The Accidental Hybrid and The Betrothed

Off the East Coast of the Americas is a cluster of islands. No human is aware of its existence since the creatures there have cloaked it from prying eyes. Gabriel Island residents are unique, boasting a direct lineage to the ancient Celtic Faerie line. One hundred years ago, the island was founded when an old group dubbed "Elders" migrated to the island after being exiled from the Celtic Faerie Realm for their treasonous acts. The Elders wanted to rule among all five factions-vampire, werewolf, faeries, witches, and humans. The tales humans wove about faeries were used to the Elders' advantage. With the Elders' influence, a small number of Celtic Faeries strayed from their predestined purpose, falling to the temptations of libations and passionate activities. Enraged by the Elders' disobedience, The Earth Goddess Danu ordered their exile from the Celtic Faerie Realm. The Elders begged for her mercy, but she turned her back, refusing any leniency. Knowing that the Elders would return, she visited the young queen of the Celtic Faerie Realm. Danu entrusted Queen Esther with a prophecy that would bring about the end of the Elders. Years from now, a hybrid would arrive alone and pregnant and would be the savior that brought war on the Elders. The girl would have ties to three factions-werewolf, witch, and vampire. Royal Blood will run through her veins, and she will unite all three of her factions.

The Elders were angered by Danu's punishment, so they sought out a powerful witch. They found one in the Americas who wanted to bring the destruction of the faerie species. The two parties agreed that the witch would exterminate every faerie except for the Elders. The witch would get her revenge on her sister, who outcasted her. The witch-Cleo conjured a spell that would search for royal blood among the kidnapped Gabriel Island residents. A child would be conceived soon after the lost spell had taken effect, and the child would rise to be the greatest king among all faeries- or so Cleo told the Elders. Cleo performed a spell on kidnapped pups, locking away or destroying them with magic. In the wolf's stead, she granted fake faerie magic to the young ones. With stolen pups and human babies, the Elders ran to an abandoned island to raise the children. All went well, except for one certain pup: Selene. Selene Monarch is special-she was imbued with a gift when she was in her crib. Cleo could never figure out what the gift was, but she always watched that pup. The "faerie magic" pouring out of Selene wasn't Cleo's, but she didn't know whose it was. Selene grew up under the watchful eyes of a reformed elder, Nathaniel. The summer she turned 21- she stumbled upon an old temple where the Elders' kept a special gem...

Selene feels the ancient temple call to her, drawing her in by an invisible string. Something about the temple looked tempting, too tempting to ignore. Selene precariously steps on an old stone stair and nearly tumbles from the moss overgrowing on the step. Losing her patience, she releases her iridescent wings and flies up to the temple door. Nathaniel would have her head if he found out she was using her wings. Unlike her fellow faeries, Selene's magic was temperamental. Her wings would often stop working mid-flight, and she would crash down to the floor below. Nathaniel forbade her from flying after her third accident. He told her she couldn't have wings, that she had been born different. Selene found his words odd. Then how did she see them sticking out of her shoulder blades? . She had just celebrated her 21st birthday-she was hardly a child!

Selene pushes open a heavy stone door, and with a loud creak, the door gives away. Selene gasps at the enormous hall with a throne at the back of the room. In the middle of a floor stands a glowing purple stone. Selene is drawn to it, walking toward it entranced by its beauty. The rock begins to glow brighter with each step Selene takes.

A large hand on her arm frightens her, and she whirls around to be greeted by the guilty face of her best friend, Morgan. "Sorry, Selene! I saw you go in here and wanted to make sure you didn't fall or anything."

Selene fake scoffs. "I'm not accident-prone, Morgan!"

Morgan throws his head back to laugh. "Is that so? Then how come you fall mid-flight, Selene? Did your wings fully evolve?"

Morgan and Selene had been inseparable since they were babies. Morgan and Selene bonded, at first sight, drawn to each other by some unknown similarity. He had found his mate when he was 18, a human that studied at a local university. Morgan was thrown by this development since faeries did not have predestined mates. However, Selene encouraged him to chase it, and now Morgan and his mate live in a house on the island.

"Not to mention, how many artifacts, statues, or food trays you have broken over the last 20 years," Morgan adds to Selene's list of clumsy episodes.

Selene holds up a hand. "Point taken! Now can we go look at the glowing rock?"

Morgan holds his arm out. "After you."

Selene inches closer to the unworldly stone, getting lost in the swirl of colors that flashed under its hard skin. She reaches out, the desire to touch it overwhelming her. Suddenly Selene feels a strange warm presence wash over her. "Morgan!" she screams, flailing her body. "Help!"

Morgan is frozen in shock. "Selene, your glowing purple."

Morgan gulps his unease and grabs Selene's hand. "Let's get out of here!" The minute he touches her, dots of light erupt from his body- his aura becoming a brilliant purple. Morgan screams from the searing pain the light is causing. What had they stumbled into?

Morgan lurches away. "What is it? What did you do?!"

Before Selene can answer, a large commotion comes from the side, and the rulers of Gabriel Island float in. We found you! Your Majesties, we have been waiting for your arrival for millennia." "We haven't had royals on Gabriel Island, Elder Harry." Morgan furrows his brow.

Elder Harry waves a dismissive hand. " Danu foretold of your rise. You are the prophecy, my boy! Now come, my king, we have much to discuss."

Elder Harry roughly grabs Morgan's arm. The foretold king looks back at his silent friend, motioning for her to follow.

"Don't worry about Selene." The group jogs out of the temple, leaving the young female behind.

Selene looks at the colorful murals throughout the church, looking for the prophecy in the images. Why were they calling Morgan a king and her a queen? Did the stone curse them with some ancient magic?

Selene takes a whiff of the musty fragrance permeating through the ancient cathedral. Picking up her bag, she begins flying out of the temple, but a rough hand stops her.

"What you are doing out here, girl?" The gruff voice of Nathaniel grunts."I told ye to stay away from this place!"

"Oh! Nathaniel! Umm, I was just exploring" Selene innocently smiles.

Nathaniel sighs. "Answer me: What are you doing here, and why are you using your magic when I forbade it?"

Nathaniel's aura is angry, and Selene starts to panic. The words spill out of her mouth in a jumbled mess. "Nathaniel, I was drawn here by that. I touched it, Morgan tried to pull me out, and then he began to glow purple. He also said I did as well. Then, the Elders burst in her and called us king and queen."

Nathaniel's eyes widen. Selene thinks she sees fear reflected in them for a moment, but it is quickly replaced by his usual aloofness. "Don't waste my time on yer nonsense stories, girl. What did I tell ye about using too much faerie magic? Were you and Morgan puffing again?"

Selene tries to hide a laugh at the use of the word. "No, Nathaniel! That was one time! Also, no one says puffing anymore-it's riding the glowing rainbow or magic courage---"

Nathaniel cuts her off. "Get out of here! I will meet ye at home!" Nathaniel waits until Selene is out of the building before he yells into the empty chamber. Goddess above it was happening! He knew that Selene was special the minute he met her. It was a matter of time before the others claimed she was the queen from the made-up prophecy. Nathaniel forbade her to use magic and kept her busy with house chores. He raised her as his own, hoping the day would never come. But he couldn't stop Selene's urge to explore. He rubs his neck and looks at the stone. His head drifts toward the ceiling. "If you are listening, we could really use some help about now. She is just a kid." Silence answers him. Giving up, he walks out the door and releases his wings. He had to come up with a plan to protect Selene. If the elders or Cleo found out she had witch magic, she would be locked away for sure.