Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 859: The story

For a moment, Gabbi was stunned. Azreal’s words had thrown her completely off balance. The only sign that she had even heard his proposition was the slow blink of her eyes. She couldn’t quite believe what she had just heard. Azreal, the king of the Ravenkind, was offering her a deal, and not just any deal—he wanted her to see his kingdom.

Azreal watched her reaction carefully. He had learned not to expect too much from her, given their rocky history. The confusion on her face was obvious, and he felt disappointment tighten in his chest. Clearly, he wasn’t going to get the response he wanted. It was foolish of him to even try.

Then, without warning, Gabbi broke the silence with a simple, "Fine, deal."

Azreal reared back, his eyes wide in disbelief. He hadn’t expected her to agree so easily. "Are you for real? This isn’t a joke, right? Please tell me you’re not going to go against your word when you wake up."

Gabbi rolled her eyes at him, her voice tinged with mockery. "What little trust you have in me."

Azreal wanted to retort, to tell her that she had given him no reason to trust her up until this point, but he held his tongue. For the first time, Gabbi wasn’t fighting him, and he wasn’t about to ruin the moment. Still, her sudden compliance was unsettling. This wasn’t like her.

"It’s just surprising," Azreal admitted, his voice softer than usual. "You keep on surprising me tonight. I came in here prepared for war. I expected you to fight me every step of the way, but you’ve managed to disarm me without even lifting a finger."

Gabbi couldn’t help but burst into laughter. The idea of Azreal, this towering, fierce king, arriving fully armed and prepared to fight, only to be caught off guard by her compliance, was ridiculously amusing.

In her mind, she envisioned him marching in with a belt full of weapons, swords, daggers, maybe even a crossbow, slung across his back. All for her. When in reality, she didn’t even have a kitchen knife. The image was absurd.

Her laughter, light and melodic, filled the room, catching Azreal off guard. He stared at her, transfixed. He hadn’t realized just how lovely her laugh was until now.

Before he knew what he was doing, he reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.

The laughter in Gabbi’s throat died abruptly as she noticed how close Azreal had leaned in. A flush crept up her face, her heart racing under the intensity of his gaze. The warmth in his touch sent a shiver down her spine, leaving her both flustered and breathless.

"You look so beautiful when you laugh," Azreal whispered, his voice low and soft as he caressed her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek.

Gabbi’s eyes flickered down to his body. The way his biceps bulged as he propped himself up, the naked expanse of his toned chest, and the fine line of dark hair trailing down from his stomach to the waistband of his underwear. The gods help her, it was all too much.

Azreal looked like a god, carved out of stone, every muscle a testament to his strength and power. The heat surged through her, and for a brief moment, she could think of nothing else but how badly she wanted him.

Her gaze darted back to his lips. She wanted to kiss him, to pull him close and lose herself in him. She imagined running her tongue across his full lips, feeling their softness before pressing her own against them. The thought sent a wave of heat through her body, and she had to resist the urge to fan herself.

Sensing the growing tension between them, Gabbi quickly changed the subject.

"Now that the deal’s been made, I think it’s time you told me why you wanted a mate," She arched a brow, trying to regain control of the conversation.

Azreal didn’t miss her tactic, but he allowed it. Unlike Gabbi, who was practically a blushing mess, Azreal looked calm, his emotions carefully controlled. It made her wonder how often he had to mask his feelings in front of others.

"Alright," he said, shifting onto his side so that he could fully face her. Gabbi didn’t complain or push him away when he kept his hand resting on her waist, his fingers lightly grazing her skin. It was a simple touch, but it sent a spark of warmth through her.

Before he started, Azreal asked, "But first, why did you accept the deal?"

Gabbi shrugged. "It’s not that bad of a deal, really. I get to leave this room where you’ve been keeping me imprisoned. And if I’m to be your mate, then I have to know about you and the kingdom. I need to understand what I’m getting myself into."

Her words struck something deep within Azrael. He fought the urge to kiss her right then and there. Her willingness to understand, to step into his world, meant more to him than she could ever know. But he pushed the feeling down, keeping his face neutral as he prepared to tell his story.

"You’re right, it’s an even trade."

Azreal shifted again, this time drawing a little closer to her, his hand still resting gently on her waist. Gabbi didn’t pull away, didn’t object. She simply waited, her curiosity piqued.

"I wasn’t always like this, Gabbi," he began quietly. "I didn’t always hate the idea of a mate. In fact, when I was younger, I loved watching my parents. They had the most beautiful relationship. My father and mother were inseparable. My father was powerful, and sometimes that power went to his head. But my mother, she was always there to ground him. She balanced him out. She humbled him when he needed it, and he loved her deeply for it. They had the kind of bond you could only dream about."

Gabbi listened closely, her chest tightening at the vulnerability in his voice.

"But then she died," Azreal continued, his voice cracking ever so slightly. "And my father... he wasn’t the same. He couldn’t handle it. The grief consumed him. He became lost, drowning in his sorrow. I lost him, Gabbi. Not just my mother—I lost my father too. He couldn’t live without her, and I had to pick up the pieces. I was just a boy, trying to manage the kingdom, trying to take care of a father who was losing himself, all while grieving for my mother."

He paused, drawing in a shaky breath. "Then my father died too. And I was left with nothing."

Gabbi could feel the weight of his pain. Her heart ached for the young Azreal who had lost everything and had to carry such heavy burdens alone. But she said nothing, allowing him to continue.

"I was angry. I blamed the mate bond for everything. If my father hadn’t been so connected to my mother, maybe he would have survived. Maybe he would’ve been stronger. I hated the idea of a mate. I didn’t want anything to do with it. I swore I would never let myself fall into that trap. But..."

Gabbi leaned in slightly, curious. "But what changed?"

Azreal’s hand started drawing small, gentle circles on the small of her back. His touch was light, almost imperceptible, but it sent ripples of heat through her. She had to fight to keep her focus on his words and not the sensation of his fingers against her skin.

"I couldn’t stay angry forever," Azreal admitted. "As I grew older, I started to realize that what my parents had was special. When you find a bond like that, it’s irreplaceable. You can’t be angry at that kind of love. So I forgave my father for his weakness, for his grief. It was selfish but I understood why he couldn’t go on without her. It wasn’t just because of the mate bond—it was because he truly loved her. And I wanted that. I wanted what they had."

He paused, his gaze softening as he looked into her eyes. "I had relationships over the years, but they never fulfilled me. Something was always missing. I wanted more than just a fleeting connection. I wanted the kind of love my parents had, the kind of love that could fill the emptiness inside me. That’s why I started looking for you. That’s why I changed my mind about finding a mate."

Gabbi felt a lump form in her throat, her emotions swirling inside her. She didn’t know how to respond. Hearing Azreal’s story, understanding the depth of his pain and the journey that had led him to her, made her heart ache for him. But it also made her afraid—afraid that she wouldn’t be able to give him what he needed, that she might fail him. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Without thinking, Gabbi leaned in and kissed him gently on the forehead. "Thank you for telling me," she whispered

A small smile spread across Azreal’s face, and he whispered back, "You should rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Gabbi curled up beside him, and though she had her back turned to him as usual, she inched closer, closing the space between them. For the first time, she didn’t feel trapped by his presence. Instead, she felt safe.