Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 41: You Are Hotter

"Shh, calm down, Islinda," Valerie whispered to her, running his hand over her face and wiping away the sweat and hair in the way.

But how could Islinda calm down when something was out there and haunted her?

"I’m telling you what I saw -"

Valerie pressed his finger against her lips and shut her up. He rubbed his hands down her arm and the gesture must have a calming effect because Islinda sucked in lungfuls of breaths and the trembling stopped.

"You should stay here. I would check it out." He kissed her on the forehead and gently pulled her away from the door.

"Wait -!" Islinda reached for him but Valerie was gone. He literally vanished from the spot and only the cold breeze was left in his wake. He was so fast and now that she was alone, Islinda had a ridiculous thought of the creature creeping up from behind her and snatching her away before Valerie realizes it.

Islinda turned around and lifted the lantern to illuminate the old mill. Being scared was an understatement, she was frightened out of her mind. Valerie had been a huge support until he left to scout the area.

Her breathing came fast as she looked around, mentally willing herself to be strong. The space was eerily silent. Perhaps, she should have never come here tonight. Goosebumps broke out on her arm when Islinda felt a presence behind her and turned abruptly with a scream, flinging her lamp at the creature out of instinct.

"It’s me." Valerie caught the lamp seconds away from smashing into his head.

"V-Valerie?" She stuttered, looking up at him in disbelief, only for relief to pass through her.

Without a second thought, Islinda threw her arms around him and Valerie embraced her tightly.

"Don’t worry, you’re safe now. No one is going to harm you." He assured her, running his hands through her hair and massaging her scalp. His touch was soothing and Islinda leaned into him further, relishing the feeling.

They stood that way for a while until Islinda pulled away to ask him, "Do you see it? What was chasing me?"

Instead of an answer, Valerie pressed his lips together and that made her frown. free𝑤ebnovel.com

"What is it? What did you see, Valerie? What are you not telling me?" She narrowed her gaze at him, sensing he was holding back something from her.

"Islinda...." He trailed off.

"Tell me." She demanded.

Valerie closed his eyes with a sigh and when he opened them, he told her, "There was nothing."

"What?" Islinda felt Valerie just poured cold water on her with that revelation.

"W-what are you talking about? What do you mean there was nothing? How can there be nothing?" She queried him fiercely.

"This is why I didn’t want to tell you about it. I scouted the area, there was nothing out there. I think it was your imagination playing a trick on you and it’s late. Anything could have startled you." He gave her a plausible explanation.

"No!" She shook her head stubbornly. It couldn’t be.

Islinda knew what she had seen, and now that she thought about it clearly, there had been footsteps behind her. It almost seemed like something had blended into the darkness and intentionally followed her. Intentionally scared her.

The amount of fear she felt at that time had been raw and intense, nearly bringing her down to her knees. Nearly blinding her till she couldn’t distinguish her thoughts from reality and she was a sobbing mess before Valerie found her. Whatever it was that followed her, fed on her fear and she didn’t want to feel that way again ever again.

Islinda had zoned out because when she finally lifted her head, Valerie was looking at her sympathetically as if she was out of it.

He reached for her, "Islinda...."

"No, don’t make it sound like I’m crazy. I know what I -" Islinda could not finish the rest of her words because Valerie touched his lips to hers and kissed her.

Anger coursed through her, realizing that he was trying to hush her. So she pushed him away, she didn’t need this kind of distraction. But damn, Valerie was a good kisser, and perhaps... Maybe she needed a little bit of distraction. So she kissed him back, angrily.

But Valerie kissed the anger out of her till she was nearly boneless. Islinda leaned into him, melding her lips against his with the same burning ferocity. When he deepened the kiss, a moan slipped from her mouth and he swallowed it greedily. When Valerie lifted her, she wrapped her legs around his waist, their lips still connected.

He began to move to their spot, the hay bed. A look of worry crossed her features when the lantern slipped from her hand and would have started an "unfortunate" fire. But that was Valerie’s element and she startled slightly when he put out the fire with a mere look.

"Wow," She breathed, "That was hot."

They were plunged into darkness, but for a moment. Like the other time, fiery orbs materialized around them illuminating the space. It felt like she was in a magical land, except how long was this feeling going to last between them?

"You are hotter," Valerie told her right before he laid her down on the makeshift bed.

Compared to the other time when they had been in a bit of a hurry, Valerie took his time loving her. All Islinda could register was his overwhelming scent; the smell of fire with aromatic spices, their bodies moving together and the moans and grunts emanating from their throats.

Slowly, she came undone and Islinda threw her head back, screaming out her pleasure. She hoped none of the villagers heard that. Thankfully, they were far enough from any dwelling. But then, if anyone heard that, they would probably think it was a ghost haunting the old mill.

Valerie trembled around her, finding his own release, and slumped against her for a moment before he laid on his side. Both of them were naked, not that any cared, shame was farthest from their mind. With a satisfied smile, Valerie pulled her to his side till they were pressed flush.

Islinda closed her eyes in sleep, this was a wonderful night.