The Dragon’s Hybrid Mate

Hello Lovely Readers,

This book may contain content that might be different like the usual paranormal vocabulary. For example

1. Dragons shifters usually have their counterparts which are known as Drakon. They have names too.

2. Dragons have one single mate for life but hard to find.

3. Hybrids in this books are children of different species.

4. Hybrids usually choose their mates and rarely have destined mates. 

5. Hybrids can only unlock a bit of their powers and have to get to their birthplace if they’re badly injured.

I hope you enjoy TDHM story.

XOXO,

Queenie

Prologue

"I want all of them dead! Kill them all!" The man snarled, pure unbridled fury seeping into every syllable. It was enough to make every man in the room visibly flinch.

"Yes, your highness.” The young warrior bowed deeply before scurrying away.

All of the people in the room were ablaze with panic and anxiety.

The man who had ordered was their King, the Alpha Dragon King. His power over them was complete, and his temper was unmatched. He reacted poorly to most situations and the loss of his mate and first-born were no exception. But he was not the only one who had lost family to these creatures – the hybrids. They were the enemy – if he wanted them dead, they would oblige without question.

He would even become honored for this command. He would be remembered for centuries. In the space of three days, He ended the terror of the hybrids especially the fire hybrids, or so everyone thought.

18 Years Later

The King was staring out the window in his office, thinking about his new wife, who was currently pregnant with their second child, his third seed.

She was sick though, and the doctors feared she wouldn't survive long enough to give birth.

"Father?” a young boy’s voice broke the silence. “Why do the peasants tell stories of Fire Hybrids? I thought they were just myths,"

The King turned his head and saw his son sitting in a chair, staring at the ceiling, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion. 

"They were real, son. But over the years, they have been turned into myth," he said with a sigh.

"Did they disappear like the myth said?” The boy asked. 

The King shook his head in response. 

“What happened to all of them?" His son asked curiously, turning toward his father.

"They were destroyed, my boy.” The King said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I ordered for all of them to be hunted down and killed. They had been killing dragons and pure breeds slowly for centuries. But when a Fire Hybrid killed your mother and sister… I knew I needed to put an end to the bloodshed." the King told his son. 

“Your sister,” the King sighed. “She was a bright one, smart beyond her years. She was only 10 years old… just after you turned 2,” his voice cracking with grief.

The son grew furious as the story of his mother and sister's deaths continued to fill his thoughts. He had heard about his mother and sister but not how they died as it was forbidden. Now he had a burning hatred for hybrids, even though he had never met or seen one.

"Are there any hybrids left?" He asked his father.

"It is impossible to be sure, but I want you to promise me something, " the King paused.

"Of course, anything at all father," he replied eagerly.

"If you ever find a Fire Hybrid, I want you to make it suffer. Torture it, destroy it. Let it feel the pain our family and kind has suffered."

Chapter 1 - The Selection

"You cannot force me to do this!" I snarl at the speaker of parliament, Duke Drun of Calister. "I’m not a child you can order. I am the King"

"Yes you are but not for long if you do not take a wife," Duke Drun retorts calmly.

"And if I don't?" I ask, knowing the answer before he speaks.

"I think you and I both know what's at stake here."

I sit back in my seat in defeat, knowing he's right but unwilling to accept it.

"Your Majesty," Duke Drun sighs. "We understand your reluctance, but you know there are many reasons you need a wife to be King. For one, it is a long standing tradition that all Kings ought to have been betrothed or married to take the Oath. And yes, you must still get married even though you were handed the throne by your birthright. I also need not remind you that as the future King of Drakonai, you will eventually need an heir and as you know, Miss Anya-"

"Lady Anya," I snarl, the Duke scoffing in return and clearing his throat.

"Lady Anya cannot take the crown on your behalf, she's not –," he paused. "Yes she is of dragon blood but It is against the law for a half royal to sit on the Drakonia throne. The heir must be of full Royal blood and especially a shifter. No exceptions."

"I know the laws!" I snap bitterly. Anya was not of full royal blood as her mother wasn't a shifter. "There's no need to remind me about them."

"Well, it seems you forget them quite frequently, sire," the duke mutters under his breath.

"Nevertheless, a wife, a Queen, is necessary for you to officially take your throne." "I have no interest in courting anyone, much less a pompous duchess," I reply curtly, the duke sighing with annoyance. 

"Well, luckily for you, there is no need for you to court anyone," he retorts. "King Rark, May his enjoy his afterlife in Elysia,” he looks up as a sign of tribute to the late king. 

“Your father made arrangements that I believe you will find quite agreeable."

I raise an eyebrow at this and look over to my father’s picture "And what exactly would that be Duke?" I ask, never taking my eyes off the wall.

"Your father before his death proposed Drakon Electia," he sighs. "The Selection Game. He suggested it if six months should pass after his death and you haven't chosen a bride or gotten married by then.” He paused as he looked to where my eyes were fixated on.

“We haven't had to use the Games for over five generations of Kings but we find ourselves in a…unique position with you as King. We have arranged for ten highly eligible noble women to come stay here at the palace for a chance to win your hand in matrimony and become our noble Queen. The remaining nine women will join your noble team and get married to your warriors, thus allowing you to make strategic alliances and strengthen the weakened state of our foreign affairs caused by your usurpation," he replies calmly.

"What!?" I snarl, rising to my feet once more.

"Here are the ten women to be evaluated," the duke replies without batting an eye as he hands me a file I have to fight the urge to not slap him with. 

"They were cach carefully selected by our members of parliament. You will note that five are from our own kingdom; the daughters of some of the High Lords and nobles whom you managed to offend during your first six months on the throne. They are included to appease the High Lords as their favorability is most important for our domestic affairs. Like the saying goes ‘A happy lord is a good lord’ and its paramount to have them in your alliance except you have single-handedly managed to annoy all of them," the Duke smiles sarcastically. 

"Do you see now why the council speak of how important your manners should be? You must treat your nobles with respect or bear the consequences. The nobility offer money, strong healthy men to fight in case of war, goods to trade. Are you understanding now, your Majesty?"

I know he’s correct but I glare at him in silence as he continues.

"Anyways, you are not expected to choose any of the nobleman's daughters to be our Queen. As I said before, they are merely an appeasement gift. We have given them all the illusion that they will have a fair chance to be our Queen, but of course, that is not how the selection process will go," the Duke explains. 

"The remaining five women are the true contenders for the crown. They are all from the neighboring Dragon Kingdoms who have shown interest in continuing your reign after the death of your father.” 

He says a word of tribute before continuing. “I would suggest you study up on your potential brides. They're already on their way as I speak.”

I stare down at the files containing all the information I will ever need about the five women, but I cannot stand to be suffocated in my office, in my home any longer and make a move towards the door.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?" the Duke calls after me.

"To get some bloody air!" I snap, slamming the door behind me.

I run through the palace corridors, ignoring the many bows and curtseys aimed at me. I find my way to the flying platform and before I know it, I'm ten thousand feet in the air, feeling the wind pound against my scales as I cut through the sky.

Why can't I ever find peace? I think to myself as I glide over the sea. I fly until my lungs burn, the pain reminding me that I am still alive, even if it feels as though I'm slowly drowning in a sea of never ending problems. 

Eventually, I search for a place to land do I realize that I've gotten to the Glide – a  mystical fog that transports you to any destination your mind wishes to go in the Earth realm, dividing it from the realm of Drakonai, hidden deep within the woods.

Letting out a sigh, I change back to my human form, dress, and step into the fog. It carries me to a pub I know quite well. Before walking inside, I purchased the nearest penthouse knowing that my beta would track me down soon. But I'm not ready to be found by the Council.

Not yet.

Layla POV

Three days later

Someone shoved me so hard that if I were wearing heels I would be flat on my face. Regaining my balance I head over to the bar. My feet ached. After so many nights of running and looking over my shoulders, I was tired.

Masking my scent, I decided to have a bit of fun tonight, hoping they don't come looking for me, at least till the night’s over.

"Can I help you, princess? "

I heard a voice ask and I turned. He looked at me directly. His golden eyes stood out in the darkness. bringing myself back from my thoughts, I say the first thing that came to mind. 

" Hey. "

I say with a beaming smile. He then sits up straight and sniffs the air, his eyes locked on me. I looked straight at him trying to figure if he was a supernatural or a hunter but could not tell as my wolf was still dormant and my wolf senses were limited due to my masked sce