Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 777: Birdman

Gabbi’s eyes fluttered open, her vision still hazy as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She blinked a few times, the fog of sleep slowly lifting, and stretched her limbs with a loud yawn. It felt like she had been asleep for hours, and the bed beneath her was so incredibly soft that it could have lulled her back into slumber. But something was off. Where in the world was she?

Gabbi slipped off the bed, her bare feet sinking into the thick, plush carpet as she began to take in the room. The room around her was a stark contrast to the comfort of the bed. The walls were stone, cold, and unyielding, their rough texture at odds with the minimalistic yet luxurious decor. The room was sparsely furnished as if the owner had deliberately chosen to keep it that way, opting for an almost austere atmosphere. Gabbi couldn’t help but wonder if the lack of color was intentional, or if the owner simply didn’t care - or lacked money for paint.

Nonetheless, a faint sense of unease settled in her stomach.

she rubbed her head, trying to soothe the faint throbbing pain that had begun to pulse behind her eyes, fragments of memory started to surface. She winced, the ache intensifying as she tried to piece together how she had ended up here. The last thing she remembered was—oh no.

Suddenly, the blood drained from Gabbi’s face, her heart pounding in her chest as the memories came rushing back. She remembered returning to Astaria, delighted to be once more united with her human friend, islanda. After such a long journey, she had made it to the dark fae prince’s palace and intended to go show her respect to him only for some man—no, a madman— to come charging at her with wild eyes. The next thing she knew, her feet were off the ground, and she was soaring through the air, his powerful arms wrapped around her.

"Oh no," Gabbi whispered, her face paling further as the memories unraveled in her mind. She had screamed for help, her voice piercing the air, but the Dark Fae Prince had only watched them fly away.

He offered no assistance. He had let her be taken, let her be swept away by that monstrous being, as if she was nothing more than an afterthought.

Left to her own devices, Gabbi had screamed at the top of her lungs, struggling fiercely against her captor despite the dangerous height at which they were flying. She would rather fall to her death than be taken by this man—this beast—whatever he was. She bit down hard on the hand that held her, tasting blood as her teeth sank into his flesh. She had thought, for a brief, terrifying moment, that she would succeed in breaking free.

But then, just as quickly, the ground had disappeared beneath her, and Gabbi found herself plummeting through the air. Her heart had stopped, her breath caught in her throat as she fell, the wind roaring in her ears. She was going to die—she was sure of it. But in the last possible second, he had grabbed her by the leg, jerking her to a halt just as she collided with a tree. Pain exploded in her head as she struck the trunk, and the world had gone dark.

Now, in the present, panic began to set in, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. She could feel the tightness in her chest, the fear clawing at her insides as she realized where she was. The birdman had taken her to some unknown place, and now that he had her, what did he plan to do with her? A terrifying thought crossed her mind, and Gabbi felt her stomach churn. What if he planned to eat her? What if, being half-bird, he consumed human flesh? Was that why he had ignored the others and taken her alone?

"No that can’t happen," Gabbi muttered, shaking her head as if she could dislodge the thought from her mind. She didn’t want to die, especially not as a meal for some bird-creature. But what hope did she have? The Dark Fae Prince wasn’t going to save her—he only cared about Islanda. Unless, of course, Islanda demanded he rescue her. But how long would that take? How long until she realized she was missing? By then, she would likely be dead, her bones picked clean.

But most importantly, how was she going to get out of here? Gabbi’s mind raced as she struggled to come to terms with her situation, the fear tightening its grip on her chest. Now that the birdman was away, this was the opportunity to escape.

Without a second thought, Gabbi bolted from the room, her feet pounding against the cold stone floor as she sprinted down the dark corridors. She didn’t take a moment to look around, to orient herself; there was no time for that. All she could think about was getting out, finding a way—any way—to escape this place. The passageways twisted and turned, the stone walls seeming to close in on her, but she kept running, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

The place was like a fucking cave with only the flickering torches on the walls to guide her. Gabbi’s heart hammered in her chest, fear gnawing at her with every step. What if she couldn’t find her way out?

Finally, she saw it—a light in the distance, a small, glowing beacon of hope. Her heart leaped with joy, relief flooding through her as she pushed herself harder, faster. She was going to make it. She was going to get out of here.

But in her desperation, she didn’t see the edge. She didn’t notice the floor drop away in front of her until it was too late. Gabbi’s foot hit nothing but air, and she let out a scream as she pitched forward, tumbling hundreds of meters to her death.

She must really be destined to die this way.