Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 858: Deal With A King

Azreal blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. He had expected Gabbi to hurl something at him the second he walked into the room — perhaps a cup or whatever else she could get her hands on — but instead, her calm, welcoming voice disarmed him completely. The warmth she exuded, the ease with which she addressed him, caught him off guard in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

At the same time, his eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion. What was she up to? Only days ago, she had been threatening to kill herself if he didn’t leave her alone.

Now, here she was, all smiles, her voice soft and inviting. It was too good to be true. No, it *had* to be. Gabbi had proven time and again that she was unpredictable, and he wasn’t about to let his guard down just because she was smiling.

Gabbi’s smile widened just a fraction more, her eyes gleaming with something he couldn’t quite place. Whatever it was, it stirred a deep discomfort inside him. Although his pulse raced at the same time.

"You must be tired," she said, rising from the bed with a grace that sent a chill down his spine. "Come, rest. You’ve had a long day."

Azreal almost snorted. This was complete and utter nonsense. There was no way she had done such an emotional 180 overnight. No way at all. He firmly believed she was up to something, and yet... he couldn’t show her how uneasy this made him. He was the King of the Ravenkind, the Valravn. A mere human should not scare him, should not have the power to shake him so deeply.

So, he straightened his posture, letting the confidence he had honed over the years take over. His chin lifted as he moved toward the bed with steady steps, his expression betraying none of the turmoil beneath. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she had gotten under his skin. But despite his efforts to remain in control, the air between them thickened with an unspoken tension he hadn’t prepared for — something dangerous, something that tugged at emotions he didn’t fully understand.

His gaze flickered to the bed as though it was a trap. What if she had hidden something beneath the sheets? A weapon? Not that it would be enough to disarm him, but still, it would sting. It was best to remain cautious.

Gabbi noticed his strange behavior and arched an eyebrow, amused. "Why are you being so weird?"

Azreal stopped in his tracks, a frown tugging at his lips. "Weird? You’re the one acting strange. Why are you suddenly being so... nice?"

Gabbi rolled her eyes and snorted. "Oh, so I can’t be kind now? To think you’re already being biased toward your own mate."

The word "mate" hit Azreal like a gust of wind, catching him off guard. His chest tightened, a warm flush rising to his cheeks. She had just acknowledged herself as his mate, and she had done it so casually. Did she even realize what she was saying? For a moment, he wondered if she felt the bond as he did. But he kept his thoughts hidden behind a stoic expression, unwilling to let her see the effect she was having on him.

Instead, he turned away from her and began to undress. He was determined not to let her get under his skin.

"Wait—what are you doing?" Gabbi’s voice was sharp, full of sudden alarm as she watched him peel off his pants.

Azreal glanced at her with a smirk as he stripped down to nothing but his underpants. "What do you think I’m doing? Getting ready for bed."

Gabbi’s eyes widened in disbelief, her throat tightening at the sight of him. She thought he would leave with his pants on, not off. Neither had she been prepared for the full view of his strong, muscular thighs, and it sent a bolt of heat straight through her. Her mate was ripped.

Her throat went dry as she tried to swallow. For a brief, reckless moment, Gabbi entertained the idea of giving in to the birdman. With a body like that, she thought it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. It would be heaven, she mused for a dangerous second.

But that thought vanished quickly as a mental image of herself with a large, rounded stomach filled her mind. Pregnant with his child. The reality of the situation was enough to pull her back into focus. She couldn’t risk a fleeting moment of pleasure for nine months of what she couldn’t even comprehend. It was madness.

Azreal, noticing her reddened cheeks, smirked. "You might set me on fire with those eyes, Gabbi. Am I really that attractive?" he teased her.

Gabbi’s face went an even deeper shade of crimson, and she turned away completely, waving him off. "Don’t flatter yourself."

Azreal, satisfied with the effect he had on her, slipped into bed. The atmosphere immediately shifted to something awkward, as both of them tried to find a comfortable position. He wrapped his arm loosely around her, though there was still a noticeable distance between their bodies. Gabbi lay with her back turned to him, stiff and tense.

She squirmed beneath his arm, fidgeting uncomfortably as if trying to escape the situation. Azreal, frustrated by her obvious discomfort, finally spoke up. "Do you want me to leave? If you’re uncomfortable, just say so. I’m not forcing you to be here."

Gabbi stiffened at his words, but then quickly shook her head. "No, it’s not that..."

Azreal sighed, his tone exasperated. "Then what is it, Gabbi? Just tell me."

She opened her mouth, the words forming on her lips, but her voice faltered. She was scared to ask, scared to open up this conversation. But Azreal pressed her. "Say it."

Gabbi blurted out the question that had been eating at her for days. "Why do you want a mate?"

Azreal blinked, caught off guard by the abruptness of the question. "What?"

"You hated the idea of a mate," Gabbi continued, her voice gaining strength. "You wrote it in your diary—you loathed it. And then suddenly, you write, ’I want a mate.’ Why? What changed?"

Realization dawned on Azreal’s face, and his eyes widened slightly. "You went through my diary?"

Gabbi’s stomach dropped. She braced herself, expecting him to lash out at her for intruding on his privacy. But instead, Azreal threw his head back and laughed

Gabbi stared at him, bewildered. "Why are you laughing?"

Azreal wiped his eyes, still chuckling. "Of course, leave it to you to find my secret diary. I should’ve known."

Gabbi’s confusion deepened. "So... are you going to tell me why? What changed?"

Azreal leaned back against the pillows, his smirk returning. "I’ll tell you... in exchange for a deal."

Gabbi frowned, her wariness returning. "What kind of deal?"

"You’ll accompany me to see the kingdom."