Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 854: She Needed The Heat

Gabbi’s breath came out in ragged gasps as she huddled beneath the thick fur blanket, shivering uncontrollably despite the supposed warmth the covering was meant to offer.

Living in a home burrowed deep within the mountains, one might expect it to be stuffy, perhaps even sweltering, but the opposite was true. It was freezing—bone-chilling cold that gnawed at her skin and seemed to seep into her bones. Her body trembled violently, and despite the layers of fur draped over her, she couldn’t stop the shivering.

Ever since that fateful encounter with the bird people and Azreal, she had not set eyes on him, not since kicking him out of his own room in a fit of anger and disgust. His revealing that the reason he had brought her here was to mate with her, to impregnate her with his "bird children"—had been the last straw.

Gabbi screamed and demanded that he let her go. She was not interested in being his baby machine no matter his claims that she was his mate. It must be part of his twisted plans to keep her for his breeding purpose. Except she was not going to fall for that.

But that didn’t faze Azreal, the king of the Raven kind, not until she threatened to kill herself. And that did the trick. He had left her alone ever since. Azreal had left her alone ever since. But even in his absence, the walls of her imprisonment closed in around her

The only interaction she had now was with the servants who brought her meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—quiet, ghost-like figures who neither spoke nor lingered.

At first, Gabbi had tried to starve herself. Perhaps if she refused to eat, Azreal would realize she was serious about not wanting to be his prisoner. But that resolve lasted for less than a day. The hunger pangs had been relentless, gnawing at her insides until she finally caved. The food was delicious, and once she started eating, she couldn’t stop. She had devoured every bite and, to her shame, asked for more.

And then, there were the other servants who had come to help to bathe and dress. Except she sent them away. Gabbi didn’t trust they wouldn’t try to drown her in the bath or something. Although killing her would save her from this nightmare, she wouldn’t die in their hands.

Not to mention their odd features presence still unsettled her. For the Fae, they could pass off as humans if they had their pointed ears hidden. Although

some humans could still sense they were different with their natural grace and power exuding from them. The Faeries were predators and humans the prey, a close proximity was enough to arouse their natural instinct of survival.

But the Valravn, the Ravenkind, were an entirely different matter. They couldn’t hide their birdlike features, not unless they covered themselves entirely in robes and hoods, revealing only their faces.

Some looked nearly human, while others were unmistakably bird-like: talons, wings, feathers sprouting along their arms and necks.

It made Gabbi uncomfortable to see them, their strange blend of human and avian features creating an eerie, predatory aura. She often wondered if they could control their forms, shifting between human and bird at will, or if they were born with varying levels of bird-like traits.

But now, those concerns seemed distant and unimportant compared to her current situation. She was cold, freezing even, yet her skin felt clammy, drenched in sweat. Something was wrong. Was she sick?

If that was the case, then she needed medicine.

But where could she find medicine?

She doubted the Ravenkind had any understanding of human ailments, let alone how to treat them. Maybe this was how it would end—she would succumb to illness, and at least that would free her from this nightmare.

It was a disappointment though.

Gabbi’s thoughts drifted to Islinda, her friend. Where was she? Why hadn’t Islinda come for her? She had thought they were close, but now, in her darkest hour, she felt utterly abandoned. If only Gabbi knew Islinda was dealing with struggles far greater than her own.

Sometime later, voices filtered through the haze of her fevered state. They were distant, muffled as though spoken through water, but she caught fragments of their conversation.

"She’s burrowed under the covers?"

"Her temperature seems higher than normal. Is that typical for humans?"

Only one of voices was familiar, and she felt a cool hand brush against her forehead. The touch sent a wave of relief through her. The cold that had been wrapping around her body like chains seemed to dissipate under the warmth of the hand, though it lasted only for a moment before it was gone.

"She’s burning up," a deep masculine voice said. It was smooth, alluring , and sent shivers down her spine for reasons that had nothing to do with the fever. "Get the healer. Now."

She felt the touch leave her, and a soft, disgruntled moan escaped her lips. She hadn’t realized how desperately she had leaned into that warmth. Even in her delirious state, she felt the absence keenly.

"Please," she whispered, barely coherent. "I’m cold. I need heat."

For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, the mattress dipped slightly, and a body slid in beside her. The warmth was immediate, overwhelming. Gabbi instinctively curled into the source of that heat, pressing her body flush against the figure beside her, seeking more.

The man’s deep voice came again, amused but also strained. "Careful, human. Keep this up, and I might not be able to control myself. Your scent is already driving me mad."

His words didn’t register. Gabbi’s fevered mind could barely process anything beyond the intoxicating warmth of his presence. Her face pressed into his chest, and her arms wrapped around his waist as she clung to him like a lifeline.

He chuckled softly, though his grip on her was gentle, cautious. He was careful not to let her rub too much against him, yet he pulled her closer all the same. Gabbi barely noticed, too lost in the sensation of relief.

The cold that had gnawed at her bones was gone. In its place was warmth, security, safety. A sigh of contentment slipped from her lips as she nestled deeper into his embrace.

"Sleep now, human," the voice murmured. "I’ll keep the cold away."

Gabbi, finally free from the chill that had plagued her, slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep, her body wrapped around the mysterious warmth beside her, unaware of the deeper implications of who was holding her.

All that mattered in that moment was that she was no longer freezing.