Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 887: No Sign Of Her

The tornado seemed to go on forever, its howling winds ripping through the air with a deafening roar. But just as suddenly as it had begun, the wind began to die down. The powerful currents slowed, and the debris that had been swirling in the sky started to fall to the ground in a rain of shattered stone and broken bodies.

For a moment, there was stillness, an eerie calm after the storm. The fae and witches within the protective barrier waited in breathless silence, fearing that another wave of destruction might yet come. But nothing happened.

Aldric’s gaze swept over the battlefield. The carnage was unimaginable. The once grand arena was in ruins, reduced to utter rubble. The bodies of both their enemies and his fae brethren were scattered across the ground, broken and lifeless. The scale of the destruction left Aldric breathless. Yet something else gnawed at him, a deeper panic.

Azula.

His eyes darted across the field, searching frantically. The last time he had seen her, she had been floating in the air, her body surrounded by the tornado’s furious winds, utterly one with the storm. But now that the storm had passed, she was nowhere to be seen. Great panic surged in his chest, gripping him so hard he couldn’t breathe.

"No, no, no, this can’t be happening," Aldric muttered under his breath, a rising dread clutching at his chest. "Islinda!"

He spun around, shouting orders to the witches. "Lower the barrier! Lower the barrier now!"

The witches holding up the magical shield were more than willing to comply, collapsing to the ground as soon as they let it fall. They were utterly spent, their magic drained beyond its limit.

Faeries rushed to catch them before they could hit the ground, gently lowering them into more comfortable positions. For once, the tension between witches and fae dissipated, replaced by mutual gratitude. These witches had saved them, and that realization left a lasting impact on both sides.

Aldric didn’t linger to watch the aftermath. He bolted out into the open, coughing as the cloud of dust swirled around him. The air was thick with the aftermath of the storm, making it nearly impossible to see clearly. His throat burned from inhaling the dust, but he forced himself to push through. He had to find her. His eyes strained to adjust, scanning the destruction for any trace of Azula.

When he finally got a clear look at the devastation, his jaw nearly dropped. The entire structure of the arena was torn apart, with walls collapsed and debris strewn everywhere.

Bodies—so many bodies—lay strewn across the battlefield, fae and enemy alike. The storm had wiped out more of their enemies than they could have done if they fought head on, their twisted forms lying in heaps. But amidst the wreckage, there was still no sign of Azula.

"Islinda!" Aldric shouted, his voice raw with desperation. "Islinda"

His heart pounded in his chest as he stumbled through the rubble, calling her name again and again. But the only answer he received was the soft rustle of wind as it carried away the remnants of the storm.

Just as his anxiety reached its peak, he heard the distant sound of footsteps. It was the reinforcements finally arriving. Aldric turned to see a squad of warriors led by none other than Valerie. His eyes narrowed, a flash of anger lighting up inside him. So this is where Valerie had been during the fight, leaving them to fend for themselves while he gathered backup.

Valerie spotted Aldric as well and rushed toward him, his face etched with urgency. "Aldric! Where is father? Tell me, is he safe?"

But Aldric barely registered Valerie’s words. His mind was consumed with finding Azula, and his anxiety sharpened his temper. He ignored Valerie’s question and attempted to move past him, but Valerie’s hand shot out, grabbing Aldric’s shoulder in a tight grip.

"I’m asking you a question!" Valerie snapped, his voice rising with frustration.

Aldric, his nerves frayed and his patience long gone, spun around and punched Valerie square in the face. The force of the blow sent Valerie stumbling backward, clutching his nose as blood began to drip between his fingers.

"How dare you question me?" Aldric growled, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "You abandoned us when we needed you most, and now you dare demand answers?"

Valerie’s eyes blazed with fury as he lifted his hand, prepared to strike back. "You bastard—!"

But before Valerie could release his power, something strange happened.

Nothing.

The magic fizzled in his hand, refusing to obey him. Aldric noticed the look of confusion that flickered across Valerie’s face, and for a brief moment, he, too, was taken aback. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"What’s going on here?" King Oberon’s authoritative voice cut through the tension, making both Aldric and Valerie freeze. The king strode toward them, his gaze sharp and discerning.

Valerie quickly lowered his hand, tucking it behind him as if trying to hide his failed attempt at summoning his magic. Panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a neutral expression. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Aldric, ever vigilant, didn’t miss the gesture. Something about it set off alarms in his mind. He wanted to question it, to pursue the thought, but the nagging fear for Azula consumed him. There was no time for this.

"I’ll deal with you later," Aldric growled, brushing past his brother and father. He didn’t wait for their response. His entire focus was on Azula, on finding her before it was too late.

The dust had begun to settle, and Aldric’s view of the arena became clearer. The ground was torn up, deep gashes carved by Azula’s magic, but still, there was no sign of her.

His heart pounded in his chest, each passing moment intensifying the dread curling in his stomach. Where was she? Had the storm taken her away? Had she—

No. He couldn’t think like that. Azula was strong. She had to be out there somewhere, waiting for him.