The Elf King & His Complicated Mate (The Hybrid Series) Book 11

Chapter 1: Family

One Year Later

Mendai

I have been raising my son alone, and although it is hard, I won't let Marion down, my bosses helped out a lot and we became close. I would visit Marion privately so she can see her son although now she has no memory of him, but I don't know what will happen going forward as things heat up in Volterra. The Elders of Volterra kept requesting I return for Marion's trial but the King refused out of respect for Marion and I was okay with it. However, if things go bad, I would not let her lose her Kingdom because of our past affair, I would find a way to save it without exposing my son to such hate for female rulers. After tending to my son, I got summoned and headed over to the Palace, I wondered if something was up again because things were getting heated between both Kingdoms. I also had plans to go out tonight with those princes because they had something good planned according to them.

I headed over there with my son strapped to my chest and all he did, was shake at everyone, my neighbors and the ladies loved him. It was hard for me to love another but I had to let Marion go so we both survived this and for the first time since moving here, I slept with someone two days ago. I walked into the chamber and the guard wanted to take my son and I refused, so Joryen told them to leave us. I knew he knew who my father was but he never told me but I became good friends with the Princes. His Queen looked at me and smiled before walking over and asking, "Can I?" Waiting for me to hand him over, I gave her my son, and he settled into her arms as she went right into mama mode. It was lovely to see as she walked out to the balcony with him, I was worried but Joryen said, "Relax, she won't harm him but we need to talk."

I looked at him and he asked, "What did your mother tell you of your father?" I said, "Nothing, just that she had to flee because someone wanted her dead," he smiled saying, "Of course, she did," looking at his wife playing with my son. I said, "You knew my mother," he said, "Yes, I did, she was a feisty one, she lived here at the Palace growing up as one of the noble's daughters but things changed and she left, unknown to me, I didn't know she was pregnant." I said, "Well, I don't think you would have to know that unless there is a stupid law I don't know about," he laughed heartily before the Queen walked over with my son. She said, "He is adorable, let him stay here during the day, we have a great daycare at the Palace, at least that way, I can be close to my grandson," I looked at her saying, "Grandson!"

Joryen said, "Yes, grandson, you are my son, Mendai," I looked at him and I thought he was crazy but he was not. I started to hear his explanation, saying, "She was my betrothed and we started to get close to each other, even falling in love. However, before we could get married, I met the Queen, my fated mate, visiting a town not too far from here," he stated he was torn but eventually the bond won over, my mother fled the day of the coronation, leaving a letter that she had found her mate in Volterra." I was shocked and he said, "The mark on your lower abdomen is the mark of Royalty, not just any Royalty, the King's son, you are older by a few months than Emile but Emile will take the throne because you are illegitimate in the eyes of the Elders. They already know about you and so do your brothers," I didn't know what to say as it all sunk in.

I could have married Marion and I started to laugh in shock about everything, Joryen said, "Come, join us for breakfast," we walked out to the dining hall where my brothers looked at me and smiled. I also met one of my uncles and my cousins, it was a huge family, I didn't know I was part of, I met my maternal grandparents who had tears in their eyes. I understood now why Emile and the twins warmed up to me, they were my brothers and treated me with respect, I turned to see them smile at me. I told them about my mother who was alive and living with my stepfather and my sisters. My father said, "Maybe, she was ready to join us back in Elvira," I smiled unsure if she would, if she was the King's former lover. My son was passed around from hand to hand and he didn't care, he played with everyone and ate.

I loved seeing that he had family here when Prince Emile asked, "Who is the mother and why didn't she come with you?" I looked at everyone and the King asked the servants to leave, I said, "No one can speak of this, if not, she can be killed or banished," they looked at me attentively. I blurted out, "Queen Marion is the mother, and her son, is supposed to be dead, died in childbirth so this cannot get out," I explained our love affair without going into detail. My father said, "That's why the Elders were snooping for information on you, they expect that I would have handed over my son without a fight, they are mad." Everyone in the room promised to keep Marion's secret as they love her and felt sorry she lost her parents after they left Elvira, we came to the conclusion someone in her court betrayed her and I wasn't there to protect her but Luc was not a push over and I trust him with her life.

Days turned to months, months turned to years and before I knew it, my son was two and a half running around, I started dating a lady of the court and she loved Dai as her own but I wasn't ready to mate her although she wanted it. I became closer to my brothers, I saw my father's health was failing and no one knew what was happening to him, it made my stepmother worry. Elves live long lives and hardly get sick, so we know someone did this to the King and I felt helpless. I was learning about this side of my family and I couldn't bear to lose my father, he not once ratted me out to the Elders of Volterra, and my family was sworn to secrecy along with the Elders to keep my secret. I turned to kiss Misha as I headed out to go to work, she loved my son and that was good enough for me. I knew there was a meeting with Emile and his subjects because if we can't find a cure soon to save the King, we are preparing for Emile to take over as King.

******

Emile

I was deep in thought as the meeting went on, some things needed to be done as a precaution, they would be a state funeral and a time of mourning for the Elves and the Orcs. My father was dying and if we couldn't save him, we celebrated him, we had no idea what was going on with him, we tried everything and nothing worked. I tried to be strong for my brothers especially Jared, he was the baby of the family and my father spoiled him, however, he loved us all the same. Mendai had helped us out in every way and now since he knows the truth, I could feel his loyalty to us but we need more time with our father. I wasn't ready to be King but I will be sooner than everyone thought, however, I hope I will be able to change the rules and mate with Lamira. I was falling in love with her and was always thinking about her, she makes me feel alive and normal, and she doesn't treat me like royalty.

After the meeting, I headed down to the meadow where I usually stay to meditate, I wanted to be alone and think about everything. I lay there with my eyes closed when I felt a shadow over me, I opened my eyes to my Uncle Mathias, and he smiled and said, "We need to talk, lad." I said, "It's Your Highness, Uncle," he said, "Since when do I need to use formalities with my dear nephew?" I smiled as he sat beside me and I asked, "What do you want, Mathias?" He said, "My brother is dying, it would be best if you passed the throne onto me, I promise you and your brothers will be given respected titles and live around the Palace if you chose to do so, you would still have your inheritances and you can live a normal life with that peasant w***e you are fucking." I cut him off grabbing his throat and squeezing it, I looked him in the eyes as he squirmed trying to get my hand from around his neck.

I knew he felt my aura was stronger because my father was indeed dying, we just don't know how long he has and he just pissed me off. My father's magic was choosing me as his heir and future King, for this imbecile to become King, I would have to give up my birthright. I said, "If I do that, then it's open season on me and my brothers, you would have us killed so that you don't have rivalry for the throne, so don't sit here and pretend like you haven't been plotting to take the throne." He stopped fighting me and I let him go, he coughed, got up to walk away and I said, "One more thing; if you ever disrespect Lamira again, I will have your head and burn your body in the town square." He was angry, I didn't care because once my father was dead, he would come for me and I would be waiting.