Mated To The Cruel Prince

While Ginger and Prince Wayne strangely bonded, Ailee took the opportunity to comb Islinda’s hair, the task having been delayed by the cat for a while. She was still in the process of untangling Islinda’s locks when they heard a sudden commotion outside the door.

"What is going on?" Islinda’s heart skipped a beat, her brows furrowed in concern.

"I have no idea, but it seems to be some squabbling. Perhaps I should check it..." Ailee was still speaking when the door was kicked open, startling them as they squeaked in surprise.

But that shock soon gave way to astonishment as Islinda’s eyes grew wide when her gaze landed on her human friend.

"G-Gabbi?" she stammered, unable to believe her eyes.

Gabbi stood in the doorway, looking equally shocked to see Islinda, her expression a mix of relief and worry. She took a tentative step forward, her eyes scanning the room and the people in it. However, before she could reach Islinda, someone else beat her to it.

Islinda abruptly stood up to welcome her friend, but the next moment, a whirl of movement came barreling in her direction. Someone slammed into her with a force that knocked the breath out of her lungs. By the gods.

It was only by sheer grace that Islinda did not lose her footing and fall, small hands wrapped securely around her waist. Still stunned, Islinda’s hand reached down, running it through a mop of hair before she looked down to see the familiar face smiling up at her.

"Milo?" Islinda said, surprised.

Milo withdrew from the hug, his demeanor changing immediately as he scowled up at her.

"Where have you been, Islinda? I said I would protect you and yet you left me without as much as a word or a hint of where you might be. How would I protect you if you moved without my information?! You are one careless mistress!" he scolded her.

Islinda was momentarily stunned, having no idea how to respond to being scolded by a young half-breed. At this point, she didn’t even know whether to explain the reason behind her abrupt disappearance or simply take the blame. She just stood there with her mouth ajar from the shock.

"You rude brat!" Gabbi walked over to Milo and hit him at the back of his head, causing him to yelp in pain. "That is no way to speak to your elders!" she scolded him.

"Could you stop hitting me for once?! What did I do so wrong?!" Milo snapped, tired of being treated like a child.

However, Gabbi was more aggravated by his boldness. Kids these days had no respect for their elders. Had her grandmother been here, Milo would be getting two or more strokes across his bottom. No, her mother would have hurled her legendary slippers at him.

Gabbi shuddered at the thoughts, recalling her own experiences under her strict and disciplined family. Hence, Milo’s stubbornness got to her and she lifted her hand to shut him up a second time, only for Islinda to intervene.

"Alright, that is enough. No more hitting anybody." Islinda turned to Milo and said, "I owe you an apology for disappearing without warning." She couldn’t go into details considering the circumstances regarding her disappearance were not exactly suitable for children. "However," she added, "if you are really to be my bodyguard, then you must learn to address your elders properly."

Milo’s head hung low with shame and he apologized with a tinge of regret. "I’m sorry for speaking to you that way." He then timidly lifted his head, giving her a puppy-dog look as he begged, "Please promise me that you won’t take away my position because you’re mad at me."

Islinda snorted, yet humored Milo nonetheless. "Your position is not replaceable."

"Thank you, mistress," Milo’s expression lit up as if he just received the best gift in the world and a smile unconsciously crossed her lips. Knowing Milo, he was going to take his guard duties very seriously. The thought was kind of cute.

It wasn’t until that moment that Islinda realized that Ginger and Ailee were looking at Gabbi and Milo strangely, and it dawned on her that this was their first time meeting.

"Oh right!" She face-palmed, finally remembering to introduce them. "Gabbi, Milo, this is Ginger and Ailee. Ginger, Ailee, this is Gabbi, my dear friend, and Milo, my enthusiastic little bodyguard."

"Hello? I’m Ginger, it’s nice to meet you." Ginger was the first to walk over and introduce herself, prince Wayne still secured in her embrace.

"Gabbi." She thrust out her hand for a handshake which Ginger starred at weirdly before taking and enveloping it with hers. Strange human customs. But it was cute any way.

"Milo." He chirped.

Ginger smiled down at him.

"Ailee." The Autumn fae said cooly, lacking the bubbling enthusiasm Ginger possessed. Nonetheless, she looked upon them warmly.

"I’m Gabbi, and he’s Milo," Gabbi said, pointing to herself and then to the young boy who was still looking slightly abashed.

Ginger butted in before Ailee ruined the excitement. "Welcome. It’s good to see that Islinda has such devoted friends." The Fae loved being among crowds and right now, there were enough people to make the house arrest more fun.

Milo, still clinging to Islinda’s side, looked at the two Fae with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Are you her friends too?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes, we are," Ailee replied this time, her tone sharp and defensive. "We’re here to help and support Islinda, what about you?."

"Good," Milo said, puffing out his chest a little. "Mistress Islinda needs all the protection she can get and I’m her biggest warrior."

Gabbi chuckled, ruffling Milo’s hair "Always the little warrior."

He glared at her as usual.

A feeling of warmth spread through Islinda’s chest. It was a chaotic reunion, but it was heartening to see her friends getting along.

Nonetheless, she sighed, scratching the back of her head as she murmured to their hearing. "I am not exactly helpless."

"Says the one who is under house arrest," Ailee retorted, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Wait, what? House arrest?!" Gabbi shouted, her eyes wide with shock.

Milo asked timidly, "Is house arrest that bad?" The young half-breed was clearly clueless about the gravity of the situation.

Gabbi scoffed. "Is that why the big annoying Fae wouldn’t let us pass through without a fight?"

"What?" Islinda began, but before she could finish, a gust of wind blew through the room, nearly knocking her off her feet. The scuffling sounds she had heard earlier now grew louder.

Turning to Gabbi, Islinda felt a rising sense of unease. "Gabbi, what the hell is going —" She was abruptly cut off as a body was kicked into the room, landing with a heavy thud. They all jumped, startled by the sudden intrusion.

They jerked away from the fallen figure, who groaned in pain. When he lifted his face, Islinda’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Kalamazoo?" She was stunned.

Before she could ask why he was on the floor or who had attacked him, a familiar voice echoed through the room, a hint of playfulness in them. "Hello, Islinda."

Andre stepped into view, bringing with him a sudden ray of sunshine amidst the once oppressive room. His presence felt like a light at the end of a tunnel, arriving at just the right time.

Islinda stood frozen, unable to believe she was staring right at Andre. He hadn’t given her any signs, no heads-up about his arrival at all. What was he even doing here? They had agreed to communicate discreetly. She hadn’t heard from him in ages. Was this part of his plan? 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Islinda was simply stunned as she took in the scene. Kalamazoo, battered and bruised, struggled to get to his feet. Andre stood grinning, waiting expectantly for her to react. Ginger and Ailee were frozen in shock, while Gabbi and Milo wore proud looks on their faces as if commending Andre for a job well done—for beating up Kalamazoo, Aldric’s assistant.

Trouble was brewing in the air.

"Honestly, I expected a better welcome than this." Andre pouted when Islinda made no move to welcome him. He then stared at Kalamazoo on the floor and said, "Oh, about this..." He playfully kicked Kalamazoo again, causing him to groan in pain.

"He was standing in the way of us trying to get to you, so I eliminated the threat. Well, barely. If I had done a good job, he wouldn’t be breathing right now."

Yep, it was confirmed. Trouble had just landed on her doorstep. As much as Islinda was excited to see Andre and discover the secret of her inheritance, his arrival brought complications. Why did he have to come at a time when everything was already chaotic and with this sort of violent introduction? Harming Kalamazoo in Aldric’s court could only spell trouble.

"Oh well, I guess I’ll do the welcome myself." Andre said, walking over to where Islinda stood. He smirked at her, then wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly, shocking everyone in the room.

Islinda stiffened, aware of all the eyes on her. She could feel Ginger and Ailee’s confusion, Gabbi’s curiosity, and Milo’s admiration. But most of all, she felt the impending storm of Aldric’s wrath when he found out about this.