Mated To The Hybrid Prince - Chapter 77: Chapter 77

(Lily’s POV)
It was Celeste's father?
I hadn’t slept a wink. Not even for a second. Dawn broke slowly through my curtains, casting pale gold light across the room, but I couldn’t feel its warmth.
The meeting of the previous day kept replaying in my mind. My stomach churned, and goosebumps washed over me as I stared through the window.
But all I could see were those shoes.
Those old brown leather shoes.
A soft knock came at the door, and Aunt Lamia stepped in.
"You couldn't sleep?" she asked, her eyes scanning my pale face.
I shook my head in response. She sighed and walked closer, her footsteps slow. “You’re shaking, Lily,” she whispered, now pulling me to the bed. Then she touched my forehead.
Suddenly a golden flicker of light burst between us, glowing through the dim room.
Aunt Lamia froze.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she blinked hard at me as if seeing me for the first time. Her hand trembled slightly as she pulled it away.
“Lily...” she said, her voice barely a breath. “You’re with child.”
I blinked, confused. “What?”
“You’re pregnant,” she said again, more firmly now even though her tone still trembled with disbelief.
The room tilted. I pressed a hand over my mouth. “No… I—I didn’t even… Are you sure?”
“I am. The light doesn’t lie.”
I sat frozen for a long moment. Then the tears came.
“I didn’t plan for this,” I whispered. “I’m very scared, Aunt Lamia.”
She pulled me into a hug and held me tightly, rubbing my back like she used to when I had nightmares.
“I know, baby. I know.” Her voice cracked and I could feel her heart breaking with mine.
After a while, I finally found the words. I couldn’t keep it in anymore.
“I saw him,” I muttered. “It's Celeste’s father. It was him. He was the man who injected me the night I first shifted.”
She pulled back, stunned. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yes. It was the same shoes. The same build... I remember now.”
She closed her eyes. “I always suspected. But I wasn't sure.”
“Aunt Lamia, what do you know?”
She gave me a brief, sad smile. “Many things, Lily. There are so many things I'd kept from you to keep you safe.”
“Like what?”
“Like why I gave you the bracelet.”
I looked down at it on my wrist, stunned.
“It’s laced with protection charms,” she said. “It was meant to hide you from certain people. From him.”
“It didn’t work,” I whispered.
“It worked,” she said softly. “Even though he’s seen you now, it still changes nothing. Time will reveal how strong its magic is.”
There was a long pause before she stood. “We have to go.”
“Go where?”
“Out of this realm. Somewhere they can’t find us.”
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “It’s no longer just about you. It’s about the twins.”
“Twins?” My eyes widened.
“Yes, Lily. We can’t stay here any longer. Not with them growing inside you.”
I nodded slowly, wiping the tears from my face. “Then we have to tell my friends.”
They had spent the night and were in the sitting room when we entered.
"Were you able to rest well?" Aria asked immediately she saw us. She had figured that I had needed my space and that was why she didn't stay with me in the room.
"No. But there's something I need to tell you, guys." I muttered, exchanging glances with Aunt Lamia before staring intensely at Tobe, Dev and Aria.
We sat on the couches, and with sweaty palms I told them about Celeste's father and Aunt Lamia findings. "...I'll need to leave this realm for the safety of my unborn babies." I whispered, crying now.
I was a wreck- a tumble of emotions. My mate had gotten another woman pregnant and I was pregnant for him.
My friends looked at me sadly. Tobe spoke first. “We’ll leave with you, after all we came here because of you.”
Dev nodded “Wherever you go, we go,”
Aria nodded before squealing "Oh goddess, I'm now an aunt!" she said and we all smiled.
We started planning, not aware that doom was looming nearby.
The next morning, a royal guard arrived with a sealed scroll.
Aunt Lamia read it and cursed “It's another summon from the King,” she said. “..He knows that we are planning to leave the realm."
My eyes widened like saucers "How?" I asked, but even Aunt Lamia couldn't answer.
The next day, we stood in the King’s private chamber. The Queen, Zelda were also there. Zion was the only one absent.
King Eros thundered at Aunt Lamia "What is this that I hear about you both leaving the realm?"
He asked but none of us could speak.
The king wasn't done "...I expected better from you, and since you're under my jurisdiction, I'm forced to do this..." he bellowed, raising his staff of authority and declared "I, King Eros of the hybrids and Supernaturals hereby ban you from leaving this realm without my permission.”
"Nooooo," Aunt Lamia gasped, clutching her throat as she dropped to her knees. "What have you done to me? We are family, friends," she cried sorrowfully.
I stared confused as to what was going on. The Queen as if to clear my confusion whispered "She's bound under the king's authority, and failure to adhere will result to her magic fighting her."
“You both will remain in the palace until all of these dies down!” The king said with a tone of finality.
Immediately, the royals stood from their seats and left us in the room.
I crouched to the floor, pacifying a crying Aunt Lamia as the guards came and ushered us to a secluded room in the palace.
Aunt Lamia trembled all the way. When the guards left the room, she collapsed onto a couch “I’ll never forgive him,” she whispered. “Not after everything I'd sacrificed for the kingdom... and he could do this to me.”
“What do we do now?” I asked.
She looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. “We would disobey the king's orders” she whispered.
“But —”
“I don’t care,” she hissed. “If I have to die rebelling against the hybrid's King authority to take you away, I will... It's the only way you and our little ones will be safe."