"Your Highness!"
"Fuck!" Valerie cursed under his breath as he had no choice but to halt at once. He had planned to sneak out of the palace undetected and had intentionally dressed subtly while walking with his head lowered, but it seems that was not enough. They still found him.
Only that it was not "they" but "he" and it was a face that he didn’t expect to see.
"Derek...." Valerie stared at the tall, imposing Fae in front of him with unbelieving eyes. Derek was no other than his second in command and he had seen him fall the day the wraiths attacked them.
Islinda had occupied his mind that he hadn’t thought about him. Valerie did not bla her, after all, she helped him grieve. He had lost a lot of good n that day and it was nice to see a familiar face. But this was not the right ti or place for he had sowhere to be.
Nonetheless, it didn’t stop him from pulling Derek forward and wrapping his arms around him, hugging him tight.
"I’m so sorry... " He murmured, "So sorry that I didn’t co back for you."
Derek stepped back from the hug and shook his head, "No, you did the right thing, your highness. Do not bla yourself for surviving by all ans because I would put my life down for you over and over again. The others understood that as well when they took the role of protecting you."
He continued, "My survival was a miracle and I couldn’t search for you because I was recuperating from my injuries. But I’m good now and I would ensure to keep you safe this ti knowing the gods returned to you once again ...." His gaze roved over Valerie, taking in his simple and dark clothing only for his lips to press into a thin line, "Are you planning to sneak off your Highness? "
Valerie sighed deeply, pinching the space between his brows. Of course, Derek has been with him long enough to know what he was up to. But Valerie could not tell him that he was planning to go into the human realm. As much as the Fae was loyal to him, he was overly passionate about his safety.
For the first ti, Valerie loathed whoever set up the wards around the palace that stopped him from using the portals. He could have easily opened a portal in his room and gone after Islinda, but there was magic in place to stop it.
While the dallion was hard to get by since it was a relic of the royal family and gifted by the king to whoever he wanted, anyone could get a witch to make them one since they are the ones capable of creating it with their magic. In one word, it was for the protection of the royal family so assassins couldn’t open a portal inside the palace and murder mbers of the royal family.
Just because Fae lived long lives doesn’t an they were incapable of dying and the royal guards were there to stop that from happening. The royal family was the pillar and powerhouse of Astaria and if anything were to happen to them, the kingdom would be destabilized and thrown into pandemonium, giving their enemies the chance to ruin Faerie. That cannot happen.
"Your Highness...." Derek called him again, drawing his attention to the present.
Valerie swallowed, looking at him with indecision. What was he going to do? Tell him the truth or not?
He made up his mind.
"I need to go to the human realm."
"What?!" Derek shouted only to look around to see if he had drawn any attention and when no one paid them looks, he stepped closer to the prince, speaking to him in a hushed tone,
"That is too dangerous, your highness. Your return is a miracle, why would you plunge headfirst into danger again? It does not make any sense. Not to ntion your father, the king would have my head if anything happens to you this ti. I’m sorry but I cannot let you make such a risky move." He said apologetically.
However, Valerie’s eyes hardened, his jaw set and his voice was firm, "I don’t expect you to understand but I have no choice. I have to go, Derek."
Derek opened his mouth to speak but words failed him and they ended up in a mont of silence. Perhaps, it was the pleading in Valerie’s eyes but he gave in with a sigh.
"Fine, you can go," He said, only to add almost imdiately, "But I would co with you."
Valerie’s eyes narrowed at the sa ti and he was about to lift his stubborn jaw but his second in command stood his ground, "That’s the deal, take it or leave it. With the way you’re being shady, I would think you’re hiding a human girl."
Derek had clearly said that as a joke but he studied the way the prince’s eyes widened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.
"Oh no," He breathed, recognizing the truth, "Tell , you didn’t...."
"There’s no ti, let’s go...." Valerie turned away, avoiding the accusation in his eyes.
"Your Highness, we need to talk," Derek followed after him but Valerie was obviously not in the mood to speak and he had no choice but to let it go.
Valerie made use of the palace’s back entrance since he was not trying to draw attention. This was not the first ti he snuck out of the palace and the guards knew better than to say a word - unless demanded by the king.
As soon as they made it out of the palace, Valerie’s footsteps were hurried as he scouted out a perfect spot to open the portal, away from prying eyes. He could not risk anyone spying on him and report to his father he headed to the human realm. Not that they could tell his destination by looking at the portal, it didn’t work like that. Only the welder of the dallion knew his destination.
Valerie has made a huge mistake and that was leaving Islinda in the human realm. How was he to know that the damn bastard was onto him?! They tricked him. Isaac had deceived him! Valerie finally found out the guard was promised to Aldric by his father. He had spent the whole day learning of the events that had happened in his absence.
He was not sure if Aldric knew about Islinda but he had not been careful and knowing his brother, Aldric, the bastard would not rest until he made his life miserable. Aldric would kill Islinda to get to him, that was for sure and the thought alone made Valerie’s heart ache painfully.
He would never be able to forgive himself if anything happened to Islinda. Had Valerie known this would happen, he would never have left her alone two nights ago and would bring her with him. It was not easy for a human to survive in the fae realm, but with his connection and protection, it would be a smooth transition.
Valerie would keep her hidden for the months leading to his ascension and when he would finally be crowned king, he would introduce her to the Fae realm as his woman. The elder Fae’s would talk, but he would be king then and his command is final.
But all of this would not happen if Islinda was dead. Valerie opened the portal and for a mont there, he was tempted to leave without Derek but the Fae caught his gaze at the last minute and lifted a brow, warning him not to think of it with his expression.
It was night and not many Fae wandered the lonely track that was lit up by the portal. Valerie took Derek’s hands and together they went in, appearing seconds later in the inn - precisely in her room. This was the last place he had seen Islinda and it was obvious that she had moved out with the presence of the couples currently coupling.
Distracted from the act by their unexpected presence, the human couple turned and were about to scream when Derek moved as quickly as lightning, knocking them out cold.
"I bet you don’t regret bringing along, your highness," Derek was smug and while Valerie would have complinted his handwork other tis, he was currently sporting a frown on his face.
If Islinda was not here, there was only one place left. So he took Derek’s hands and pulled him through the portal, arriving paces away from Islinda’s ho. However, his heart sank when he saw a crowd gathered at her place from his hiding spot.
"What’s happening, my prince?" Derek was about to peer from over his shoulder but Valerie pushed him back and that was when he heard one of the humans comnt.
"I heard the entire family is dead. What a sad world."
No!
Valerie felt his heart stop beating.
It was impossible.
Islinda was not dead.
She can’t be dead.
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