Mated To The Hybrid Prince - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

(Zion's POV)
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and for a second, I didn’t recognize the guy looking back at me. My eyes were heavy, with dark bags under them, and my hair was a mess. I was dressed for school, yet I didn’t feel like the prince I was supposed to be.
The room around me was everything one could ask for; shiny marble floors, velvet curtains, gold-framed mirrors. But none of that mattered right now, it felt like I was slowly losing my mind.
Ragnar hadn’t stopped growling and howling in my head since the confrontation with Lucien and Lily at school. He was scared that Lily would be claimed by someone else. Scared that she’d soon reject us, and worst of all because of my cousin.
When Lucien called Lily his girlfriend, my heart dropped and Ragnar lost it. He wanted to rip everything apart; Lucien, the crowd, anyone that looked like a threat. I felt the dark rage build... If I had shifted completely that day, I don’t think I would’ve come back easily.
And then Celeste happened.
She stepped in, trying to save the day and claimed she did it to protect me so I wouldn’t do something stupid. But Ragnar hated her for it, and I’m not sure I feel any different.
Although, since the day we found out Lily was our mate, Ragnar and I never agreed on a thing but right now, we seem to agree that we should have told Lily that Lucien was my cousin. We are so desperate...
Maybe if she had known that, or seen him around the palace before, she wouldn’t have accepted him. But he and his mother only came back from the human realm a few days after Lily was sent away.
I missed the way she used to look at me, like I was more than just a brother. But was I even thinking when I pushed her at Lucien at the party? I thought it would make her forget what we had.. I didn’t think they would actually date or have anything together.
I ran a hand over my face.
What if she really falls for him?
Before I could think further, Zelda’s voice interrupted the silence.
“Zion! You’re taking forever! Let’s get going!”
I growled quietly, and grabbed my backpack from the chair before storming out. The second I opened the door, Zelda was there.
“You know we’re riding together today and you still decided to take forever just to look goo...” she paused mid-sentence. "Woah, you look like a walking nightmare. You good?"
I didn’t answer, I just walked past her.
When we reached the grand foyer, I saw our parents. My Dad was kissing Mom softly on the forehead as he got ready to leave. Normally, Zelda and I would gag and tell them to get a room. But today? That little moment of love only made my chest burn.
I mumbled a greeting and headed for the car waiting outside.
The guards bowed as we passed. Some of the maids whispered and giggled when they saw me but I didn’t even look at them.
Zelda got in the car beside me, throwing her bag in first, and I leaned against the window, my chest tight.
Would I ever have what my parents have?
I used to think Celeste was perfect. But now, I couldn’t stop thinking that I had loved Lily before we knew we were mates.
Because this pain? It wasn’t just from the mate bond. It felt deeper, fresher, torturous, reckless, like I was falling apart.
I remember the mornings, how she would rush into class late, sometimes with her hair all over the place. She was so beautiful... I knew all her expressions by heart. The way she bit her lip when she was nervous, the way she lit up when she laughed.
I would steal glances at her when no one was looking, but always told myself that it was wrong. That she was my adopted sister, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop.
She made me feel tongue-tied around her, and I would go silent or cold just to hide how I felt about her.
I was scared of ruining us...
And now? I was losing her.
I closed my eyes and swallowed the hurt. I didn’t want to cry next to Zelda. As much as we bicker and argue, we love each other, and she would notice. She would worry...
I felt a gentle touch on my arm “Zion... are you okay? You’ve been awfully sad since Sienna’s party.” Zelda said.
I opened my mouth to say something when the chauffeur's voice interrupted.
“Your highnesses, we will be turning now to pick-up Lady Celeste.”
Immediately, Zelda rolled her eyes and moved away. She sighed so loud it filled the car.
That was when it hit me.
She disliked Celeste, and merely tolerated her because of me. Celeste was the reason she avoided school rides with me and begged our parents for her own ride to school.
I wasn’t about to ruin this rare morning with my sister.
“No,” I said, sitting up straighter. “We’re not picking up Celeste today. Keep driving.”
The chauffeur was stunned, and stuttered "yes, your highness."
Zelda smiled and threw a happy fist into the air.
I was in my private room thinking about how I would approach Lily, when I felt someone trying to mind-link me. It was Principal Thamior. I let him in.
"Prince Zion, see me in my office now!" his voice came rough, and Ragnar snarled at his rudeness. We never liked Principal Thamior because he was one of the elders of the royal council who tries to make my life miserable. Too bad, he is also Kade's father.
When I stepped into his office, the man was standing beside his window. He didn’t waste time. "My ears are everywhere in the school... and I’ve been getting disturbing rumors about you and your cousin fighting over a girl."
Then he turned to look at me "Goddess me' I hope it's not that outcast— that Lily girl."
How dare he?
Ragnar lifted his head instantly, my eyes turning dark and soulless. Elder Thamior flinched and took a step backward.
"You will let Lily and Lucien be," he said after regaining his voice. "Or I will tell your father. And we both know how the King would react to the disgusting idea... of his son harboring feelings for his adopted sister."
His lips curled. "Celeste is best for you. She's noble, and refined. The kind of girl that wouldn't taint the royal family's reputation. Don't do anything foolish, Your Highness." he said the last part almost mockingly. I left his office with my fists clenched.
I hated how he spoke like I was some throne-bound puppet with no right to feel. Like I existed only to please everyone else. I hated that he, and the other elders keep watching and judging my every move. They stole my childhood... I was never allowed to make mistakes or fail even as a child. All my life, they've been shaping me into their idea of a perfect king.
And now... Celeste.
Even my parents like her, but she isn’t Lily.
"We’ll wait for now,” I whispered to Ragnar. “When the tension dies down, we’ll find a way back to her and claim what’s ours.”
Ragnar let out a low, uneasy growl. He didn’t like it that we have to wait, but he agreed reluctantly.
I walked through the quiet hallway toward my private wing. I needed to think to stay away from her... but that was when I saw it.
Lucien was leaning over Lily, her back pressed to the wall, his face just inches from hers... He was going to kiss her!
I didn’t even think, Ragnar took over. My bones snapped, my skin stretched, fur tore through muscle in a flash of fury. In the blink of an eye, I was hurling Lucien and slamming him into the wall.
A feral growl echoed through the hallway...