Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 65: Fight Her People To Free Valerie

"What?"

Her world spun and Islinda stumbled back, refusing to believe what she just heard. It was impossible! She had been careful, very careful not to let Valerie be tracked down by the villagers. How was it possible then? How did they find him? Islinda suddenly felt a suffocating feeling in her chest and she was unable to breathe.

"Islinda? A-are you okay?" Belinda tried to reach for her, concern written all over her face, but Islinda flinched from her.

"No, I-I need to go..." She turned and broke into a sprint.

"Islinda?!" Belinda screamed after her, but she did not look back. She had one priority and it was to get to Valerie before they got to him - that is, if they hadn’t gotten to him already.

No wonder she had that sinking feeling in her belly when she woke. The signs had been there, the reluctance to leave him and all. She should not have left him alone, the thoughts were driving Islinda crazy and the unshed tears blurred her vision.

Deep down, Islinda knew that she would not make it to the woods on time, and her lungs were beginning to protest from the run. The other hunters already had a head start over her. But Islinda was stubborn and refused to give up. She can’t let harm come to Valerie - even though she trusted he could defend himself. Islinda had to make sure he was safe.

Hence, when her sight landed on a nearby patron bargaining with a trader with his horse standing beside him, Islinda came up with a risky plan. She stealthily wandered up to the horse and reached for the horn of the saddle.

The horse was taller than her and while she wouldn’t be able to grab hold of it other times, Islinda was pumping with adrenaline and could pretty much do anything right now. One can never know what they’re capable of doing until they’re full of desperation - and a life hung on the line.

Islinda knew that this part of her plan had to be executed swiftly and quickly, and it helped that the owner of the horse was distracted. Hence she reached the stirrup and hoisted herself on the horse, throwing her legs over it and settled in.

The trader was the first person to notice her, his eyes growing wide in shock before the horse neighed at the disturbance and the owner finally turned to her. But Islinda snatched the reins that was loosely held in the owner’s grip and nudged the horse’s side and they took off.

Of course, the owner of the horse didn’t just sit around and thank her for the job well done after she just robbed him, no, he instantly raised an alarm. But Islinda was determined and no one could stop a woman on a mission. She kicked the horse’s side repeatedly and it galloped away so people got out of their way and no one was able to stop her.

Islinda had never ridden a horse, but there was always a first time for everything. Just because she hadn’t ridden one doesn’t mean she hadn’t met others riding them. As someone who was most times in the company of men because of her occupation, she had seen enough of them ride the beast and picked up a couple of skills. Not to mention, Islinda was a fast learner.

The cold wind stung her face and her hair got in the way but Islinda did not care for any of that. She was filled with the urgency to get to Valerie and save him before the hunters go through with their plans. But even as they dashed through the thick forest, Islinda had that nagging feeling that she was late.

Very late.

But Islinda did not want to believe it, refusing to shed the tears that would no doubt fall with the slightest provocation. Instead, she pushed the horse to run faster and faster till the abandoned cottage came into view and she tugged the reins, forcing the horse to halt.

In her haste to mount the horse, Islinda missed her footing in the process and almost hurt herself. Unfortunately, self-preservation was not in Islinda’s dictionary in her desperation to save Valerie. She covered the rest of the distance by feet, her heart leaping out of her chest when she saw the horses tied to nearby trees.

Her stomach dropped, she was late.

Valerie... What have they done to him?

No, Islinda hardened her reserve. If they had him, she would fight her own people to free him.

"Islinda?" One of the hunters saw her, shocked. They really thought that she was dead.

"How’s this possible? We thought..." He attempted to touch her but she dodged the contact and moved away from him, intent on getting into the cottage.

She could see the rest of the hunters now, they were standing around the cottage and she bet some of them were inside. Islinda recognized most of them and they did the same because they approached her with shell-shocked expressions.

"You are supposed to be dead?"

"How are you alive?"

"You are alive and well?"

She was peppered with questions but Islinda’s interest was getting into the house and checking if they held Valerie there. Although she was beginning to doubt they got him because the hunters were oddly silent. If the hunters got Valerie, they would be raucous over capturing a Fae. That wasn’t the case here.

She hoped so.

"I’m fine," Islinda answered calmly, even though she was anxious inside. However, she had to compose herself and not give her plans away. It was obvious the hunters had no idea she was with the Fae, and she had to play on that ignorance to figure out what was happening

She asked, "Why would you think I’m dead?"

"There were rumors that a Fae resided in the cottage and the villagers had seen you go into the forest. When you didn’t return for days and there was no trace of you, we assumed the worst." ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"And the Fae?"

"Gone."