Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 900: Witches VS Fae

The meeting room was buzzing that early morning, conversations carrying about. The general was absent, a fact that hadn’t gone unnoticed by the figures gathered there. Prince Aldric stood among them, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he scanned the room, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the witches present. Tension simmered beneath the surface, and Aldric’s distaste for the general and his company of witches was palpable.

Aldric had never liked the general. Not now, not in the past. The fae general, while respected and revered by many, had always regarded Aldric with thinly veiled contempt. It was no secret to Aldric that if the general had the means, he would have disposed of him long ago.

But Aldric had always been untouchable. In the past, the general could do nothing against him. With his strength, his influence, no one could touch him. Now, however, things were different. Aldric had something to protect. Islinda.

Though Azula was a force to be reckoned with and more than capable of defending Islinda, Aldric couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. His enemies might not be able to kill her, but they could hurt her in ways that made death seem merciful. It was this thought that haunted him, causing him to keep Islinda close, especially now as they found themselves surrounded by witches.

Aldric never trusted witches. While Faeries were tricksters by nature, witches were manipulative and ruthless, their allegiance constantly shifting based on who could provide them with the most power or wealth. He had seen it time and time again, their betrayal sharp and sudden like a dagger in the dark. And here they were, in alliance with the general. The very people Aldric couldn’t trust were now supposed to be their allies, fighting against the monsters ravaging Astaria.

As Aldric surveyed the room, his gaze locked on the elder witch at the head of the table. She was powerful, the leader of her coven, and he had no doubt that her mental defenses were as formidable as her reputation suggested. He tried to penetrate her thoughts, to glean any information that might prove useful, but he was met with a solid block. Impressive, but unsurprising.

He shifted his attention to her right-hand woman, a witch who exuded the same confidence and strength. Once again, he attempted to probe her mind, and again, he was met with resistance. These witches were well-guarded. However, Aldric was not easily deterred.

His eyes moved across the room until they landed on the younger witch, an auburn hair who seemed less experienced. She looked comfortable, even laughing with the soldiers who sat near her, her guard down.

Perfect.

Aldric approached her, a charming smile playing on his lips. "Hello," he greeted smoothly.

The soldiers standing beside her immediately recognized him and scattered, their unease apparent. The dark fae prince was not someone anyone wanted to be caught alone with. Yet the young witch, Ava, seemed unperturbed by his presence, though she looked a bit surprised that he had chosen to speak with her.

"Hello?" she replied hesitantly, her eyes studying him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "You’re Prince Aldric, right? The dark fae prince. Your reputation precedes you."

Aldric chuckled, a sound that was disarming and pleasant. "I suppose it does. Nice to meet you, miss...?"

For a brief moment, Aldric thought she might refuse his outstretched hand. Most did. They feared him, avoided him like a curse. But Ava was different. Bold, perhaps foolishly so. She took his hand in hers, her grip firm.

"Ava," she answered.

Aldric’s smile widened as he felt the faint connection he needed. Bingo. Young and daring—a dangerous combination. Ava was powerful, he could sense it, but her confidence in her own abilities made her vulnerable. She didn’t have the age or experience to defend against someone like him.

Carefully, Aldric began to probe her mind. He encountered resistance, but instead of forcing his way through, he lingered at the surface, waiting for the right moment to slip in undetected. His shadows played at the edges of her consciousness, softening her defenses without her even realizing it.

"Nice to have you here, Ava," Aldric continued, his voice smooth and pleasant. "I’ve always been curious about the witches’ covens. What’s the name of yours?"

"Sisters of the Everlasting Light," she replied, her tone slow, almost as if she were in a trance.

Aldric noticed the elder witches casting wary glances in his direction, their eyes narrowing as they saw Ava speaking with him. They knew better than to trust him. He knew at that moment his time was running short.

"And how is the barrier issue holding up?" Aldric asked innocently, his magic working its way deeper into her mind, softening her defenses further. "Any solutions to our monster problem?"

Ava answered in a monotone voice, her will being eroded by Aldric’s influence. "Mother Theresa is confident we can restore the barrier. Tracing the culprit responsible for its collapse will only be possible once we get close to it. But If we capture a monster alive, she believes she can use it to track the source of the disturbance."

Aldric’s smile grew predatory. "Well, it’s a good thing I’m a skilled hunter."

Ava blinked, a slight frown forming on her face as she struggled to resist the influence creeping into her thoughts. She could sense something was wrong, but she was already too far under his control to break free.

Now confident that her defenses were crumbling, Aldric pressed forward. "Tell me, Ava, what ulterior motives do the witches have for being here? Is there a secret your coven and the general are hiding from me?"

Ava’s mouth opened, but no words came out. She was strong, far stronger than Aldric had anticipated. Despite his hold over her, something was preventing her from speaking—perhaps a magical binding or a deeply ingrained loyalty to her coven. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she struggled against the compulsion, her mind torn between obeying Aldric’s command and protecting whatever secrets she held.

Suddenly, a voice rang out across the room, breaking the moment. "The gods forbid! He’s gotten into her head!"

Aldric barely had time to react before a gust of wind slammed into him, sending him flying across the room. He crashed into the far wall, the impact shaking the tent. Pain shot through his body, and he cursed under his breath. He hadn’t e prepared for that.

Ava’s fellow witch, stood with her hand outstretched, glaring at Aldric with fury in her eyes. She had come to Ava’s rescue, breaking Aldric’s hold on her mind.

Ava, now free from his influence, scowled at him, clearly furious with herself for letting her guard down. She moved back toward her coven, the two witches supporting each other as they faced Aldric.

Before Aldric could recover, Islinda appeared at his side, her eyes blazing with fury. Shadows coiled around her like living creatures, ready to strike. Her body radiated a deadly energy, and it was clear that she was prepared to attack the witches in retaliation.

But before any further violence could erupt, the general’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

"That’s enough!" he commanded, stepping into the tent.

Everyone froze. The witches, the soldiers, Islinda, and even Aldric. All of them turned to face the general, the tension in the room still thick, but held in check by the general’s sudden arrival.