Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 821: Only Hope

A knock sounded on the cottage door, a sound that pierced through the quietness of the room like a bell. Issac, who had been sitting by the window, immediately went on alert. He stood up cautiously, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor, and reached for the weapon at his side. Moments later, the door creaked open slightly, just enough for him to peer out.

A familiar face came into view. "It’s me," Oma said, her voice a calming whisper as she smiled up at her son.

She gave a slight nod, urging him to open the door wider. Beside her, a lively presence couldn’t wait any longer.

"And me, of course!" Kayla added excitedly, pushing past Oma to step inside.

Issac sighed with relief and stepped aside, letting them in. But before he could relax, he turned serious again.

"Stay here," he instructed them as he stepped out of the cottage.

His eyes scanned the surroundings of the forest clearing, his senses sharp and focused, ensuring they hadn’t been followed. He needed to be certain no one would discover their hideout.

Once satisfied that all was clear, Issac stepped back into the cottage. Inside, he caught sight of his mother, Oma, dropping a basket onto the table in the small living area.

"I came here as soon as I received your message," she said. "Figured you’d have nothing, so I did a bit of shopping." She began unpacking the basket, revealing fresh bread, fruits, and other essentials.

Issac muttered a soft, "Thank you,"

He watched his mother’s efficient movements. She’d always been practical, taking charge in difficult situations. It was a relief to have her here, even if he would never admit it outright.

Kayla, who had been looking around the cottage with her curious eyes, turned to Issac. "Where is Maxi?" she asked, noting the absence of her brother’s fiancée.

"Here I am," a voice responded, as Maxi stepped out of a shadowy corner, her movements so stealthy that she nearly startled Kayla in the process.

Kayla’s eyes widened in surprise. "I just checked there!" she exclaimed, pointing toward the corner where Maxi had been hiding.

Maxi gave her a sly smile. "Yeah, I know. It would take you a lot of centuries to be as good as me."

Kayla rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her smile. She stepped forward and pulled Maxi into a hug. "I missed you," she said softly.

Maxi hugged her back, a warm smile spreading across her lips. "I missed you too."

As soon as Kayla pulled away, Oma was there, wrapping Maxi in a motherly embrace. "I almost thought something happened to you when my son sent me that cryptic message," she said, her tone slightly scolding but full of relief. "But thank the gods you’re safe because I have no idea how to comfort a Fae who just lost a mate."

Issac growled from across the room, his eyes darkening with determination. "That’s not going to happen."

"I wouldn’t wish that to happen either, but with what’s happening in Astaria, nobody’s safe anymore. Everyone is panicking."

Maxi, sensing Oma’s unease, reached out and gently rubbed her arm. "Nothing will happen to me," she reassured her. With a nod, Oma seemed to calm down, her shoulders relaxing a bit.

Trying to shift the mood, Oma turned to Issac. "Does this place have a kitchen?" she asked.

Issac rolled his eyes at his mother’s question. "What do you take me for?" he replied, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Oma japed back without missing a beat, "You can never tell." Her lips curved into a knowing smirk. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Issac grumbled something under his breath, barely audible but clear enough for those in the room to hear. "This was a mistake calling her here. Now, she’s here, fucking bothering my life."

Kayla and Maxi exchanged a look before bursting into laughter, the tension in the room easing now with their shared amusement.

Before long, Oma had whipped up a hearty meal in the cottage’s small but functional kitchen. The family gathered around the table, the aroma of fresh bread and roasted vegetables filling the air.

As they ate, Oma made sure to pile Maxi’s plate high with vegetables, her intentions clear. "Eat a lot, dear," she said with a wink. "You need to stay healthy if you’re going to get pregnant."

Issac nearly choked on his food, his spoon clattering onto his plate as he put it down.

He raised an eyebrow at his mother, his tone incredulous. "Really? You want Maxi to get pregnant in this situation? We have no idea when the next threat might come, and I barely got her out of the palace." His frustration was evident.

Oma clicked her tongue in disapproval. "Children are blessings from the gods. If things get too difficult, you could always hide in the human realm."

Issac’s retort was sharp, his voice laced with anger. "And for how long? How long do you expect us to hide like animals?"

Sensing the tension rising, Maxi placed her hand on Issac’s arm. "Enough, both of you. No arguments at the table," she said, her tone authoritative yet gentle. "Things are hard now, but they will get better. We have to believe that."

Silence reigned once more as they continued eating until Kayla of course decided she had more questions.

"So for real, how long are the both of you going to hide out here? Also, aren’t you both supposed to help out your buddy, the dark Fae prince?"

"We can’t." Maxi answered. "We have gotten to that point of the battle where only Aldric can fight it. Alone. Discovery of another dark Fae would only worsen the whole thing. This is the moment Aldric has been waiting for his whole life. At this point, it’s either he wins or he loses. And if he loses?" She shrugged, "Well it’s fucking over for me too. For all of the dark Faeries that might be in hiding out there. Aldric is our hope right now."