The Hybrid

Chapter 48

After the meeting, the Elders walked with Rodrick, their hushed voices discussing the next course of action. Their tones were firm, clipped, and emotionless, each word cutting like a blade.

Ryder remained in the lounge, his gaze locked on Kyra. Just before Felicity exited, she paused in the doorway, turning her sharp eyes back toward him. Her lips curved into a faint smirk.

“Grayson,” she called, her tone almost sweet. “Be a dear and make sure the Alpha doesn’t do anything… foolish.”

The towering guard from earlier stepped forward, his expression blank as he crossed his arms and stationed himself in the corner of the room. Felicity left without another glance.

Ryder shot the guard a venomous glare but pushed his rage aside as he turned to Kyra. She was trembling, her chest rising and falling quickly as she tried to keep control of her breaths. Her arms were crossed tightly, her hands gripping her sleeves.

Ryder’s expression softened immediately. He stepped in front of her, gently taking her face in his large, calloused hands and tilting it upward so their eyes met.

“Kyra, honey, breathe,” he said softly, his voice low and soothing. “It’s okay. I’m not going to let them take you. Not without a fight.”

Kyra shook her head, her tears spilling over as she broke. “They’re going to lock me away,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Just like Wyatt did.”

Ryder felt her panic, and it crushed him. He pulled her closer, his thumbs brushing her tears away. “No,” he said firmly, his jaw clenching. “They won’t. We’ll find another way. I swear it.”

Kyra’s breath hitched, and she froze, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting his. “But what if there isn’t another way?” she whispered. “What if locking me away is the only way to stop the prophecy? What if they’re right?”

Ryder’s eyes darkened, his grip on her face firm but tender. “No,” he said fiercely. “I’m not going to let them take you away from me. Not ever.”

Kyra’s voice cracked as she whispered, “Ryder, claiming me is too risky. You heard them. You’ve felt it. What if it destroys you?”

Tears welled in Ryder’s eyes, his voice shaking as his emotions overwhelmed him. “I don’t care,” he said hoarsely. “You’re worth the risk, Kyra. I love you.”

Her breath caught, her tears streaming as he continued.

“When Kari died,” he choked out, “it almost killed me. For years, I carried the pain of losing her and our son. I thought I’d never feel whole again. Then I met you… and you brought me back to life. You gave me a reason to fight again, to feel again. I can’t—”

His voice cracked, tears spilling from his eyes as he tried to hold himself together.

Kyra couldn’t bear it anymore. She closed the small gap between them, her lips pressing softly against his. It was a kiss filled with all the love, pain, and hope they shared, a silent promise that neither of them would let go.

For a moment, time stood still, the weight of the prophecy and the Elders’ threats melting away as they held onto each other.

The guard wouldn’t leave Ryder and Kyra alone, his hulking presence a constant reminder of the Elders’ control. Frustrated, Kyra decided to seek comfort from her friend Allie. Ryder watched her walk down the hall, the guard trailing behind her like a shadow. His chest burned with frustration, his fists clenched tightly.

Once she disappeared, Ryder turned on his heel and headed for the bar, his steps heavy with anger. He found Gregory sitting there, sipping on a glass of rum. Gregory glanced up, noticing the storm brewing in Ryder’s expression.

“Rough day?” Gregory asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Ryder didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed a bottle of bourbon from the shelf, uncorked it, and took a long swig straight from the bottle.

Gregory cleared his throat, his tone hesitant. “Look, Ryder… maybe the Elders are right.”

Ryder froze, the bottle paused on his lips. Slowly, he lowered it and fixed Gregory with a glare so intense that Gregory could feel the weight of his Alpha’s fury.

Sensing the danger, Gregory raised his hands in surrender. “Just hear me out. Clearly, they have some kind of plan to stop Wyatt and Evelyn. And if it means saving the world… I mean, isn’t it worth considering?”

Ryder’s jaw clenched as he took another swig, draining the bottle. Slamming it onto the bar, he reached for another. “She’s my mate, Gregory,” Ryder said, his voice low and trembling with barely restrained emotion. “And I think… I think she’s supposed to be my true mate.”

Gregory frowned, leaning forward. “What do you mean by that?”

Ryder popped the cork off the new bottle, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. He sighed deeply, his voice softening. “The love I had for Kari… it’s just a fraction of what I feel for Kyra. And I don’t know if it’s because of what she is, or if it’s something else entirely. But it’s stronger. Deeper.”

Gregory’s jaw tightened at the mention of Kari. “You know she was my sister,” Gregory said, his voice quiet.

“I know,” Ryder replied, his voice filled with grief and respect. “And I loved her. I loved her with everything I had. Losing her and Mark…” He paused, his throat tightening at the mention of his infant son’s name. He glanced at Gregory, seeing the same pain mirrored in his friend’s eyes. “I know it almost destroyed you, too. He was your nephew, and I failed to protect them both.”

Gregory looked down at his glass, his hand trembling slightly before he gripped it tighter. “You didn’t fail them, Ryder.”

Ryder nodded solemnly, taking another swig from the bottle. “For years, I carried that pain, and I thought it would never go away. But Kyra… she healed something inside me that I didn’t even know was broken.”

Gregory’s expression softened, sympathy flashing in his eyes.

“I don’t think I can survive losing Kyra, Gregory,” Ryder admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not this time.”

Gregory reached out, patting Ryder on the shoulder. “Then you won’t lose her,” he said firmly. “We’ll figure this out, Ryder. One way or another, we’ll find a way to keep her safe.”

Ryder nodded, though the weight of uncertainty still hung heavily in the air.

Ryder stared into his glass, the bourbon no longer offering the solace he craved. Gregory had gone silent, lost in his own thoughts, when the door swung open, and Rodrick stepped into the room.

The tension in the air grew heavier as Rodrick approached, his expression unusually grave. “Ryder, we need to talk,” he said, his tone clipped but not unkind. Gregory got up and walked out of the room giving them some space.

Ryder turned to face him, already bracing himself for whatever news Rodrick was about to deliver. “What is it now?” he asked, his voice low and strained.

Rodrick hesitated for a moment before speaking. “The Elders have made their decision. They’ll be taking Kyra with them in the morning.”

The words struck Ryder like a physical blow. His jaw tightened, and the bottle in his hand trembled before shattering under his grip. Shards of glass scattered across the floor, and bourbon dripped from his fingers, mixing with the blood from small cuts on his palm.

Rodrick flinched but didn’t step back. For the first time, there was no frustration or condescension in his voice—only quiet empathy. “Ryder,” he said softly, “this is the only way to keep her safe. If you truly love her, then you’ll do what’s best for her.”

Ryder’s chest heaved as he struggled to control the anger coursing through him. His instincts screamed to fight, to protect Kyra at all costs. But Rodrick’s words cut deep. He couldn’t ignore the truth in them, no matter how much he wanted to.

After a long silence, Ryder let out a heavy breath, his shoulders slumping under the weight of the decision. “I want to keep her safe more than anything,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “If this will do that… then so be it.”

Rodrick gave a small nod, relief softening his stern features. “It will. But we’re not just sitting idly by. We’re taking steps to deal with Wyatt and Evelyn once and for all.”

Ryder’s eyes darkened, his Alpha instincts roaring back to life. “Then tell me,” he demanded, his voice steady but lethal, “what’s your plan for them?”

Rodrick paused, meeting Ryder’s intense gaze, before preparing to explain.

Ryder sat heavily on the worn bar stool, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the floor. His mind raced, the weight of Rodrick’s words pressing on him like a vice. The room was quiet except for the faint creak of the floorboards as Rodrick moved toward the bar.

Pouring a fresh drink, Rodrick handed it to Ryder, his expression unreadable. “Drink,” he said simply, as though it might dull the storm raging inside Ryder.

Ryder took the glass but didn’t drink, his grip tightening around it. “Go on, Rodrick,” he said, his voice low and strained. “What’s the plan?”

Rodrick leaned against the bar, crossing his arms. “The Elders have resources. They’ve already sent word to the Council of Vampires to mobilize. Evelyn may be strong, but she’s not invincible,” Rodrick continued, his tone sharp with resolve. “The Council has records of the witch she made the deal with. If they can sever the bond that fuels her power, Evelyn will lose her strength—and become just another vampire.”

Ryder narrowed his eyes. “And Wyatt?”

Rodrick sighed heavily. “Wyatt is another matter. He’s the strongest Alpha I’ve ever seen, Ryder. And his obsession with Kyra makes him reckless. The Elders believe his connection to her is his weakness.”

Ryder growled low, his wolf fighting for control. “So they want to use her as bait?”

Rodrick hesitated, and that was all the confirmation Ryder needed.

Ryder slammed the glass down on the table, shattering it into pieces. “No. Absolutely not. She’s not a pawn in their game, Rodrick.”

“She wouldn’t be in their hands, Ryder,” Rodrick said, his voice rising slightly, frustration seeping into his usually calm demeanor. “The Elders plan to keep her hidden, far from Wyatt and Evelyn. They’ll draw them out by making it seem like she’s still here. It’s the best chance we have to end this without putting her directly in harm’s way.”

Ryder shook his head, his hands curling into fists. “And if they find her anyway? What then? She’s locked away, defenseless, while we’re out here fighting a war?”

Rodrick’s face softened, a rare flicker of sympathy breaking through his stoic mask. “Ryder, you’re not thinking clearly. You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Kyra is more than your mate—she’s a hybrid. A being of immense power, yes, but also immense danger. If the prophecy comes true, it’s not just her life at stake—it’s everyone’s.”

Ryder’s chest heaved as he fought to control his anger. His wolf wanted to tear through anyone who dared threaten Kyra, but deep down, he knew Rodrick was right. “You keep saying ‘prophecy.’ But what about her? What about what Kyra wants?”

Rodrick paused, his gaze steady. “That’s not my decision to make. But the Elders… they’ve already made theirs. She goes with them at dawn.”

Ryder turned away, staring at the fire crackling in the hearth. His voice was cold, his words clipped. “And if I refuse to let her go?”

Rodrick stepped forward, his voice firm. “Then you’d be fighting the Elders, the Council, and every ally we have left. Is that what you want, Ryder? To isolate yourself and Kyra from everyone who’s trying to protect her? You can’t do this alone.”

Ryder clenched his jaw, his heart and mind warring with each other. He wanted to fight, to claim Kyra as his and shield her from the world. But Rodrick’s words rang true. If he defied the Elders, he’d be putting Kyra in even greater danger.

Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “She won’t forgive me for this.”

Rodrick placed a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe not now she’s young. But one day, she’ll understand.”

Ryder’s gaze remained fixed on the fire as Rodrick turned to leave. Just as Rodrick reached the door, Ryder’s voice broke the tense silence.

“Rodrick.”

Rodrick paused, turning slightly to look back at him. “What is it now?”

Ryder turned to face him fully, his eyes glistening with pain but filled with resolve. “Let me have one last night with her.”

Rodrick’s expression hardened, his brow furrowing in hesitation. “Ryder…”

“Please,” Ryder said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading. “I won’t do anything to jeopardize her safety. I just… I need this. She deserves to know how much I love her before they take her away.”

Rodrick studied him, his sharp eyes searching Ryder’s face for any sign of deceit. Finally, he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Fine. One night. But…” He pointed a stern finger at Ryder. “No marking her. No running. No doing anything stupid that will make this worse than it already is.”

Ryder nodded, his shoulders sagging slightly in relief. “Thank you.”

Rodrick didn’t say another word. He simply turned and walked out, leaving Ryder alone with his thoughts—and the crushing weight of what tomorrow would bring.