Hybrid's Secret: Protecting the Crowned Enemy

Chapter 9

Hybrid's Secret: Protecting the Crowned Enemy

The tension was cold as the three of them stood locked in a standoff. Jane's eyes glowed an icy blue as she began chanting a spell, her voice low but commanding. A magical ripple spread through the room, slamming the doors shut and trapping everyone inside.

"Stay back," Jane hissed to Cater, forming a glowing orb of energy between her hands. She hurled it at his aunt, the energy crackling like lightning.

Cater's aunt didn't flinch. With a flick of her hand, she swatted the orb aside as if it were a mere nuisance. The glowing ball ricocheted off the wall, hurtling back toward Jane. Before it could strike, Cater leapt forward, his sword flashing as he deflected the energy away.

"How dare you two think you can challenge a god?" the aunt sneered, her voice echoing with a dark power. "Do you even comprehend what I could do to you in a single second?"

Cater stepped forward, his fangs extending and his eyes turning as black as night. "If you're a god, then you've forgotten one thing—I'm a god too. And I'll make sure you never set foot in the human world again."

His aunt's face twisted with fury. In a blur, she lunged at him, gripping him by the neck and slamming him into the wall. The force of the impact left a crack in the stone. Cater gasped for air, clawing at her iron grip.

"I've been alive for over two thousand years," she spat, tightening her hold. "Do you think a child like you can stop me?"

Summoning his strength, Cater pried her hands off his throat and twisted free, landing behind her. He swung his sword, aiming for her back, but she vanished into thin air before the blade could connect.

Jane, who had been chanting furiously, managed to cast a locking spell. Chains of light erupted from the ground, wrapping around Cater's aunt as she reappeared. But the victory was short-lived.

"You foolish witch," the aunt snarled, her voice dripping with malice. "Did you really think such a spell would hold me?"

With a guttural growl, she transformed into a monstrous beast, her body elongating and warping. Her sharp claws gleamed under the dim light, and her red eyes burned with rage. The chains snapped as if they were paper, falling uselessly to the ground.

She lunged at Jane, but Cater intercepted her, striking her mid-air with his sword and sending her crashing into the wall. "Jane, get out of here!" Cater barked, positioning himself protectively in front of her.

"No!" Jane yelled back. "I'm not leaving you!"

Cater turned, his expression fierce. "If you stay, she'll kill you. Trust me. Leave—now."

Jane hesitated, her gaze lingering on Cater's determined face, before reluctantly nodding. She ran toward the exit, using a spell to break the seal on the doors.

As soon as Jane was gone, Cater focused all his attention on his aunt, who had reverted to her humanoid form. She smirked, wiping a trail of black ichor from her lip.

"You're a disgrace to the demon realm," she said coldly, as cater gripping his sword tightly. "You betrayed our family and your father's legacy. How could you stoop so low?"

"You're pathetic," she shot back, her voice dripping with venom. "Do you really think you can stop me just because you're a hybrid? You're a mistake—a blight on our bloodline!"

Fueled by anger, Cater moved at inhuman speed, dodging her claws and slamming her into the ground. His aunt roared, her body convulsing as flames began to ignite around her.

"My father might be the Dark Lord," Cater said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "But I'll make sure you never harm the man I care about."

Flames erupted along the blade of his sword as Cater struck her again, sending her crashing through the wall and into the main ballroom where the party was being held. Screams filled the air as the guests saw her monstrous form.

Cater quickly shifted back into his human guise and slipped into the room, blending with the terrified crowd.

"That's a demon!" he yelled. "She's been pretending to be Princess Ava all this time!"

The king rose from his throne, fury blazing in his eyes. "Guards! Seize her!"

But Cater's aunt merely laughed, standing amidst the chaos. "You should count yourselves lucky tonight," she said, her voice echoing through the hall. "This isn't over. The next time we meet, you won't be so fortunate."

With a final sneer, she vanished in a swirl of black smoke, leaving the room in stunned silence.

King Arthur stood frozen, his face a mask of rage. "Find my son!" he barked at the guards. "Make sure he's unharmed!"

Hours Later

Alric groaned as he stirred awake, his body aching. He blinked a few times, his vision clearing to see Cater sitting by his bedside.

"Cater!" Alric exclaimed, startled. "You scared me. What are you doing here?"

Cater gave a small smile, leaning forward. "Are you alright, Your Highness?"

"I think so," Alric said, sitting up and glancing around. "What happened? Did the wedding go as planned?"

Cater hesitated for a moment before replying. "Your prayers were answered. It turns out Princess Ava wasn't really who she claimed to be."

"What do you mean?" Alric asked, confusion clouding his face.

Cater took a deep breath. "She was a demon, Your Highness. The real Princess Ava is… gone."

Alric stared at him in shock, the weight of the revelation sinking in. "I don't believe it," he whispered, though Cater's expression told him it was the truth.

The prince stood, walking to the window and gazing out into the night. After a long pause, he asked, "Do you think my father will try to find another wife for me to marry?"

Cater joined him by the window, standing close but keeping his tone light. "If you ask me, Your Highness, I'd say don't get your hopes up. Maybe the right person for you is already closer than you think."

Alric turned to look at him, his expression unreadable, but Cater didn't say anything more. For now, they both allowed the silence to speak what neither of them could.