Mated To The Hybrid Prince - Chapter 123: Chapter 123

(Lily's POV)
"Are you going to deny it happened?" Alora teased for the third time that morning, nudging my elbow as we walked out of the boardroom.
I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. My cheeks had been threatening to betray me with every little nudge since I arrived at the office.
"Nothing happened," I muttered, adjusting the files in my arms.
"You say that," she said with a grin, "but I saw your hands on his chest, and his strong arms here. That wasn’t any client-like.”
“Alora."
"Yes, ma’am?"
"Go do something useful."
She cackled as she skipped ahead, utterly pleased with herself.
Despite her taunts, the rest of the day passed without incident. Meetings, documents, a call from a board member... and yet, every quiet moment invited him back into my mind.
His eyes… his voice, hands… His lips.
I couldn’t stop remembering the taste of him, the weight of his presence, the look in his eyes when he demanded answers I couldn’t give.
The office hours blurred, and by mid-afternoon, I grabbed my bag and told Alora I was heading out to pick the kids.
As always, the protocol car trailed behind mine, a quiet shadow I often forgot was there. I was too lost in thought today to pay it any mind.
The moment I arrived at the school gate, Lamia and Zeus came racing toward me with wide grins and excited little hops. Zeus practically jumped into my arms.
“Mummy!” Lamia squealed, hugging my waist.
Their joy was infectious. “Did you two cause trouble today?” I asked with a raised brow.
“No,” Zeus grinned. “Today was the best day ever!”
I chuckled and ruffled his curls. “I’m glad to hear that.”
We drove home in peace, their little voices filling the car with songs from class. They seemed happy, giddy even, and I was grateful.
When we got home, Sophia met us at the door and took the kids off my hands with a warm smile. “I’ll get them settled and fed.”
“Thank you,” I sighed, blowing the duo a kiss. They caught it and smiled.
Back in my room, I sat before my desk and tried to focus on work. I needed to wrap some projects, reply to emails and read some proposals. But every time I reached for the mouse or tapped a key, flashes of Zion’s kissing me would blur my sight.
My wolf, and demon howled purred with amusement. They were doing this.. So I slammed a lid on their emotions and forced my eyes back to the screen… But soon my fingers were trembling, and my heart thumped faster… Even now, I could still feel the press of his lips against mine.
After what felt like an hour of pretending to work, I gave up and shut the laptop. Maybe dinner with the kids would help clear his thoughts out of my head.
I stepped out of the room and followed the faint sound of laughter to the dining area. The kids were seated around the table, already halfway through their meals, while Sophia poured juice into their cups.
“Hope I’m not too late to join?” I asked, sliding into the empty seat beside them.
“Mummy, sit by me!” Lamia giggled, patting the chair beside hers.
I smiled and reached for a plate. “So, tell me... What made today the best day ever?”
They exchanged a look.
Zeus went first. “We went to the headmistress’s office!”
“Oh?” I arched my brow. “What for?”
“Our daddy came!” Lamia beamed.
My hand froze mid-motion, the fork hovering above my plate.
“He brought us colouring books and pencils,” Zeus added, grinning. “They’re still in our lockers!”
“And he asked the headmistress if he could see if we had any cuts on our bodies,” Lamia said. “We told him yes. I mean, he’s our daddy!”
My throat tightened.
“So he lifted our sleeves and checked our arms,” Zeus continued innocently. “Then he smiled and left.”
I couldn’t finish my food.
I set the fork down and wiped my mouth with a napkin, trying to hide the tremble in my fingers. “That’s...” I cleared my throat. “Nice of him.”
But inside, I was unraveling.
The mark. He had gone to see it with his own eyes. He knows.
Why didn’t the protocols stop him?
When I tucked the kids into bed that night, my mind was still spinning... Lamia had fallen asleep mid-sentence in the dining hall, and I had carried both her and her sleepy brother from their chairs. Now, as I stared at their innocent faces, they looked so peaceful and unbothered.
Unlike mine.
I stood there for a long moment, watching them, before I turned on my heel and stormed downstairs.
The protocol guards stationed near the door stood upright when they saw me.
“Who was in charge of my children’s security at school today?” I demanded, my tone sharp.
They exchanged wary glances. One of them stepped forward. “That would be me, ma’am.”
“Then you failed.”
He stiffened. “Ma’am, Mr. Zion was—”
“I don’t care if it was the most reputable CEO or whatever! That man is a stranger and shouldn’t be allowed near my children without my consent.”
The air turned cold.
My voice shook with rage. “Next time, I won’t come to correct you, I’ll sack you and all your men on duty. Try me!”
The other guards nearby had gone still. No one dared breathe… Then I turned abruptly and marched back upstairs, still seething with anger.
The moment I slammed the door to my room, my legs gave out. I sank onto the bed, my chest heaving… Sleep refused to come, because every time I closed my eyes, I saw Zion’s face… His lips… The way his hand felt on my skin.
The way my name sounded in his voice… his moans, every moment we were tangled in sheets, our bodies intertwined and sweat-drenched. I tried to shove back the memories but they came back stronger.
“Argggggggh!” my scream echoed through the house in frustration.