The Hybrid Fairy King's Lost Mate

12 The Past: Breaking them up.

Kalan spent the whole day with Mystic. They stayed in the meadow, lazing around watching Mae play in the field of flowers. They didn’t bother to go back to the house to eat lunch, since their time was so precious. But Oren did bring them something to eat, much to Mae’s excitement. She was a spirited young girl who took everything in her stride. She didn’t even seem to mind Kalan infringing on her and her sister’s time. In fact, she encouraged it. She believed mates should be together all the time. And she gave them their time together by playing a little further down the meadow where they could still see her.

Kalan spent much of that time with Mystic in his arms staring up at the sky. Kalan wanted so much more of it. And when night time came, he wished he had the power to stop time so they didn’t have to part ways. He brushed his lips on her cheek, making her shiver.

“I wish this didn’t have to end,” he whispered to her as Mae ran to them.

“I know. I wish it didn’t have to end too. But I have to go and cook dinner or Gwen will be angry,” she said as she reluctantly got to her feet. Kalan followed her. He clenched his jaw, hating that his mate still had to live like she was some slave.

He needed to take her away from here. There was no need to ask Lanarrie. He claimed her as his own. But he knew bringing her home wouldn’t be easy. There were other elements to consider. He’d stopped himself from thinking about that. Even when Oren voiced his concerns without actually saying it, deep down he knew. The fairy nobles might not approve of his choice of mate. And reading about the kind of power they wielded, did not help. But he was not going to let them stop him. They chased his mother away. They won’t chase away his mate.

He won’t let them.

He took Mystic’s hand and turned her to him.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to take you away from here,” he said.

“Take her where?” Mae asked. Kalan looked down at her. He hadn’t seen her come to stand next to her sister.

“I’m going to take you both home with me,” he said, looking at Mystic. She stared at him, not saying anything. He could see the excitement in her eyes, and she was trying very hard to hold it in. “We’re mated now. You are my princess. The whole fairy kingdom should know that I found my mate. Will you come with me?” he asked.

She stared at him. “Are you sure? You and I are…”

“What I am doesn’t matter, when it comes to you and I,” Kalan said, cupping both her cheeks with his hands. “I know you’re afraid of what everyone will say. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll be there with you. I’ll protect you against anyone who stands in our way. You are mine, and I want to be with you always.”

Mae giggled, looking up at them. “Say yes,” she said giddily.

Mystic nodded. She smiled at him. Kalan kissed her. Mae jumped up and down in a circle around them. She was so excited. She could barely hold it in.

Kalan took Mystic’s hand, while she took her sister's and together they walked through the trees. He let her go when they came close to the guesthouse. Mystic ran with her sister to the main house to prepare dinner. Kalan wished she didn’t have to do it , but she was still under Lanarrie’s roof. He walked to the guesthouse. Oren was sitting on the couch as he walked into the sitting room. He looked up and stared at him.

“Are we going home,” he asked as he got to the couch. Kalan paused. “Don’t look surprised. I know you as well as I know myself.”

“Yes, we are,” Kalan said, sitting on the couch. Oren sighed and closed his eyes.

“I hope you know what you’ll be facing. It won’t be easy bringing her into the kingdom,” he said. He opened his eyes and got to his feet.

“I know,” Kalan said. He paused for a few minutes, staring at his friend. “Do I have your support?”

“I should smack you in the face for asking me that,” he said with a shake of his head.

“I’d like to see you try,” Kalan said. “I'll tell everyone in the house. I can’t just leave without letting them know.”

Oren nodded, and then walked out of the guesthouse. Around dinner time, he returned and they walked to the house. This time, Mystic and her sister were there, helping serve the food. Kalan sat down. Rage swirled inside him as he stared at his mate doing that. But he held it in. She’ll be gone from this place soon.

Once they were done serving them, they walked out of the dining room. Kalan looked around the table. He dropped his fork on the table and faced Lady Lanarrie.

“I wanted to inform you that I will be leaving tomorrow,” he said. She stared at him as if she was surprised that he was speaking to her.

“Ahh…I don’t know if that’s wise since my husband is not here,” she said, looking at Aria and Lin. Aria stared at him with her fork halfway to her mouth.

“I’m sure he will understand. And I will be taking Mystic and Mae with me. Please inform him of that.”

“What?” Aria’s fork clattered to the table. “You can’t do that, she’s…”

Oren pushed to his feet so fast the chair tumbled to the floor. The room went alarmingly silent. “Did you forget who you are talking to? Just because he gave you permission to use his name doesn’t mean that you can speak to him in any kind of way. He’s still the crown prince.”

“I apologize, your Highness. It’s just that…”

“It’s nothing. She’s my mate and I won’t allow her to live like this any longer,” Kalan said, getting to his feet, and walked out of the room. He made his way to the guesthouse. Rage thrummed through his veins. He closed his eyes, and took deep breathes.

There was no way he was leaving here without her tomorrow, he thought.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Her father’s plan was not working, just as she thought it wouldn’t. Aria paced her room. If Kalan left here with her, it would be over. She couldn’t allow that to happen. But what could she do?

She paused her pacing as a thought trickled through her mind. There was only one thing she could do. She had to break them up. She rushed out of her room to her father’s library. She walked to the desk and opened the top drawer. She gasped in relief when she found the vial still there. She thought he might have taken it with him on his trip to the valley of fairies. He couldn’t live without whatever was inside. Aria didn’t know what it was, but she knew what it did to her father. It drugged him up, and he lost his senses. Her father thought she didn’t know about it. But she’d visited him in the library one night after he’d taken it. He didn’t even know that she was there. He was so out of it. Aria stared at the vial, wondering if it would have the same effect on Kalan.

There was only one way to find out.

She hid the vial inside her robe, and rushed to the kitchen. Gwen was still there, wiping down the stove. Aria walked to the cupboard where they kept the wine.

“What are you doing?” Gwen asked, staring at her as she moved around the kitchen.

“I…I want to send some wine to the fairy prince. I want to apologize for what happened earlier. I shouldn’t have said anything,” she said, wiping her eyes. Gwen moved close to her. She reached for the bottle and opened it for her.

“I heard. It’s understandable though. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn't heard it with my own ears. She’s his mate? A fairy prince and a werewolf. Who would have thought?” she said with a shake of her head.

"His mother was a werewolf, maybe..."

"If he showed any signs of being a werewolf I would understand, but..." Gwen shook her head again.

“Right? It’s shocking.”

“It’s good that you’re trying to apologize,” she patted Aria’s arm and handed her the wine. “Let me go find the right glasses for you.” Gwen left the room. Aria placed the wine on the table and opened the vial. She poured the entire liquid inside. She heard Gwen returning. She hid the vial inside her robe again and turned towards the door.

Gwen placed everything on a tray and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” she said, walking to the door.

“Good luck,” Gwen said. “If I don’t see you come running. I’ll assume everything went well.”

She made her way to the guesthouse. Her hands shook as she got closer. But she knew she had to do this if she wanted to have him for herself. She couldn’t wait for her father.

Aria balanced the tray on her side and knocked. She waited for a few minutes before the door was opened. Oren stared at her as he stood in front of her with the door slightly closed.

“I came to apologize for my behaviour earlier. I shouldn’t have spoken the way I did,” she said, handing over the tray. Oren took it from her. She wiped her eyes. “Please tell him, I’m sorry.”

“I will,” he said, and then moved back to close the door. Aria stopped him. She sniffed, letting her tears fall.

“Please let me tell him myself, I have to beg for his forgiveness or I’ll never forgive myself,” she cried harder.

“Uhhh…alright,” Oren said, moving back. Aria walked in. Kalan was sitting on the couch. He stared at her as she walked in. She rushed to him and fell to her knees.

“Please, your Highness. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did. She’s your mate and I should respect that. Please forgive me,” she said. Strong arms pulled her up to her feet. Aria stared up at him. He was so handsome and strong. He took her breath away. Why couldn’t he belong to her? she asked herself.

“I forgive you. Please stop crying,” he said.

“I brought you some wine,” Aria said, turning to Oren. “Please have some,” she moved to take the tray from Oren. She sat on the couch and poured them each a glass. He handed Kalan one, and then Oren. “Please,” she added, with an indulgent smile. They both drank it down in one go, clearly wanting to please her.

Oren narrowed his eyes on the glass. But he said nothing. He handed her the glass.

“I suddenly feel tired,” Kalan said, and walked towards his room. Oren turned to her with a questioning look. But he blinked rapidly, before rubbing his eyes.

“I’ll wash the glasses and then leave you to rest,” she said as she walked to the side of the kitchen. Oren nodded and then sat down. Aria washed the glasses as slowly as she could. She turned and looked at Oren a few minutes later. His eyes were closed.

She moved as silently as she could towards Kalan’s room. She paused at the door for a few minutes, and then she opened it. She peeked into the room. And she could see he was lying in bed. His robe was carelessly pulled off and thrown on the floor. Ari pulled hers off too, and threw it on the floor. And walked to the bed, and got in. She snuggled close to him. Her body turned warm at the feel of his naked skin against hers. She sighed. She stared at the window.

She knew Mystic used it in the early hours of the morning to get out of the house. She saw her coming around the house as she made her way to her hovel on the other side. From what she heard last night, Aria knew she would come tonight. There was no way she could stay away from her mate.

And Aria was counting on that.