Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 919: Not A Weak Prince

The soldiers moved as one, their heavy steps synchronized. Their faces were grim, eyes forward, and expressions unyielding as they traversed the desolate terrain. The air was thick with tension, the kind that always clung to the lead-up of a major battle, and not a word passed between them. They were a solid line, a single unit moving forward in perfect unison, each soldier locked in his duty. Except the perfect harmony was shattered in an instant.

It started with a low, ominous sound, and a distant rush of air, that was barely perceptible at first, but grew louder with each passing second. The first soldier at the front raised his head, his eyes narrowing as he felt something shift in the air. His gaze shot upward, and then his entire body went rigid, his face drained of color. A shadow cast over him, sweeping across the group. His mouth went dry, and his breath caught in his throat. His hand shot out to his nearest comrade, tugging at his arm as he tried to speak.

"Look!" he whispered in horror. The words barely left his lips before the second soldier looked up, then a third, until the entire front line followed their gazes. A murmur of disbelief rippled through the ranks as the massive shape blocked out the sun, its wings creating an unnerving silence in the air as they flapped. The shadow passed overhead, and a collective gasp followed.

"Oh fuck!" a soldier cursed at the sight. He ducked, his body instinctively hunching down. The others followed suit in rapid succession, their heads lowered and bodies crouched in the hopes of avoiding whatever had cast such a terrifying shadow.

The creature above them had great, leathery wings with ragged feathered edges, so vast that they seemed to block out the sky. The soldiers had all seen it before, but even now, the sight of Straggler, Aldric’s infamous ka’er, still filled them with dread.

The beast was no mere pet but a living nightmare. With each beat of its wings, the ground seemed to tremble, the air thickening with the heavy power that came from the creature’s sheer size and strength.

On top of the ka’er, sat Prince Aldric, his dark silhouette against the beast’s towering form. His eyes gleamed with the kind of confidence that only came from knowing the terror he commanded.

As Straggler flew over the soldiers, Aldric’s lips twisted into a smirk. He looked down at the cowering soldiers with amusement in his gaze.

"Good one, boy," he muttered, scratching Straggler’s scale affectionately. The ka’er let out a low, satisfied rumble, its massive body vibrating with pleasure at the praise.

Aldric, having completed his scouting mission, steered Straggler towards a nearby clearing, where the others waited. Issac and Prince Theodore stood by their horses, the only ones unaffected by the sight of the creature.

As Straggler landed with a graceful thud, a wave of dust stirred in the air. Issac and Theodore both glanced at the beast with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

Aldric dismounted with ease. His boots hit the ground with a soft thud, and he straightened, his eyes scanning the area before settling on the two men.

"He kept to his word," Aldric announced. "All of his armies moved out of the city."

Today was the day of negotiations with Zal’therak, king of the Wraiths. Aldric had demanded the Wraiths move out of the city before any talks could begin, and now, as they stood at the outskirts, it was time to see whether the meeting would bring peace or further conflict.

Issac turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "So he’s trustable?"

Aldric gave him a pointed look, his expression hardening ever so slightly. "I don’t trust anybody. However, he’s less than an enemy for now." His voice left little room for debate, but the subtle tension that lingered told a different story.

Issac didn’t fully understand, but he recognized Aldric’s meaning. It wasn’t trust, but a cautious alliance, a step away from outright war. He nodded, processing the words in his own way.

Unbeknownst to them, Prince Theodore’s attention had shifted, his gaze focusing on Straggler. The creature’s majestic, terrifying form was impossible to ignore even with its eyes closed in a sleep.

Drawn by a mix of awe and curiosity, Theodore took a cautious step closer, his fingers twitching as he reached out towards the ka’er’s dark, glistening scales.

Just as his fingers brushed against them, Straggler’s eyes snapped open. The air vibrated with an earth-shaking roar that seemed to make the ground itself shake.

The soldiers, already on edge, froze. Theodore, caught mid-motion, found himself standing motionless as the massive beast’s hot, rancid breath washed over him in a rush of heat. The stench was overpowering, and the rows of jagged teeth, sharp enough to rip through flesh, loomed just inches from his face. His heart raced, and his eyes widened in terror as if he realized what he just got himself into.

"Down, boy!" Aldric commanded, rushing over to his brother in a blur of movement. With one hand, he gripped Theodore’s arm and yanked him away, his anger rising to the surface.

"Unless you want to offer yourself as a meal, I suggest you keep your hands off next time!" He said harshly, feeling the adrenaline of the moment pulsing through him.

Theodore stumbled away from the ka’er, his pride shattered as he met his brother’s glare. Aldric’s eyes burned with frustration and concern. Theodore didn’t understand that the ka’er was not some tame animal. He was a deadly weapon, and the slightest mistake could have cost him his life.

Theodore, now dejected, walked off to join the others, his head lowered. Aldric watched him go, a strange, gnawing feeling creeping into his chest. He had been harsh, but it was for his own good.

Moreover, had Straggler harmed him, the faeries of Astaria would have blamed him for it even though it wasn’t his fault. So he couldn’t afford to coddle him, not when the stakes were this high. Or at least, that’s what Aldric told himself.

And yet, as he stood there, watching Theodore’s retreating figure, a part of Aldric, a part he hadn’t expected, ached strangely. He tried to shove the feeling down but it didn’t go away. When had he become so weak?

Damn it!

Thankfully Issac announced right at that moment. "He’s here."

Good. It was time to get this over with.