized the prince had not permitted him to touch him.
"I'm fine," Valerie said, lifting his tunic to show him the gash which was becoming more of a scab now as it healed. Give it a few more days and his flesh would be as good as new.
Other wounds would have healed quickly but this one was from a wraith, Valerie guessed their infection or poison, whatever they carried, made it harder for them to heal. No wonder many Faeries have perished in their hands. Had it not been for Islinda, he would have succumbed to the wounds and died. The thought of Islinda brought a smile to his lips, he couldn't wait to see her again.
Valerie sat back down on the bare floor which he was used to these past days. The cot (bed) at the corner of the room was so grotty and dilapidated he would rather stand, than lay on it.
"Your Highness," Isaac was alarmed when he saw the prince on the bare floor. Fae creatures were prideful and his prince stooped low by sitting on the ground.
He attempted to pull the prince off the ground but Valerie lifted his hand, "Let me be." He said, halting his movement.
There was a moment of silence between them as Issac sought to understand what was happening here, however, he remembered what he was here for and said,
"It's a good thing that you're safe, your highness. However, we should leave, I'm sure his majesty would be glad to know that you're well and alive."
Valerie's calm expression hid the spasm of panic that swept over him, but if one looked closely, one could see his hands shaking. He could not leave now. No, he wasn't ready to leave yet. Valerie knew that it was over if he returned to the Fae realm, he wouldn't be able to see Islinda anymore.
"I can't go," Valeria said.
"W-what?" Issac stuttered, confused. What was going on here? The prince was rescued and should be eager to return to the palace. Suddenly, the female human he had seen come out of the cottage flashed in his mind. By chance…. No, it can't be.
Valerie lifted his face and Issac swallowed when he saw the desperation in there. And his suspicion was confirmed when the prince said,
"I want you to do something for me."
By the gods, no! Issac wailed inwardly. Not him too. Why do both of the princes want him to do something for them? He was not even special.
"Return to the Fae realm," Valerie told him, "Tell my father that I'm safe and fine. However, I cannot return for the moment because I have unfinished business here."
A cold shiver washed over Issac when he realized this was exactly as Prince Adric had predicted. Just what was he up to?
"I would carry the message to His majestic then, my prince!" Isaac bowed low, his eyes cast to the ground as he was afraid the prince might look into his eyes and find out what he was up to.
"You would get back to me afterward. I'm afraid that I have a lot of needs to be met in the human realm and you are the only one I trust for now." Valerie said to him with high expectations.
A lump formed in Issac's throat at those words. Prince Valerie can't trust him because he worked for his brother now. Yet he couldn't express those words to him for fear of his life. The prince would definitely hate him when he finds out the truth.
"Yes, my prince," He straightened up.
With a final bow, he turned and left the cottage with the pretense of going to send a message to the king. But Isaac knew he was going to Prince Aldric instead. All he had to do now was find Maximus who would take him to wherever his master was.
But first, he would have to pass the horse's test.
The gods have got to be kidding him! Issac cursed out as soon as he returned to the spot where he had left Maximus and he was nowhere to be seen. "Oh, no, no, no," Issac began to panic, pacing up and down while occasionally running his hand through his blonde hair that touched down to his nape. This cannot be happening, where was Maximus? He knew he should not have left that horse alone! Issac could swear Maximus hated him and was doing this to torment him. Wait a minute, what if this was the test? Was he supposed to find the horse? What happens if he isn't able to find him? How would he be able to find Prince Aldric and give him the crown prince's response then? Would the cruel prince kill him if the message comes late? Issac did not need a god to tell him the answer to that question. That crazy prince would probably play around with him for a while before ending his pathetic life. After all, he took delight in tormenting people. "Maximus," He called out gently at first, hoping
It was myopic to think that the Fae were the only supernatural creatures around, but to think that Maximus was a horse shifter never crossed his mind. No, it was shocking, and it was at this point that everything began to connect and make sense to him.The reason why the horse Maximus was not able to coexist in a herd and would attack the others without reasoning, she was just not like them. She was far more rare, superior, and powerful. It was no wonder she formed a telepathic link with Prince Adric and was able to take on his magic, she was no ordinary horse. Maximus was made from the same mold as the cruel prince, she had dark Fae blood. Issac was so gripped with shock that he stood still like a statue and one would have thought she had broken him. And that brought him to the question of Maximus' gender, was 'he' a she, or she is a 'he'? It was all confusing. There wasn't much information on horse shifters because they were very, very rare and a myth now. No, if the king finds
Islinda tightened her grip around Eli's small hand, as if afraid that it would slip and she would abandon him like his mother did. Yes, she has bought the idea of him being abandoned by his mother and trusted the boy now. There was no way a Fae trickster would follow her to the village without fear of being found out and overpowered by the humans. Moreover, no Fae could be as adorable as this kid, especially with his chubby cheeks that she was almost tempted to pinch - well, maybe Valerie. Islinda's cheeks heated up, why would she think about the Fae that kissed her at this point? Clearing her throat, Islinda focused on her journey and cleared her improper thoughts. She was a lady for crying out loud. Islinda walked on for a while when she turned back and realized that Eli was struggling to match her pace. Ahh, she must walk quickly and his small legs couldn't keep up with her. So she suddenly stopped and the boy stopped too, glancing up at her with questioning eyes. "What is it
"You can see the village chief now," Those words were a huge relief to Islinda who had been impatiently tapping her foot against the ground. She was so full of nerves and wanted to get this over with already. Islinda rose from the bench, pulling Eli to his feet with her and flashing him a gentle smile when she saw the questions on his face. He was a quiet yet observant kid and Islinda was extremely grateful she didn't have to deal with any childish tantrums because she was exhausted. She said to him, "You don't have to be afraid, Eli. This is the house of our village chief and he would help us find your mother, okay?" The boy nodded his head in acceptance and Islinda was so awed by his obedience that she couldn't help but reach out, attempting to ruffle his hair playfully only for his cold gaze to cut through her and she stopped short, her hand hung midway. What was that? Her heart couldn't help but skip a beat and it wasn't out of excitement but fear. Eli was merely a child but
"Where have you been?!" Madam Alice round on Islinda as soon as she came into the house. Not that Islinda did not see it coming, which was why she quickly pushed Eli behind her so he would not see the scene. Madam Alice was so furious that she didn't notice the young boy until Remy said, "Who is this boy and where did you pick him from?" The disgust in her tone and the way she looked down at Eli as if he was mere dirt made anger course through Islinda. Eli wore simple clothing of a shirt and trousers, but the addition of her thick and longer coat stunted his height and was off-color, hence making him look a bit haggard. Even at that, one could never mistake the boy for a beggar because Eli looked healthy and fine with his chubby cheeks. The beggars Islinda knew from their village were malnourished and sickly thin; you could see the outline of their ribs. If there was a beggar here, it would be her family because they would have been out begging for food in this cold winter if it wa
"Come, lie with me, Eli," Aldric raised a brow at that comment until he realized that she meant it literally and his excitement faded. Tsk, what a disappointment. He almost thought that she was giving herself to him and he would have taken her up on the offer. It was not every day that a woman offered her body to him. But then, it was understandable since he had glamoured himself to look like a child and the human would be committing a crime if she forced himself on him. That is if he doesn't kill her first for trying such. However, Adric was not ready to end her pathetic mundane life yet until he understood her relationship with his brother. Humans were less than animals in Aldric's sight. A race responsible for their own annihilation was not worthy of his respect. He knew them for their selfish ambitions and wickedness except for this female human in front of him, she was the most foolish of them all. She was smart yet stupidly naive. How could she trust so easily? Or has no one
Panic rose through Remy when she was unable to move a muscle. It was a lucid dream and she should be able to direct and control the course of her dream. But that wasn't the case. It was almost as if she was pushed into the seat of a carriage ride and someone else manipulated her dream. At first, she was unable to see anything past the encroaching darkness that sent chills down her spine and her instincts warned her to run! To wake from this slumber! But there she lay helpless, squirming in real life, not that there was anyone to help her. And suddenly, there he was, hovering over her, it was the young boy that the bitch Islinda had brought home. Remy should not be afraid of him but it was the feeling of a prey recognizing a bigger predator. There was a menacing energy around him that made her heart begin to pound loudly in her chest. Something was not right about the boy. "Ahh," He rasped, taking a good look at his handwork, "You don't look so scary anymore, do you? How easy it was
"How do I look?" Maximus twirled around in her new dress stolen from a villager's clothing line. Yes, they were in the village now at Issac's insistence. Her shy Fae threw quite a tantrum, insisting to meet her master now. Hence, she decided to train him like a dog by feeding him crumbs. Haha, she was joking. Maximus merely brought him to the village where the master was, enough to satisfy his desire but not exactly feeding him the information he needed. Issac was relieved now, she was no longer naked and his tunic had been returned to him. However, her scent now lingered on the material and she smelled like lush green grass and the wild. Issac caught him at last, horrified at the thought that he found the scent desirable. He stood straight at once, this was all a distraction. The sooner he was back in the Fae realm, the better for him. "I don't see the prince," He reminded her the reason he had agreed to come to the village with her - after helping her steal clothes of course. Not