Guardian Vs. Hybrid

Figuring Things Out

        “Is everything okay, Bell?”

        When I caught up to the hunting party it was already close to dark as the sun was setting behind the trees. I nodded and bowed my head a little.

        “Yes, princess. Just some thieves that picked the wrong fight. Nothing for you to worry about.” I reassured before going to remove my horses tack and get the princess ready for the night.

        I could feel Zohar’s gaze on my back for a few moments, and I had to try my best to ignore him. In this close proximity, I was worried about drawing attention. So, I was going to act as if he didn’t exist for the time being.

        You can’t ignore me forever, Rose. He whispered into my head.

        I sighed. I’m going to try though.

        It took about an hour for everyone to get ready for nighttime, and when I was sure it was okay, I walked off into the woods to check the area and take a breather.

        The night was my favorite time of day. Everything about it appealed to me, from the stars, to the cooler air. My mind emptied as I rolled my head on my neck. Trying to forget that those men from earlier wanted me, not Princes Daphne. It was something that had never happened up until now. I was only a soldier, nothing special. Or at least I thought. Everyone always comments on my beauty, but it was something I hardly ever thought about. Then I came to this conclusion, it had to be something involving Rex. Everything was fine until he showed up saying lies about some missing princess that only the ancient believed to exist. I was sure that he was just thinking of new ways to get me to listen to him. Rex was one person I never believed fully, and with him showing up out of the blue with conspiracies but no proof? It made me sigh.

        But…at the same time I kept going back to ‘what if he was telling the truth’? No advisor in the palace had ever denied the existence of the princess in Advent City, it always seemed like they were waiting on a royal to take over. Still, it was too long of a shot for me to be the one they were looking for. Plus, there is no way a princess would be in an orphanage and in war. They would have gotten to me and hid me away where I couldn’t be slaughtered on the battlefield. Right?

        I let out a huff of surprise. I was being followed. “Is that you back there, Mace?”

        I heard a laugh before I turned around to see him smiling.

        “You really are one of the best, Lady Rose.” Mace said catching up to me and stretched his muscles. “I truly feel bad for our prince to have to marry the princess. Daphne is sweet and all, but man, she is not the strongest of women. Will and body.”

        I nodded. “I know. Daphne was pampered her entire life, and was born after the Dread War was over. She doesn’t know anything of the struggles we all went through. The princess is not meant for commanding an army. She is actually afraid to even hold a sward or bow. We’ve all tried to teach her a little self-defense, and she always ends up hurt.”

        Mace raised an eyebrow. “Bloody stars…This might seem crass, but with everything I hope you become our Queen, Rose.”

        “Mace…” I sighed before looking over to him. “I can’t. Zohar is set to marry my lady, no matter what we feel or…everything we went through. It doesn’t change anything.”

        “I think it does.” He shook his head. “You are the only woman I can see on that throne, Rose. I refuse to accept anything less. I was right there with you and Zo on that battlefield. I trusted you with my life. I knew back then that if I had you two next to me that I was going to be fine, and I was going to stay alive. When I imagine Prince Zohar on the throne, I only see you next to him. No other woman can do such a thing as stand right there at his side, the rest would be at his back. Please, fight this.”

        I huffed. “There is nothing to fight, Mace. This is fate. What would you have me do?”

        “Go to the King.” Mace exclaimed without hesitation.

        “Are you kidding me?” At that I rolled my eyes and continued walking.

        Mace shook his head. “No. He loves you! King Virote was furious when he heard you were a Halo Elite of Ja-kkar. Everyone in the palace knows of how that old king adores you! He had a man who did nothing but keep track of you for ten years, he even said he wished you were marrying Zohar before we came here! So, tell me again. Tell me you couldn’t convince the Vampyr King to marry his favorite son?”

        I had to take a moment before answering him. “He…really remembers me?”

        “Yes. When he found out that the Ja-kkar princess’s person guard was Halo Elite Rosabell Ezra, he’s been doing nothing but recanting those old war stories. He only just told Zohar about you right before we left. I believe if you went to Zarek and told King Virote that you wanted to marry Prince Zohar, he would call of his engagement with Daphne. It would work even better if he promoted you first, then it’s a high-ranking soldier marrying the Seventh Progeny. Nowhere does it say you have to be a princess.” Mace said with a coy smile on his face.

        I couldn’t help the little smile I had, it was infectious. “Fine, but what would happen to Daphne and the Queen? I really don’t think Daphne would care, but the Queen would. She wants Daphne to have the most luxurious life, and she thinks since Zohar’s a Progeny Prince and General of the Veliam Army, Daphne will be pampered.”

        Mace’s whole face twisting into laughter. And I was lost.

        “What?” I asked when we stopped walking.

        He brushed tears off his cheek, still slightly chuckling. “Princess Daphne will absolutely NOT have a pampered life in Zarek’s palace. Zohar is the General, and has rigorous things he has to do. Including executions, combat training, and then his duties as the Seventh Progeny. She will never be able to keep up. Oh, and then there are the other Progeny’s of King Virote’s, which will be trying to kill her at least twice a week. Which is another reason you need to be marrying the prince. With you, he’ll be able to claim the crown when King Virote goes into his ‘million-year slumber’ in two years. Zohar is going to have to fight off his siblings for 24 hours, and whichever couple is still standing gets the crown.”

        I know this. King Virote explained this to me when I was in his Royal Guard, but it’s been a long time. “Another hitch, Mace. I know what the King and the prince are planning. About taking over the throne of Ja-kkar using Daphne. Your plan, messes their plan up. Plus, Daphne’s not the-”

        Mace’s face paled a little as he interrupted. “You know about that? How?”

        “Come on, Mace. It’s literally the only reason Prince Zohar would be forced into marrying Daphne. Their child would be the heir to that throne. The child of the only Hybrid in existence, on a throne. I can’t give him a child with a throne.” I said with a shrug, feeling an energy shift so light I almost missed it.

        “Do I get a say? Or are you two going to commit treason without me?”

        I knew I sensed someone close. “Hello, Lord General.”

        Zo stepped in closer. “Hello, Corporal. Mace. So, which plan did we decide on?”

        Mace swallowed. “We haven’t decided on one yet.”

        “Oh, well I personally like Mace’s idea better. Even though there’s one small problem with all of these plans.” He said still eyeing me. “Mace? Will you give us a little bit? We’ll meet you back at the campsite.”

        I took a deep breath as he nodded and left. “Is something wrong, General?”

        He huffed. “It’s just us, Rose. No need to be that formal.”

        “Fine. What did you want, Zo?” I corrected.

         Zohar laughed a little at that change. “I wanted to find out what was so secretive between you and Mace, and apparently my worries were unneeded.”

        I rolled my eyes. “You still thought we were going to sleep together? Jealous much, Zo?”

        “Absolutely filled with it.” He said teasingly, licking his lips. His eyes roamed down to the lacing on my riding corset. “I want to know something, Rose. Would you petition the King in favor of a marriage between us? Or would you rather me settle with the princess while your reassigned somewhere else, watching another spoiled royal?”

        “It’s not that easy, Zo. King Virote has plans, and as a soldier from his Royal Guard I cannot interfere with those plans. Don’t you understand that? He would be disappointed if you brought me home as your fiancé! Our master wished for you and Daphne to bear a child that will take the Ja-kkar throne!” I said, not even noticing we were walking around each other in a circle.

        Zohar shook his head. “I was perfectly fine with that plan! I was more than willing to marry that princess for our King! But when I got here and encountered you again? Tell me, how should I go through with it when I know it’s the wrong decision. You know the King, he will grow tired of Daphne and her constant talking, and we both know what that could mean for her. Plus, I think our child would be far better for a throne. Zarek’s throne, not Ja-kkar’s.”

        Red involuntarily spread across my face at the mere imagery. “Zohar…You…fuck! I can’t think!”

        He chuckled. “You started to imagine it, didn’t you? Seeing yourself round and full, carrying my child?”

        “Zo!” I snapped, and I was positive that I was as red as a cherry. While that tingling feeling was building inside me, the one I didn’t need right now.

        Zohar’s smirk was plastered on his handsome features. “It’s all on your face. It’s not a bad concept, and I’ll still allow you to do medium duties as a soldier. I don’t think I would be able to keep my hands off you then, seeing you pregnant and commanding our army.”

        I shook my head. “Stop, Zo. We can’t talk about things like that. Your-“

        “Engaged. Yes, you remind me of it often. It’s something I’m planning on remedying soon.” Zohar said with a huff.

        “You’re serious?” I asked seeing the determination in his eyes.

        Zohar reached out to catch my hand. “I asked you to marry me last night. Does that not seem serious? Rose, you said yes to me. You accepted the proposal.”

        I let my shoulders fall a little. “That…you were serious?”

        “Why do you keep asking me that? Do you remember what I said? About it being a true proposal?” Zo asked pulling my body into his.

        “Yes, I do.” I said after letting out a deep breath. “I thought we were talking hypothetically.”

        Zohar chuckled. “No, Rose. I proposed to you, and you said you accepted it. It’s as simple as that.”

        He wrapped his arms around me, but I wasn’t done talking. “So, we’re…”

        “Engaged, yep. So, we have a little bit of a problem.” He said shrugging.

        I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, your engaged to two women. That’s a scandal in itself. Zo, you really need to speak to your father. King Virote should be informed about…all this. I’m going to get demoted…he’s going to have me executed...”

        Zohar sighed. “I doubt that. He said to me before I left that he wished for me to be marrying you. I think he will be overjoyed that we’re engaged, maybe a little disappointed about not obtaining Ja-kkar’s throne. My father has a soft spot for his favorite soldier. I’m leaving Ja-kkar when we get back from the hunting trip. I want you to come with me to Zarek.”

        “I can’t, Zo.” I said looking away. “My duty is to the royal family of Ja-kkar, unless ordered otherwise.”

        He shrugged. “Simple fix. By orders of the General of the Veliam Army, General Zohar Incoy-Wencroft, you are here by ordered to escort the Seventh Progeny and entourage to Zarek. Done.”

        I stared at him for a moment. “Abuse of power, General.”

        Zohar smirked, running his hands down my sides to rest on my hips. “Only towards my future wife.”

        “Stop!” I scolded. “You can’t say things like that.”

        He shrugged lifting my wrist to his lips to kiss a few times. “I don’t care.”

        Before I could say anything, he sank his fangs into the delicate part of my wrist. Drawing my blood out of my body gently, he let out a deep sigh. He missed the taste of me like an addict relapsing, and I have missed the contact more than I thought. I let out a slight moan while his other hand squeezed my hip. My center was already wet and sticky from the contact.

        After a few more moments he pulled away and gave me a playful wink. Knowing exactly the effect he had on me.

        “You keep looking at me like that and I’ll take you right here next to the camp.” Zohar said licking my blood from his lips.

        I swallowed hard. “Were too loud and rough for that.”

        He laughed again. “Your right about that, Rose. Be ready to leave when we get back to Ja-kkar. We need to get this affair sorted out as soon as we can. That way I can declare you officially to our people. Then we won’t leave our bed for a month.”

        “Don’t make any plans yet, Zo. We don’t even know if King Virote is going to allow you to marry me. I don’t want you to get excited for nothing.” I said with a sigh. “Plus, I can’t lose my title. I’m a soldier.”

        Zohar nodded. “I know, we both are. I would never allow our King to demote you.”

        I went to protest, but then his lips covered mine. For a few moments I tried to protest, but it didn’t last long. His arms were around me, and for a second I felt like maybe this was right.

        “Prince Zohar? Where did you go?”

        Princess Daphne’s voice echoed through the tree’s, and I gathered enough strength to shove Zo away. I felt like my heart was dropped out of my chest. This was wrong. So wrong. I should I was betraying my princess…and myself.

        Don’t think like that, Rose. You know your meant to be my Queen. Zohar said taking a few steps back.

        I let out a deep breath. But, at what cost, Zo? My title? Your chances at having a throne? I think it would be best if I recanted my-

        Rose, don’t you dare. Give us a chance first before giving up all hope. He said with a stern look on his face. 

        I don’t know, Zo…I’ve got to go before Daphne sees me here with you. Without waiting for him to say anything else, I turned and disappeared.