Sold to a Hybrid Prince

Chapter 1

XYLA

The bell on the door rang, making each of us tense up and huddle back. I shifted to the darkest corner of my cage, pulling my knees to my chest and burying my head in them. That was the best way of staying hidden and undetected, and so far, it had worked pretty well.

As much as I hated my life at that shop, I knew it was better than belonging to a Superior. Technically, I still belonged to the owner of the shop, but he was a lycan. He wouldn't hit us too much, not wanting to damage his 'goods' beyond repair, and it wasn't like he could feed on our blood. The buyers, however, could be anyone, and I didn't want to be bought by a vampire and turned into an every-day meal, or by another lycan only to be subjected to torture and abuse.

Just the thought of it shook me to the core.

"What are you looking for, Sir?" Hedger asked, holding the usual cheerful tone he always put on whenever someone came by.

"The best blood," the man's voice replied.

"Sure, we have the best collection. Any particular type you'd prefer?"

"AB. Negative."

Oh no. Oh God no.

I dug my head deeper into my knees, squeezing my eyes shut. Hopefully, they would have someone else with the same blood type. In fact, I knew they did. It was the girl right opposite to me.

"You're in the right place," I heard Hedger reply.

Heavy footsteps walked towards our cages, making me say a silent prayer. Apparently, someone up there heard it, as the two men stopped in front of the cage opposite to mine, with their backs towards me.

"She's very submissive, and a very good girl. She won't give you any trouble at all."

I heard her whimper, and a weird guilt tugged at my heart. I knew this wasn't my fault, but every time someone was bought, my chest filled up with uneasiness. I raised my head just a little, to find her staring back at me through the bars. Her eyes were wide with fear, and I let out a shaky breath, tears clouding my vision.

She was the only friend I had had for years, and now she would be taken away too.

Well, not a 'friend' technically, since we were never allowed to talk, but seeing her face everyday had become a habit. We would occasionally even smile at each other, when Hedger wasn't looking.

Survivors' guilt made my heart clench.

The buyer knelt down in front of her cage, examining her closely. She backed away as much as she could, her wide gaze still stuck on me, as if she wanted me to save her in some way.

I really wished I could.

"What are you looking at, girl?" the buyer asked, before his head turned in my direction.

A gasp left my lips, my eyes widening before I stuck my head down again, my heart knocking at my ribs.

But I was too late.

I heard him chuckle, as he stood up and walked over to my cage.

"What's her type?"

"She's AB negative too," Hedger replied, his voice holding a tinge of annoyance that I knew was directed at me. "She's an annoying one, though."

The man chuckled, amused. "How so?"

"She is sort of bi-polar I think. One day she'll be shivering in fear, and the next day she'll be barking out insults. She will keep you entertained, however. She's had experience."

His last sentence made me shudder, unwelcome memories threatening to flood my mind. I took in a deep breath, biting on my lip, as I forced them away. I didn't need them right now, not when I was already in danger.

"Hey," the man snapped his fingers, "show me your face."

I gulped, not obliging. Maybe he would think I was too difficult, and leave without me.

"Your face, Xyla!" Hedger yelled, his voice booming through my ears as he kicked my cage.

I flinched, obliging, as a single tear slid down my cheek.

The man bent down, moving closer to my cage, his eyes narrowed in scrutiny. "What's with her eyes?" he asked, and I quickly looked away.

"No idea. She's had it since the beginning." Hedger shrugged.

Of course he didn't know. Illiterate lycan.

The man hummed in response, before standing up straight. "Great. I'll take her."

What? No. Please.

I looked up with wide eyes, my mouth parted in shock.

Why? Why would he want to buy me?

My gaze shifted to the girl opposite to me, and she looked more relieved than guilty. She was the one who had brought attention to me! He wasn't even looking at me! But she didn't spare me a single glance now, her shoulders slumping in relaxation as she leaned her back against the wall.

Hedger returned with the keys and unlocked my cage, gesturing for me to crawl out. I gulped, staring at him as my chest heaved up and down.

"Out, Xyla. Now," he snapped in his beastly voice, a dark shadow crossing over his features.

I didn't have it in me to disobey.

Trembling all over, I slowly crawled out, trying to hold in the sobs that wished to escape. Hedger grabbed my hair and pulled me to my feet, before dragging me to the front of the shop.

"Collar, belt, or cuffs?" he asked the man, tightening his hold on me.

"She'd look good in a collar, but they're just a hassle when it comes to feeding. I'll stick with the cuffs."

"Ward!" Hedger yelled, making me flinch as I struggled against his iron hold.

Ward quickly ran out, and I was tossed to him like a rag doll.

"What color would you prefer?" Hedger asked the man, whilst Ward caught hold of my arms and pinned me against the wall.

"Black."

I closed my eyes shut, able to hear the pounding of my heart. Sweat was forming on my forehead, and my breath hitched further when I heard the chains rattling. Cold, metal cuffs were slipped onto my wrists the next second, before my arms were pulled down near my waist, and the remaining of the loose chain handed to my buyer like a damned leash. I kept my eyes closed, too humiliated, too frightened to meet anyone's gaze.

"I'll take the gag too."

My eyes shot open in horror, a few tears leaving them.

"No, please," I cried, "I'll be quiet, I promise."

I hated it. I hated begging them. But if there was any chance they wouldn't gag me, I was taking it. I wasn't ready for this, not even after it had been six years. I didn't want to feel something restrict my voice like that. I wanted to be heard.

"Yes, you will," the man nodded, giving me a wicked sneer.

Everything about his face urged me to punch him, or spit at him. His shameless eyes that raked over me, his silvering hair, and the odd wrinkles of his skin. I couldn't tell what he was, but he did not look like a vampire to me, he was too ugly to be one.

He was probably an older lycan, which then raised the question of why he asked for my blood type.

Ward's fingers grabbed my face, forcing my mouth open, while Hedger pushed a ball gag inside it. He clasped it shut behind my head, and I let out a whimper because of how tight it was. I couldn't even scream for help now. I was left at the mercy of my new buyer.

Not that screaming would have helped anyway. In our city, no one ever cared.

"Let's go, pet," the man mocked, pulling me towards the door by the chains on my wrists. I kept my eyes open, trying my best to fight off the memories.

I wasn't with him. I was at the pet shop. It wasn't him. No one could be worse than him, right?

"Wait," Hedger said, moving to block the buyer's way. "Who do you think is going to pay for her?" He raised an eyebrow.

My buyer chuckled, shaking his head. "Right. Almost forgot. Here." He took out a card from his pocket, and handed it to Hedger, whose eyes widened as soon as he glanced at it.

"You're a servant for the Valleroys?"

My expression mirrored his, as my buyer nodded proudly. "This one is a special gift for the Prince."

My heart sank in my chest, as my gaze dropped to the floor.

I was done for.

I was going to be serving a Royal.

From what I knew and heard, they were the worst masters a pet could have. They were ruthless, brutal, and short-tempered.

But that wasn't it.

The Royals of this city were a cursed kind. They were vampires by birth, but one of their ancestors had managed to piss off a powerful sorceress centuries ago, when those still existed. The sorceress had put an unbreakable spell on him, cursing his entire line to turn into monsters every full moon. And that made them a hybrid species, a mix of vampires and werewolves, the deadliest creatures to ever exist--the most feared predators in the entire continent.

"Let's go now, pet. We wouldn't want the Prince to keep waiting, would we?"

I couldn't even react as he dragged me out of the shop, the metal cuffs digging into my skin painfully. Hedger could not have been less considerate. Even after watching over us for years, he had no remorse, no sympathy for us. What a heartless jerk.

The cold night air made me shiver as we made our way towards his car, littering my skin with goosebumps. The road felt cool too, under my bare feet, as I took a deep breath, knowing that it was the last time I was ever getting a whiff of fresh air. I hadn't stepped out of that shop ever since I was sold off, and I knew I wouldn't live long enough to step out again. My eyes went to the sky, spotting the half moon glittering in the darkness, its shine taunting me.

Maybe, I would stay alive until it turned full.

Maybe not.

But in any case, I didn't have more than fifteen days. That was certain. My life was on a clock now, and I had to come to terms with it.

A hand met my cheek painfully, making me wince and fall to the ground. A small, sharp rock pierced my knee, making me suck in a breath through my nose.

"Where do you think you're lost, pet?" my buyer snapped, glaring daggers at me.

I glared up at him defiantly, not caring anymore. If I belonged to someone else, I was not supposed to listen to him. Besides, I was going to die anyway.

He grabbed a fistful of my hair, and pulled me back to my feet, before opening the door of the car and pushing me in. He didn't even give me time to shuffle inside, before he slammed the door shut, hitting my toes. I squeezed my eyes shut, scrambling away, as tears rolled down my cheeks. The gag muffled my whimpers of pain, and weirdly enough, I was glad that it did.

Because on second thoughts, a part of me did care. I didn't want to make him angrier. I didn't want to be hurt more before I died. Maybe it could be peaceful.

The vehicle started moving, and I slowly sat up, the chains rattling as I moved. I glanced out the window with teary eyes, my gaze fixed on the pet shop until we turned a corner and it disappeared from my view.

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