Hybrid Lena

Chapter 5

-Kane-

I dropped onto my king-sized bed, the mattress sinking beneath my weight. I’d pushed myself harder than usual during training this morning. My muscles ached in that deep, lingering way that told me I’d overdone it.

The shower had been refreshing.

Lying on my back, staring up at the ceiling, I let my thoughts drift. What felt like ages passed even though in reality it was probably only a few minutes; a soft knock sounded on my bedroom door.

I rolled my eyes.

“Sorry to bother you, Prince Snyder,” a faint voice called through the door, “but the Queen would like to know if you’ll be going out today?”

Before answering. I turned my head toward the window beside my bed . Sunlight poured in, bright and warm, the sky a clear blue. But further back dark grey clouds were already gathering on the horizon. I didn’t fancy getting caught out in that.

“I’ll be down for lunch,” I replied.

“Yes, sir.” I listened as only one set of footsteps moved away from my door, meaning that there were still at least one guard standing at my door. I sighed. I hated this. I was a fully grown adult, yet here I was being supervised, tracked and guarded at all times like a child. My mother’s guards follow me everywhere.

Two years ago.

“You’re lucky the castle lockdown has been lifted at all,” my mother said evenly. “Your father is still missing. Until those changes, Kane, my guards must stay with you at all times.” I knew what she was saying. But it still didn’t make living in the castle any easier.

“Guarding the castle, yes. Not as my own personal bodyguard.” I tried to reason but it didn’t get through.

“You’re the next heir to the throne, Kane” the queen looked out the window, “We will not take any more risks. Your safety is my up most importance.”

I sighed. I knew she wouldn’t budge.

“It’s been fifty-six days since your father has disappeared, Until he is back with us. The necessary steps are to remain.” My mother said with peremptory.

My father had been strong enough to defend his throne. Strong enough to assess whether I was worthy of it. If he were still here, he’d be the one pushing me, forcing me to prove myself.

But now, he wasn’t.

The Queen could rule temporarily, but eventually the crown would pass to the next heir. Me. At least I wouldn’t have to fight him for it. At least there would be no duel to decide who was worthy. And yet…a small part of me resented that.

Some days, I wanted the challenge. Wanted the world to see me stand with my mate at my side, strong together, to rule without question. But first, I had to find her.

I’d had flings, some interests and brief distractions.

None of them, had made my heart race. No one had stirred my wolf. Now nearly thirty, the pull was stronger than ever.

She was out there. I knew it and so did Apollo.

Twenty minutes later, I pushed off the bed and grabbed a towel from the floor, drying myself off completely. I dressed quickly, pulling clothes from the drawers and adjusting them in the full-length mirror opposite my bed. I ran a hand through my black hair, pushing loose strands back behind my ear.

I opened my door.

As usual, my bodyguard stood just outside, positioned to my right. I rolled my eyes as I shut the door behind me and headed down the hallway. He followed, silent and attentive.

Lunch with my mother was pleasant enough, especially with my younger brother there to keep the mood light. When it ended, I made my way back towards my room, the guard trailing behind me as always.

Large windows lined the right side of the corridor. I glanced out at them as we walked noticing that despite the earlier clouds, the weather was still holding. I slowed my pace slightly.

“Everything alright sir?” the guard asked.

I stopped and turned my head over my shoulder, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Can you stop calling me that?” I said, “Thomas, you’ve been my guard long enough to call me Kane.”

He stiffened immediately and bowed his head, “I’m sorry. Prince Snyder, may I call you Prince Snyder? It’s considered disrespectful to address a royal by their first name.”

I exhaled and covered my face briefly with my hand.

“I know the rules,” I said. “But the King is still missing, and I’m getting tired of rules lately. Between me and you, you can drop that one. Everywhere else, it stays in place. Understood?”

He hesitated, then bowed his head again. “Yes, Kane. Thank you, and…you may call me Tom, if you wish.”

I raised my eyebrows for a moment, then gave him a small smile. “That’s fine by me.” The tension eased slightly as we continued walking.

“let’s cut through the courtyard,” I said.

I didn’t know how much time passed. The next thing I registered was a faint voice inside my head. Please…you need to save her…she needs you…

I glanced behind me and noticed Thomas was still there, about five steps back. The sky overhead had darkened further; the clouds were rolling in thick and heavy.

Thomas stopped and looked up. “Kane, we need to go inside before it rains.” Still moving forward slowly, I opened my mouth to reply but the same faint voice interrupted me again.

Prince Snyder…You must go…

I stopped dead. Who was this woman speaking in my head? How was she doing this?

“Kane?” Thomas stepped closer, noticing I’d stopped suddenly and hadn’t moved an inch. I looked down at my hands.

Every instinct in my body told me to trust her. Even Apollo could scent that this wasn’t an enemy trying to deceive us. He felt the pull too and didn’t want to fight it.

Leave…Now.

Those last words were enough, the urgency in her tone shoved me into motion.

“Kane! Where are you going?!” Thomas shouted. Before he could break into a run, I was already out the courtyard. I sprinted back to my room, which was only a short distance down the corridor, and locked the door behind me. It wouldn’t hold for long, but it would buy me time.

I crossed to my bookshelves and grabbed an old, thick red book, tilting it toward me. A hidden mechanism clicked. The lock disengaged.

I heard a thud behind the door, followed by a sharp jolt as it shifted forward slightly, I pushed it open inward. As I stepped inside, Tom’s fist slammed against the other side of the door, his voice raised as he demanded I open up.

The shouting grew more distant as I ran further down the stone steps, my footsteps echoing. I sprinted through the tunnel, lungs burning. After several seconds, I reached another heavy stone door. I pushed it open slowly, peering through the gap to make sure no one saw me as daylight spilled through the opening.

When the space was clear, I shut the door behind me and moved further across the field, scanning the area for any sign of movement. As I approached the tall outer wall, I noticed the guards who usually patrolled along the edge were nowhere in sight. They must have been changing over, that was good timing for me.

I crouched low, gathering strength in my legs. With one swift movement, I launched upward and landed on top of the wall, steady on my feet. I crossed to the other side and looked down, checking for guards below. One was walking beneath me. I waited a few seconds, then jumped.

I landed with my knees bent absorbing the impact, but the sound was enough to catch the guard’s attention, the only guard that’s meant to have finished his duty, he must have wanted to make his last round before change over. As he turned, I spotted a bush a short distance ahead. I broke into a quick run and dived straight into it.

The guard studied the shifting leaves, hesitating, then waited a few minutes before deciding to move on.

When the coast was clear, I crawled back out and brushed myself off. Before I had time to think, another voice sliced through my mind.

The forest…quickly.

It stung just enough to make me wince. A sharp ping of pain flared behind my eyes, followedby a rush of emotion that wasn’t entirely mine. Her worry spiked, then faded as quickly as it came.

I followed the path leading toward the Bengal Forest, the largest, lone forest we have. Birds chirped overhead as rivers crashed somewhere nearby, water raced along hidden paths, I walked for around five minutes before everything fell unnaturally silent.

I stopped. Something was wrong.

My wolf perked his ears, muscles tensing as he became more alert. A scent I had never encountered before, rolled in waves through the air. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was enough to pull us towards it.

Apollo stirred sharply, agitated. He whined under his breath. He wanted that scent and so did I. I had never smelt anything like it. It wasn’t strong, but it was compelling. Enough to make me follow. I turned off the main path and into the wooded area. With every step, the scent grew stronger. We were getting closer.

Apollo wanted to run. I resisted the urge, wary of falling into a trap, but I still picked up the pace. Suddenly, a flash of light caught the corner of my left eye. I turned, taking only a few steps forward, and froze. In front of me hovered a large, teardrop, mirror-like orb.

Apollo surged inside me, whining and pushing me forward. The scent was at its strongest here, pouring straight from the teardrop orb.

“What the hell is that?” I muttered. The reflective surface shifted, changing to another location, a wooded park. Apollo paced inside me, frantic. The scent was winding him up tighter and tighter, I hesitated. Then the voice struck again loud and unmistakable.

Please. Save her. You must.

The pain this time was sharper, tearing through my head. This was where I was needed. Without a second thought, I jumped into the orb, then it disappeared.