His Hybrid Archer

8 - First Conversation

Lance Kyle 

    I had spent the last few weeks walking along the border to the free territory in hopes of picking up that wonderful scent of coffee again.  So far there hadn't been any sign of the blonde haired beauty, and I was starting to feel very discouraged about it.

    The second I walked into the living room after taking another walk along the border, my mum enthusiastically informed me, "The trackers think they may have located your mystery girl.  Apparently there is a cabin deep in the free territory.  The trackers will be here shortly to take you to her."

    "Really?" I asked with excitement.

    "Yes, son.  They will be here in about ten minutes," my dad confirmed with a smile.

    "We expect you to take Alfonso as a safety precaution, and be sure to watch out for rogues," my mum adamantly advised.

    "Don't worry, mum.  I'll be careful out there," I assured her, then I mind linked Alfonso and Dane to let them know we were going to find my mystery archer.

    Right away, I headed back outside to wait for the trackers.  Alfonso and Dane both joined me on the front porch of the castle about five minutes later.

    As soon as the trackers arrived, we quickly got to our feet, then we followed them to the border.  I was so nervous, there was no stopping my palms from sweating or my heartrate from speeding up.  

    The farther we got from the border, the more nervous I felt.  I wasn't only nervous about seeing the beautiful archer.  I was also nervous about running into a large number of rogues.

    Eventually, the trackers led us to a small opening in the forest,  They pointed me in the direction of what appeared to me a large mound of ivy.  I slowly advanced toward the ivy, and it didn't take long for me to realize it was actually a cabin covered with ivy.

    I walked up to the door with a little trepidation, then I took a deep breath.  After that, I lifted my hand and knocked on the door.  Within a few seconds, the door was flung open and a ball of flames shined in front of my face.

    I was caught off guard by the flames, but I quickly regained my composure.  A second later, I c****d my head to the side and looked around the ball of fire.  Instantly, my eyes locked with those mysterious dark brown orbs belonging to my mystery archer.

    There was no stopping the pleased smile that stretched across my face, as I took in her beauty and breathed in her amazing scent.  However, she was giving me a very hostile glare, so I calmly stated, "Hello, ma'am.  My name is Prince Lance, and I have been searching for you.  I swear, I come here with nothing but good intentions."

    "Why are you here?  Why have you been searching for me?" she anxiously asked while making no attempt to lower her weapon.

    "You are my mate, and I would like to claim you as such," I timidly replied with the smile still on my face.

    "Are you sure about that?" she warily asked, then she glanced over at the guy standing beside her.  He had light brown hair, hazel eyes, a deep bronze complexion, and werecat written all over him.  However, he did not look the least bit familiar to me.

    "Prince Lance, you are next in line to be the King of werecats, correct?" the large guy asked.

    "Yes, sir.  Who are you?" I answered and asked in return.

    "I am Snow's dad," he proudly informed me.

    "Snow," I repeated and enjoyed the way her name rolled off my tongue.

    Instantly, her body shivered in response to me saying her name.  Right away, she glanced at her dad and asked, "Is it normal for your mate's voice to make you shiver like that?"

    "Yes, dear.  Your mom did the same thing when she first met me.  She still does that most of the time," he assured her.

    As soon as the last word left his mouth, I heard the soft voice of another female ask, "What do I still do sometimes?"

    "Cheyenne," was all he said, then the woman with violet eyes and jet black hair shivered in response.  Her dad chuckled at her involuntary reaction, then he teased, "That right there."

    Her thin, dark pink lips curved up to form an embarrassed smile, as a blush formed on her cheeks.  She looked at Snow and cheekily remarked, "What can I say?  Just hearing his voice has an effect on me.  Damn mate bond."

    Her dad chuckled again, then he focused back on me and formally introduced himself, "Hello, Prince Lance.  My name is Reese.  My mate's name is Cheyenne, and this is our daughter Snow."

    "Oh my goodness.  I wish I had known we would have royalty visiting.  I would have made some treats.  Please come in.  Would you like a cup of tea or something?" she rushed to say with her cheeks turning a deeper shade of crimson.

    Snow blew a small puff of air at the ball of fire making it instantly disappear.  After that, she stepped to the side and motioned for me to enter, then she hung her bow on a nail sticking out of the wall.  The arrow that had just been on fire, she set in the same container I seen her runaway with during our first encounter.

    As soon as I was inside, I stepped closer to Snow, then I dipped my head down to her neck and took a big whiff of her wonderful scent.  Without even thinking about it, I circled my arms around her waist and pulled her against me.  Her body posture stayed tensed up, but I didn't let that deter me from enjoying the moment.  

    I was curious to see if I could feel those sparks I had always heard about.  I trailed the tip of my nose up the side of her neck, and there was no mistaking the way my nose started tingling.  It was such a surreal moment, and it told me without a doubt that Snow was definitely my mate.

    The fact that her body relaxed within seconds of those sparks flowing made the moment even more surreal.  It also brought me a tremendous amount of joy.

Snow 

    I had hardly left the cabin since the unexpected encounter I had with that cute werecat from the Jungle Pack.  I was so nervous about seeing him again after almost piercing or burning his face with one of my flaming arrows.  

    That being said, you can imagine my surprise when I heard a knock on the door and opened it to see his stunning tri-colored orbs.  I was able to get an even better view of them when his eyes widened in surprise.  Thanks to my flaming arrow being centimeters away from his face.

    When he announced that he was the prince and thought I was his mate, I wasn't sure if I should believe him.  However, the way my body reacted to him repeating my name was something else altogether.  

    Instantly, a chill ran down my spine, but it wasn't a bad chill like the ones I would get when I came across rogues.  Instead, it made my body shiver in delight.

    I had to ask my dad if that was normal.  He proved it to me by saying my mom's name and making her shiver like I had just done.  

    After my mom invited my supposed mate into the cabin, I gently puffed air at the ball of fire and made it go away.  A second later, I moved to the side and put my bow and arrow away for the time being.  

     As soon as he stepped inside, he moved closer to me and dipped his face down to my neck.  He took a noticeable sniff of my scent, then he wrapped his arms around my body and pulled me to him.  My nostrils were filled with his delicious smelling watermelon and cocoa scent, which I found to be quite pleasant. 

    I wasn't sure how to react, so I stayed as still as I could.  A second later, he trailed the tip of his nose up the side of my neck.  I was a little stunned by the sparks that flowed from his nose to my neck.  However, I couldn't deny the fact that they made me instantly start to relax.

    It felt so strange to be in the arms of this flawlessly gorgeous werecat.  Not just any werecat.  The future King of werecats.  There was no way he could want me, a witch, to be his Queen.  

    I was pulled away from my thoughts, when he brushed his soft, full lips over my ear and whispered, "You are so beautiful.  How did I get so lucky to be mated to such a stunning creature?"

    "I don't know," I mumbled in confusion.

    He lifted his head up and gazed into my eyes with so much love swirling in his that it was literally breathtaking.  How could this Prince feel love for me after just now talking to me for the first time, I thought to myself.  

    My dad had explained mate bonds to me a few times.  I had also read about them, but it never made any sense to me.  

    Suddenly, Jazzy came running out of my bedroom.  As soon as she saw Lance's arms around me, she immediately went into life saving mode.  She must have thought he was a threat to me, because she crossed the room within seconds and sank her teeth into his leg.

    Instantly, he dropped his arms from around me, and I immediately bent down and scooped her up in my arms.  Right away, she pulled her teeth from his flesh, but the damage had already been done.  

    I felt so bad, I started gushing, "I'm so sorry, Prince Lance.  She must have thought you were trying to hurt me.  She is very protective of me."

    He was quick to reach up and cup my cheek in the palm of his hand.  He flashed me a smile and I thought I was going to melt at that moment.  A second later, he soothingly cooed, "It's okay, Snow.  I'm not mad.  I love that she is protective over you."

    I rubbed my cheek against his palm and enjoyed those mysterious sparks for a few seconds.  After that, I looked at Jazzy and calmly stated, "Jazzy, this is my mate, Prince Lance.  I'm guessing we will be seeing more of him, so you need to be nice.  He is good."

    She c****d her head at me, then out of nowhere, she jumped out of my arms and into his.  Luckily, he had good reflexes and easily caught her.  I watched a smile stretch across his handsome face, as she licked his cheek.  It was her way of apologizing for biting him.

    After she was done, Jazzy jumped out of his arms.  Since she was sure I was safe, she walked over to the couch and sat down with my parents.

    Lance looked around, then he curiously asked, "Is there somewhere we can talk in private."

    I glanced at my dad, and he nodded his head in approval.  The only place I could think of was my bedroom, so I grabbed Lance's hand and led him there.

    As soon as he closed my bedroom door, I thought better of my choice and tried to leave, but he stopped me.  The second his fingers curled around my upper arm, those damn sparks started flowing and completely distracted me.

    I looked up into his stunning eyes to see amusement in them.  He flashed me another smile, then he teasingly asked, "Are you worried about what I might try to do in here?"

    I looked down to the ground feeling a little embarrassed and nervously admitted, "Yes."

    "Please, don't be nervous around me.  I would never do anything to hurt you," he assured me.

    I glanced back up to see honesty in his eyes, and that made me feel a little better.  I walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it.  After he sat down beside me, I said his name without the prince in front to see what it sounded like rolling off my tongue.

    Instantly, his body trembled and his full lips curved up to form an ear to ear smile.  A second later, he reached over and grabbed my hand, then he curiously inquired, "Can you feel that, too?"

    I flashed him a small smile and nodded my head.  I still didn't have much courage when it came to communicating with others.

    "Tell me something, Snow.  What are you exactly?" he asked with a hint of wariness.

    "Why do you ask?" I anxiously asked in return.

    "Your dad is a werecat, but your mom is a witch.  What does that make you?  I can only smell a single scent, which is odd," he stated with a look of pure confusion on his face.

    I looked away and nervously mumbled, "They are not my biological parents.  They found me hidden in a bush when I was a few days old.  To answer your question, I am a witch."

    "Really?  My mum will be so excited," he enthusiastically remarked.

    "Your mum?  Is that the same as mom?" I curiously asked.

    He chuckled at me, and it was such a wonderful sound.  I could definitely get used to hearing it.  A second later, he politely answered, "Yes, they have the same meaning."

    "Isn't your mom the Queen?" I warily asked.

    "Yes," he replied as he suspiciously eyed me.

    "I don't think she will be happy about you being mated to a witch.  Isn't it supposed to be only werecats who can be the king and queen?" I stated in all seriousness.

    "I don't care about that.  If they won't let you be my Queen, then my brother can have the title," he replied with sincerity.

    "I can't ask you to do that for me.  You were born to be the King," I solemnly mumbled.

    Instantly, Lance scoffed before he adamantly stated, "Nonsense!  You are my mate!  You are more important to me than anything else in this world!"

    "I don't know about this," I warily replied with a frown.

    "Come back to my castle with me and meet my parents.  I'm sure they are going to love you," he suggested with a smile.

    "Are you sure they won't be mad about you bringing a witch to their territory?" I asked with trepidation in my voice.

    "I'm sure.  Now get some shoes on.  Oh and I will bring you back here whenever you want," he replied as he stood up, then he pulled me to my feet.  I was very unsure about leaving with Lance, but he made it obvious that he wouldn't take no for an answer.  

    Once my boots were on, I let my parents know what was going on.  Of course, they both insisted on giving me a hug.  After that, I grabbed my bow and quiver of arrows, then I followed Lance out of the cabin with Jazzy following right behind me.