The Hybrid Fairy King's Lost Mate

2 The Hybrid King.

“I think this colour suits you best, your majesty,” his male servant, Jade, said, moving around to show him the robe. Kalan nodded, and lifted his arms so he could slip the robe on. He took a deep breath as he stared at himself in the mirror. The robe did suit him. It was a deep purple colour that played off his fair skin, and made his long white hair stand out. He looked like the Fairy King he used to be. It wasn’t lost on him that Jade was still addressing him as one, even though his fate was still to be decided.

Kalan wasn’t sure whether the nobles would accept him back. After losing his throne to his uncle, Myalagin, it was possible that he might have lost it forever. His uncle revealed his secret, leaving him vulnerable. Everyone now knew that he was a hybrid, and that a monster lived inside of him. And his fight with Maverick, in the entry hall, where everyone could see him, was the worst thing he could have done. He revealed too much. And showed his people that he wasn’t the level-headed fairy they knew their king to be. He was something else so far removed from the perfect fairy king they wanted.

Too perfect, he said deep inside him.

Kalan hissed as his voice exploded in his mind. Jade was startled, and pulled away from him for a second. Kalan could see the fear in his eyes, even though he tried to hide it.

Kalan bit the inside of his mouth. He needed to cool it down. He couldn’t go around scaring everyone around him. This was what he was scared of and why he kept this side of him a secret for so long. He didn't want his people to change the way they looked at him.

Even though everyone knew that his mother was a werewolf, they believed he was a fairy just like them, because he never showed any sign of being anything else. But now…Kalan closed his eyes, knowing there was no way he could turn back time.

The door to his room opened and Oren walked in. He came to stop behind him.

“Everything has been arranged, your Majesty. Your brother’s body was placed in the shrine. He will be buried tomorrow morning,” he said with a slight bow. “You can go and pay your respects. I’m heading there now.”

“Later,” Kalan said, turning to him. Oren had been by his side for as long as he could remember. He was his second in command, but in all truth he was his friend. He knew everything about him, and he kept his darkest secrets. “I need you with me in the meeting with the nobles.”

“Are you afraid they might walk out on you?” he asked, looking at him with assessing eyes. “You’re their king, whether they like it or not.”

“True, but I can’t stop them if they want to leave,” Kalan sighed and turned to the mirror. Jade stepped forward and finished dressing him. Once he was done, he bowed and walked out. “By night fall I might be a king without a people to rule.”

“That won’t happen,” Oren said adamantly. Kalan turned to face him. If the situation wasn’t so serious he would have laughed at the serious look on his face.

“It just might, my friend. No one wants a hybrid for a king,” he said and walked to the door. He heard Oren follow close behind him. He knew he had a lot to say about that. But Kalan didn’t want to hear it, because at that moment he didn’t feel like the thing that lived inside him was a blessing. It felt too much like a curse, always taking from him.

I took nothing from you, he said deep inside him, making him pause in the middle of the hallway. Kalan closed his eyes for a second. His voice was jarring and violent. When he sounded like that, it meant he was pissed off about something, and was trying to get his attention.

If you remain silent for the next two hours, I’ll let you out, Kalan told him. He was met with silence.

“Are you alright?” Oren asked, standing a few paces away from him. He knew not to get close when he was like this. Or the monster might take it as a challenge, and lash out.

“I’m fine,” Kalan said. He took a deep breath, plastering a mask of calm on his face. He continued to walk to the room where the nobles were waiting for him. Oren opened the door, and stepped to the side for him to enter. Everyone in the room got to their feet.

Kalan walked to the only empty chair in the room. It was at the head of the table. He hid his surprise as Oren pulled it back so he could sit down. Everyone sat down. The room fell silent. They all looked at each other as if they were unsure of what to do.

Kalan’s stomach fell. He could sense what was coming. He held his breath as he waited for one of them to speak. One of them stood up, and turned to him.

“Everyone here would agree that things haven’t been going well in the kingdom since your uncle revealed the secret that you’ve been keeping from us,” he said, looking around the room. “It is a well-known fact that you were born from a werewolf slave, that your father kept much to the disagreement of the nobles. We turned a blind eye, then. And have continued to do so since their union brought us a strong king. Your blood was superior to your brother, Cien’s blood, making you our king. But I wonder if we can turn a blind eye now that we know what you truly are?”

Kalan stared at the nodding heads in the room. He clenched his hands into fists, feeling like the world he had fought hard for was falling apart right there before his eyes.

“No. We can’t ignore it. Your uncle opened our eyes. We can’t remain blind, and follow you like sheep,” another said.

Kalan clenched his jaw. He’d heard enough. He got to his feet, and stared at them.

“I can’t change who I am. And I won’t force anyone to stay and be ruled by a hybrid king. There are other fairy kingdoms that you can go to,” he said, walking to the door.

“No one wants to leave. We want to stay,” the one who had just spoken said. Kalan stopped. He stared at the door, before turning to look at them. “But you have to make a concession, so that what happened with your father doesn’t happen again.”

What? He had to do what? He couldn’t believe their audacity.

Kalan narrowed his eyes on him. He wanted his people to stay, but he wasn’t going to beg anyone.

The noble nervously cleared his throat. He looked over his shoulder at the others.

“We believe this will be good for the kingdom and our future,” he said imploringly, staring at his feet. Kalan stared at the table full of nobles. They could barely meet his eyes. Oren stepped close to him, and touched his arm.

“Your Majesty,” he said in a warning tone.

Kalan looked down at his hands. His claws were extending.

Fuck.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “What do you want me to do?” he asked after a few minutes.

“Mate a female from the oldest family in our kingdom,” he announced, taking Kalan by surprise. He opened his eyes and stared at them. He didn’t think they’ll go that far.

“What?”

“We’ve already spoken to Lanarrie. He has two daughters of marriageable age. They are…”

“I know who they are,” Kalan growled out. He turned and left the room.

“Your Majesty…your majesty,” they called to him, but he didn’t stop. He heard Oren rush after him. Kalan continued to walk. He headed to the shrine where his brother was lying waiting to be sent off to his final resting place. He opened the door to the room. The scent of candles and flowers filled the space. Kalan walked to the table where his brother was covered in a burial cloth. He came to a stop in front of the table. He stared down at his brother, feeling like he’d lost so much. Even though he and Cien, didn’t see eye to eye, he was comforted knowing that he was there. They were brothers, regardless of the feud that was there between them.

“I’m going to miss you,” Kalan said. He heard Oren come up behind him. He stood a few paces away from him, giving him time with his brother. Kalan paid his respects to his brother, and made his way to his side of the house.

Oren opened the doors for him, and he walked through, heading to the sitting area. He sat on the couch with a sigh.

God, he felt so tired. He closed his eyes, leaning his head on the headrest.

“Are you going to do what they asked?” Oren asked after a few minutes of silence. Kalan groaned, wishing he’d kept silent, especially if he was going to ask him about Lanarrie’s daughters…well, one daughter to be more specific…Aria.

Fuck. Of all the oldest families in his kingdom, why did they have to choose them? Memories from the past swam through his mind. He shook his head and got to his feet. He headed to his bedroom.

“Kalan, answer me,” Oren ordered, coming after him.

“What the f**k do you want me to say?” he turned on him. Anger and misery warred inside him. “Do you think I want to go back there?”

“Then don’t?” Oren said softly. Tears shone in his eyes.

“Do you think I have a choice?” he asked. When Oren didn’t answer him, he pushed the door to his bedroom open hard. He pulled his robe off and went in search of his human clothes. He promised his monster that he'd let him out. He might as well do it then.

“Kalan…”

“I wouldn’t be a king if I didn’t sacrifice my life for them,” he said while he pulled a black t-shirt over his head. He pulled on a pair of jeans, and stuffed his feet in sneakers.

“Where are you going?” Oren asked when he walked past him to the main door.

“I promised him I'd let him out. I’ll be back, don’t wait up for me,” he said, walking through the door, and made his way out of the house. He walked to the invisible barrier. He lifted his arms and tied his hair into a tight bun on top of his head. He didn’t want it to get caught on branches.

“You wanted out, go…” before he could even finish the sentence he felt the rush of power fill his veins. His vision became clearer and he felt a rush that came with letting his monster out.

“About time,” he said with a snarl as he ran into the night. Kalan knew where he was going before he even cleared the line of trees and faced the mountain. Mystic was on the other side of that mountain. And that’s where he was headed. His fascination with her was still as strong as the day he met her.

He ran faster, going over hills and valleys. Until he came to a cabin that sat alone, removed from the others. The light inside was off, but he could pick up her scent. He breathed it in greedily, wishing he could go inside.

But he stood there as memories flooded his mind, taking him back to when they first met…