Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 832: Help Me

Nine months had passed since the news of Islinda’s pregnancy, and with it came profound changes. Changes that transformed Aldric entirely.

The once dangerous and unpredictable prince had become a caring and fiercely protective mate, something no one in the dark Fae court could have imagined. Aldric’s love and devotion toward Islinda were obvious, and the entire palace felt the shift in his demeanor.

If Fae males were known to go feral at the sight of another male hovering around their mate, Aldric’s protectiveness was even more heightened now that Islinda was pregnant.

Islinda had lost count of the times she had intervened to prevent the royal physician’s head from rolling, all because he dared to place a hand on her bare belly to check on the baby’s progress.

Aldric would snarl and glare, his possessiveness turning into a palpable threat, even though the physician was so old that Islinda could never imagine being attracted to him. Each time Aldric’s anger flared, Islinda would place her hand on his, soothing him with gentle caresses. Only then would his tension dissipate, his attention solely on her once more.

The physician had informed her early on that Fae females carried their babies for a year and six months before delivery. The news had nearly given Islinda a heart attack. The thought of being pregnant for that long made her want to cry. However, since she was half-human, there was a high chance she would give birth according to the human maternity calendar—or perhaps a bit later.

The bodies of half-breeds were unpredictable, just like their nature. Some took on more of their Fae attributes, while others leaned more toward human abilities. Some, like Islinda, were somewhere in between. Hence, the only course of action was to observe and keep a close eye on her, especially as she approached her ninth month.

So far, life in the palace had been surprisingly peaceful. The queens seemed to have learned their lesson. None of them had planned any attacks or pranks on her recently. Why would they, anyway? Everyone knew Aldric would not stand for it. Touching his mate was equivalent to signing their own death warrant.

However, there was one thing Islinda resented deeply. Aldric was busier than ever. Now that he was preparing to take on his role as king of the dark Fae, his days were filled with responsibilities and preparations.

To rebuild his kingdom, Aldric needed to reclaim the lands that had once belonged to the Night Court. Unfortunately, those lands had been seized by other Fae courts, with the Summer Court holding the majority. Tensions ran high, as some of the high lords refused to relinquish their hold on the territory. Moreover, the announcement that Aldric would be crowned king of the dark Fae had caused a storm of unrest throughout the kingdom.

Although no dark Fae had come forward to reveal their identity, everyone knew it was only a matter of time. Many were still afraid, unable to believe they were truly free now. As a result, most citizens of Astaria viewed this as a reckless move by the king. Some even went as far as spreading theories that Aldric had charmed the king with his dark magic, controlling him to make such a decision.

If that wasn’t enough, some of the high lords took advantage of the people’s fears by secretly paying individuals to feed them lies, inciting fear and anger. There were protests in front of the king’s palace every day. Crowds stood with placards and chanted, demanding that the king change his mind. But King Oberon remained steadfast. His decision was made.

That particular day, Islinda was in bed, munching on a bowl of snacks while flipping through the pages of the novel she was reading. Since she became pregnant, Aldric wouldn’t let her lift a finger. Literally. Ailee and Ginger bathed her, dressed her, almost fed her, helped her into bed—whenever Aldric wasn’t around—and never let her out of their sight.

Knowing Islinda’s love for books—especially romance novels with a fair share of snu-snu —Aldric had gone so far as to set up a private library for her, filled with books from both the Fae and human realms. It was a collection so vast that it would take her at least two years to finish them all.

Islinda was deeply engrossed in her book when she felt a sharp pain radiate from her waist. She gasped, dropping the book from her hand. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she lifted her tunic to reveal her bulging stomach. Her frown deepened when she saw her belly ripple and protrude in several places.

"What the hell?" Islinda muttered, just as another sharp pain gripped her abdomen, forcing a scream from her lips. It was as if something—or someone—had punched her from the inside.

The pain barely subsided when another wave hit her, then another, and another.

"Help me! Help me!" Islinda cried out, her voice echoing through the room. The ordeal continued for nearly a minute before it finally ceased.

She lay in bed, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts. Her face was slick with sweat, her hands trembling uncontrollably. What on earth had just happened? She stared at her belly, which now seemed calm and still, as if the violent spasms of moments ago were mere figments of her imagination.

Islinda leaned back against the headboard, trying to catch her breath. She needed help. She needed Aldric, and perhaps the royal physician as well. Someone had to explain what had just happened. Was this a result of being half dark Fae? Was this normal?

But Islinda shouldn’t have allowed herself to relax. Another wave of pain, far greater than the first, tore through her body. She screamed, her entire frame convulsing as the sensation ripped through her. The sharp agony wrapped around her like a vice, squeezing tighter and tighter until she couldn’t breathe.

"Ailee! Ginger!" she called out, her voice hoarse and desperate.

The doors flew open, and Ailee and Ginger rushed in, their faces filled with concern.

"My lady! What’s happening?" Ginger asked, rushing to her side.

"I-I don’t know! Get Aldric! Please!" Islinda managed to cry out, clutching her stomach as another contraction hit her.

Ailee and Ginger nodded, sprinting out of the room.