All Chapters of Hybrid King: A Royal Affair : Chapter 41 - Chapter 47

Cassia’s POV When I woke again, the world outside my window glowed copper-red. My skin burned with heat; my back throbbed as though each lash still lived beneath it. Diane had slipped out hours ago, leaving the faint scent of herbs in the air. I pushed myself upright, every movement slow, deliberate. The room felt too small, too heavy with memory. By the time I reached the corridor, the sun was sliding down the horizon. I told myself a short walk would do no harm. The path to the lake was nearly empty. Only a handful of guards lingered at a distance, their armor dull in the fading light. The water shimmered like melted glass, ripples catching the last glints of gold. I stood where he and I once had, reminiscing on our past conversation. A cool wind rose off the lake, slipping through the thin fabric on my arms and raising a shiver I hadn’t noticed before. I turned to head back, the cold finally sinking in. That was when I heard it— a low, rolling growl that seemed to crawl out

Karl’s POV My brother never knocks. He storms in. The doors to my study opened with far more force than necessary, and I did not look up from the parchment in my hand. “You are losing your mind.” Ah. So that was the mood today. “You will need to be more specific,” I replied calmly. “Losing one’s mind is an inevitable side effect of ruling bunch of mules.” Ace paced before my desk, agitation rolling off him like heat. “Lord Aldridge witnessed it,” he snapped. “He smelled it. He practically tasted it in the air. Do you know what it means for that man to sense weakness from you?” My jaw tightened slightly. Anything about that man spoiled my mood. “What weakness?” “You have assigned palace guards to trail a human maid,” he continued. “You have issued direct orders that she is not to be harmed under any circumstances. What happens when the entire palace starts whispering about it?. And Aldridge—” He stopped pacing and leaned both palms on my desk. “Aldridge has never wanted

Karl’s POV“…and for the final agenda, I believe it is time we discuss the lady worthy to become our future Queen.”Direct. And stupid.I set down my cup. “Future Queen?” Letting the silence stretch “You’ve been busy, Sir Cardin.”Cardin smiled. Not his usual fake smile, the other one. The one that said I’ve already won this argument, boy.“With respect, Your Majesty, you gave your consent at our last gathering.”Consent. I’d waved a hand to shut them up from prolonging the future heir discussion, and now he calls it a vow?.Lukard leaned forward, all oil and sympathy. “You need not worry, sire. The lady is of wonderful character. I dare say you’d be pleased.”Aldridge was grinning. That told me something.“Which family?”“The Drecary. Lady Ann-Soril. Daughter of the late Sir Matin and Lady Faan Drecary.”Aldridge’s niece. Of course, I thought.Landon didn’t need telepathy for me to know his opinion. I saw the muscle jump in his jaw from across the table.“As you know, your grace,

Cassia’s POV "Interesting," he mused, looking over my head to his brother as I continued to feebly fight off his hands. At some point I started seeing black dots before he released me roughly. "The hedge of protection is broken indeed, brother." "Stop fooling around, Ace. Was that necessary?" He sounded bored as I struggled to get air back into my lungs. Coughing and gasping. "Of course, Karl. A human slave called you a bastard—a title reserved for only me to use on you—and her head is still intact?" He was all goofy, as if he hadn't almost ended me. On cue, the soldiers who had been guarding the doors earlier entered, going on one knee instantly and bowing. The king spoke. "The next time you use your ears for decoration at my orders, I will make sure you're relieved of them." He sounded really mad at them… for letting me, a human, in. "Yes, my king." In unison, they got up and pulled me roughly to my feet. Every bone in my body wanted to turn around and see him. This can'