His Feisty Hybrid Princess

Belle flashed the guards with a polite smile with a subtle bow of her head as she entered the grand hall. Her electric blue hair danced down her back as she sashayed her hips, strolling in with an appearance of much more confidence than she was currently feeling.

Her mother turned her head away from their guests to greet Belle with a welcoming smile, holding out her arm to embrace Belle as she took her place beside her mother. A young man, who couldn't be much older than Belle wandered around the conference table and pulled out Belle's chair as a gentlemanly gesture.

Belle took a moment to take in his appearance, noticing every feature from his icy blue eyes, his chiselled cheekbones, the dimple on his chin, his wavy white hair which fell past his shoulders. He wore half of his hair in loose bun at the back of his head, in a sort of half up half down feature with a few loose waves dangling in front of his face.

He was certainly the most beautiful man she had ever seen, perhaps in another life he was the first born of the Gods, Adonis and Aphrodite. He had both the devil and an angel written all over him, tempting her to be a sinner and a saint.

Belle curtly nodded her head as she took a seat. "Thank you." The trail of his green full-dress uniform followed him as he strode to his seat. Belle remembered the royal colour of Avalon was Emerald and she wasn't shy of admitting his realms colours suited him.

He took a seat beside his father, King Eryek, who was engaging in polite conversation with Belle's mother, Queen Serena. Belle wasn't too sure why her presence had been requested at this meeting, she barely had any free time due to her upcoming coronation.

Being both the Queen of the werewolf world and the Midsummer realm had become too much for Belle's mother, who was needed more at Amaris with her husband, the Alpha King and Belle's father, meaning she was unable to provide Midsummer the attention they deserved.

With her eldest brother, Arlen, involved in other affairs and her youngest brother, Cobi, set to take over from their father when he decided to step down, Belle had always dreamed of the day she would be named the Queen of Midsummer. She loved the people with her whole heart and knew since her parents first brought her to the castle that this was where she felt most at home.

Being a hybrid, and a royal one at that, gave Belle an advantage as she was much stronger than your average wolf or faerie. However, she wasn't ignorant to the fact that faeries from other realms only believed in 'pure bloods' ruling.

Which is why Belle was presuming she had been called to this meeting. King Eryek and his son, Prince Layke, were 'pure bloods' and having their support would make Belle's life as Queen much less complex. Initially, Belle had worried about becoming Queen, especially if she had taken a werewolf mate. But she had already taken care of this with the help of their family friend, Gladdis.

Gladdis was the high priestess of the most powerful coven across all the different realms and both herself and daughter, Maddie, were close friends of her family. Belle refused to allow anything to hold her back from reaching her full potential as Queen and this also meant being able to put the people of Midsummer first. If she took a werewolf mate, the people of Midsummer would never feel truly cared for.

Besides, over the years Belle had come to learn that many take advantage of her status, never truly caring about her for her but to gain status themselves. She'd experienced enough of that for a lifetime and had no interest in history repeating itself.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness. Thank you for welcoming us into your lovely home." King Eryek smiled. He was a kind looking man, features very similar to his son, but there was a glowing warmth around him which Prince Layke didn't have.

Queen Serena grinned. "Thank you both for joining us. Belle, Prince Layke, I'm sure you're both wondering why your attendance was requested today?"

Prince Layke chuckled as he nodded his head. "My father has been rather tight lipped."

Queen Serena nodded in understanding. "I'm sure you have both heard the rumours with regards to the Gylandies making their way through the realm. They hold different beliefs to how the realms should be ran and are slowly wiping out each of the monarchies in order to get what they want."

The Gylandies were the faerie version of rogues. Each fallen as an outcast to their coven, banished from their realm. Usually, a faerie gets banished for practising dark magic and not drawing power from the earth, but instead drawing their power from scenes where mass destruction has occurred. Using the blood and death of other faeries to provide yourself strength was the biggest crime a faerie could commit and most often, what caused fellow coveners to be ex-communicated.

Over the years, the exiled faeries have been gathering and forming their own coven called the 'Gylandies'. They have their own versions of what they believe the rules governing faeries should be and have been threatening to overthrow all the monarchies until they have the ultimate power.

Another important point is that each realm is only as strong as its leader. Whilst faeries draw their power from the earth, the skill and strength of the Monarch is what fuels the strength of kingdom. With Queen Serena being Queen of two different species, the Midsummer realm was the strongest of the four. Due to Belle being a direct descant from Queen Serena and still royalty in the werewolf world in her own right, this will remain the same when Belle takes the crown.

Avalon is the second strongest realm as both King Eryek and his wife, Queen Lissa, are pure bloods. With Queen Serena and her three children being an exception, there are no stronger faeries than pure bloods. The Queens of the Moonbeam and Willowisp Realms were both half-bloods, and although both King's were pure-bloods, they weren't as strong as Midsummer and Avalon and were much easier to take out.

"Willowisp was taken over a few days ago. The Gylandies caught them by surprise and with their abilities being diluted, they were easier to overthrow." King Eryek explained. "We believe Moonbeam will be next."

"Then they'll head to us.." Belle pondered aloud.

"Even if they do, we're much stronger than them. They would struggle to overthrow us." Prince Layke shrugged, not quite grasping the concerned look on his father's face.

"That would have been true if they hadn't killed so many of the Willowisp faeries, but now they have more dark energy to channel from. If they take over Moonbeam, there's no guarantee we can still challenge them and win on our own." King Eryek sighed to his son, a deflated look written across his face.

"So why aren't Moonbeam here? Should we not regroup with them and strategize?" Belle questioned, confused as to why the next target wasn't involved in the conversation.

Queen Serena sighed, pressing her lips gently together. "They weren't interested in working with us. They don't agree with the whole 'hybrid' thing, remember?" she scoffed.

Belle creased her forehead, momentarily too stunned to speak. "They would rather more than likely die.. than work with us?" Her mother shrugged in response. "Well they're idiots." Belle muttered.

"Look, here's the situation." King Eryek began. "We're the only pure-blood monarch, and whilst most of Midsummer's faeries are pure-bloods, Midsummer is still the strongest realm due to Queen Serena's and Princess Belle's hybrid nature."

The King was met with three nods of understanding. "Together, we could end the Gylandies before they try to take over Avalon or Midsummer. Midsummer may, and that's a big may, have a chance on their own, but we certainly won't. Not if they overrule Moonbeam."

"What do you suggest? How can we work together?" Belle asked, prepared to protect her people and join forces.

"You need to get married." The Queen bluntly blurted out.

"What!" Both Belle and Prince Layke exclaimed in unison, abruptly rising from their seats.

"Belle, please sit down." Queen Serena sighed, not in the least bit surprised by her daughter's outburst. "I wouldn't decide upon this if it wasn't for the good of the kingdom." She reminded her daughter.

"Father, this is madness. This surely this isn't the only way." Prince Layke shook his head in dismay. "She isn't even my mate! I don't think.."

King Layke raised his brows as he folded his arms across his chest. "Since when were you planning on searching for your mate, Layke?" His father challenged.

Prince Layke frowned. "That's beside the point." Prince Layke had decided a while ago that he wouldn't be searching for his mate. Mates complicate matters and make it difficult to prioritise. He needed a clear head in order to put the good of his people first, he couldn't be distracted by wanting to be around a woman every second of the day.

"I don't think this is particularly necessary, mother." Belle thought aloud. "We don't need to be married to support each other when the time comes. All Prince Layke needs to do is summon us when the time comes and we will be at his aid in readiness."

"This isn't about being at their aid, Belle. The realms are only as strong as their leaders. Our strength could help Avalon advance further than they ever have before." Queen Serena reasoned. "And we need the support of as many pure-bloods as possible. If Avalon are over thrown, there wouldn't be many pure-bloods willing to support us outside of this realm."

Belle rubbed her temples as she tried to compute her mother's reasonings. She understood where her mother was coming from, forging the two realms and bonding them by marriage with a hybrid Queen and a pure-blood King would make the two realms together the strongest in the history of faeries. But marriage seemed so drastic. All of this to stop some power hungry Gylandies?

Belle never saw herself married, much less married to someone she had no interest in. Well, he was easy on the eye sure.. but beyond that, no interest whatsoever. "So if I don't marry Prince Charming here, what happens?" Belle questioned.

"Neither of you will success to the throne." King Eryek bluntly answered.

Belle shook her head in disbelief, letting out an irritated chuckle whilst doing so. "I need some air." She stated, before leaving the room and heading out into the castle gardens.

Layke huffed, twisting his lips in thought. "Me too." He announced, before striding out closely behind Belle.

"Well.." the Queen started. "That went well."

Layke stood on the patio, overlooking the realm of Midsummer as the castle rested on the highest point of the mountains. He couldn't believe the ultimatum he was faced with. He had spent his entire life training for this, studying and dedicating every second of his childhood to learning how he could be the best possible leader he could be. The one thing that he said he didn't want, simply due to the distractions it brought, was a wife. Yet, just as it's the time for him to take the reigns, that's the one matter standing in his way. He just couldn't believe the irony.

Layke swirled his fingers, watching how the earth answered his call and flower stems began to bloom under his control as he was deep in thought. It wasn't that Princess Belle wasn't beautiful. She most certainly was. In fact, Layke was adamant he'd never met a more mesmerising woman in his life.

Her electric blue hair fell in waves down her back and her deep blue eyes looked deep into his soul, capturing his undivided attention. When she fluttered her long, thick lashes he felt himself melt into a puddle right there and when she pouted her full lips and swayed her voluptuous hips, Layke couldn't control all of the forbidden thoughts from entering his mind.

Laykle was certain that if you looked up the word sexy in the dictionary, a photo of Belle would be right there in the description. But that was the problem, she was the exact type of distraction he vowed he didn't want. Besides from that, Belle was royal in her own right. When Layke did eventually decide to take a mate, he assumed he would find a wife who allowed him to take the lead. With Belle.. it was sure to be a battle of dominance. Not that it mattered whether she was his mate or not, faeries couldn't tell until they were 21.

Then.. an idea suddenly popped into Layke's head. An idea that he was certain was the perfect solution. He rushed to his feet as he scanned the grounds, searching for Belle. A second later, he found her leaning over the balcony watching the same view as him.

He dashed towards her, startling her with his sudden appearance. "Layke, what are you doing?" Belle sighed, she thought she had made it clear she needed a moment alone to think and accept her new fate.

"I've had an idea." He assured her. Belle quirked her brow as she waited to hear what was so important the Prince of Avalon had to rush up here. "My birthday is in 3 months!"

"Uh.. happy early birthday?" Belle somewhat questioned with a confused expression. Prince Layke rolled his eyes and sighed. "Right, wolves can get their mates from 18. Well faeries can't find their mates until they reach the age of 21. I'll be 21 in just a few months, where I'll be able to find my mate." He explained.

"Didn't your father just say you didn't want to find your mate?" Belle asked, her brows furrowed as she looked up at the 6 foot 6 man in front of her.

"I don't but here's what I am thinking. We clearly haven't got any choice in the matter of whether we get married, but it's not our fault if I 'meet my mate' on my birthday." He explained, emphasising on the latter. "On my birthday, I'll pretend to have found my mate and demand that she be the rightful Queen to Avalon. Our parents will have no choice but to let us go separate ways. In the meantime, we figure out who is leading the Gylandies and try to take them down beforehand."

Belle pondered for a moment, tilting her head as she looked up at the prince, her gaze piercing directly into his. "So let me get this straight.. you would rather pretend to find your mate, who instead would just be a random girl, just so you don't have to stay married to me?"

Layke groaned, shaking his head in disagreement. "That's not what I am saying, Belle. But the reality is we both need partners who are going to let us do our jobs and not interfere with how we run things. I don't want my mate getting involved in matters revolving around how I make decisions about Avalon. Having mates like each other would only encourage us to clash when it comes to making the big decisions."

Belle thought for a moment. Layke had a point, plus this way she could leave in a few months and take Midsummer back with her, like all of this never happened. Layke and her could go separate ways and she could finally claim her heritage as the leader of Midsummer.

"He's not the worst person to marry.." Nia, Belle's wolf, purred as she admired his body.

"Let's do it." Belle agreed.

"We'll do it." Belle announced as she and her now fiancé returned to their parents. Queen Serena let out a sigh of relief, not because she was concerned about whether her daughter would come through for the sake of the kingdom, but because she had expected more of a fight from her usually fiery daughter. Belle always came through in the end and did the right thing, but she was typically more head-strong about certain matters.

King Eryek clapped his hands together in joy as he raised from his seat. "Marvelous!" He concluded. "Come sit down and we'll work through the details." He motioned his hand back towards the chairs the prince and princess had been sat in a short while ago.

"When does this need to happen?" Prince Layke questioned as he sat besides his father, almost certain he wasn't going to particularly like the answer. But then again, the sooner they were married the sooner they could deal with the Gylandies and go their separate ways.

"3 days time." Queen Serena confirmed. "I'll take care of all the preparations in the meantime. You two need to take care of announcing your engagement to the Kingdoms and pretending to be in love. It might be wise to do tours of both Kingdoms so the people can see you together as a couple."

Layke glanced at Belle, feeling rather conflicted. 3 days was rather soon to married to this woman, yet he couldn't help but imagine his fiancé in a wedding dress. Or better yet, her bridal lingerie underneath it. He imagined the way the delicate lace would amplify her curves as it rest on her hips and how her corset style bralette would enhance her already fuller breasts, as her electric blue waves fell loose over her shoulders and her big, ocean blue eyes fluttered up at him.

"Layke?" His father's voice brought him back to reality. He shifted in his seat, trying to settle the hardness forming in his pants. Belle quirked her brow at him, intrigued by his reaction. Layke cleared his throat, before smiling at his father. "Fine." He agreed flatly.

He internally scolded himself for having such thoughts about the princess. This was strictly a business relationship, nothing more and nothing less. Whatever attraction he had to her he needed to suppress because in three months' time, they'd never speak again. Besides, she wasn't what he wanted for a mate. He needed someone who was soft and submissive, someone who would let him take charge. In the short space of knowing Belle, he knew she was neither of those things.

"We will be using the wedding day as your coronation days too. The sooner you're married and crowned, the sooner Belle's strength from Nia will flow through Avalon." Queen Serena confirmed. "I also think it would be best for you both to split your time between the Kingdom's equally after the marriage. It's important both Kingdom's feel as though they are a priority. Perhaps 4 days in one kingdom and then 4 days in the other?"

Layke slowly nodded his head absentmindedly, until a thought triggered in his mind. "Nia?" He asked, looking back and forth between the Queen and the Princess with a sceptical look on his face.

"My wolf." Belle confirmed with an amused grin. It was at that moment she realised faeries really didn't know much about wolves. "That's her name."

"So.. you name your wolves?" Layke asked, squeezing his brows together as if the people sat in front of him were crazy.

Belle laughed, shaking her head. "We don't name them. When they come to us, they tell us their names. We share a mind, remember, meaning we can communicate with one another. Just like we can communicate with other pack members through our mind-link." She pressed her lips together, waiting for Layke's mind to explode as he processed the fact that she just told him they speak to their wolves.

Layke nodded his head slowly, trying to compute what Belle had told him. He had always assumed that werewolves just shifted when they wanted to and that was it, there was no communication between the human mind and the wolf. Which, now that he thought about it, didn't actually make much sense.

"Well, Nia is more than welcome in Avalon, Princess Belle." King Eryek smiled. "Please feel free to let her out to run as often as you see fit." Belle appreciated the King's words, she had presumed they would want Nia kept in whenever they were in Avalon due to the people in the kingdom not being accustom to werewolf ways.

"Anyway, I shall have one of the maids show you both to your bed chambers so you can settle in. I need a few moments with my daughter before I can begin making arrangements. Prince Layke, Belle will provide you with a tour of the castle shortly." Queen Serena announced with a gracious smile, before excusing herself and Belle.

Belle lifted her arms to allow the seamstress to take her measurements. She hadn't expected to be planning her wedding dress an hour after agreeing to get married, but Belle was quickly learning that the marriage couldn't happen quick enough.

Her mother sat across from her, resting on her daughters bed as Belle followed the seamstress's instructions. "I'm proud of you, Belle. It takes a true Queen to put the good of her people before her own wants. Honestly, I expected more of a fight from you." Queen Serena chuckled.

Belle sighed. "Whilst I'm not happy about the situation, I'll always put the people of Midsummer first. You know that, mother. It's just infuriating that the one thing I didn't want to get in the way of my responsibilities is the one thing that will help me do them."

Her mother flashed her a sympathetic smile. "Having a partner isn't the worst thing in the world, Belle. There are many situations that I couldn't possibly have gotten through without being able to lean on your father for support."

"Dad is your mate. It's different." Belle reminded her mother. Truthfully, Belle hadn't always been against having a mate. She grew up seeing the way her parents were and it helped her believe in the sentiment of the mate bond. Her parents were the most loved up couple she had ever known. But ruling with a mate.. she'd never be taken seriously. She would be seen as the trophy wife who doesn't have any business getting involved in political affairs.

"Prince Layke will be a good leader to have by your side, Belle. He's methodical and a planner. He thinks about his moves before making them. You'll balance each other out." It was just like her mother to see the positive in everything. It was one of the things that made her such a brilliant Queen.

Belle smiled at her mother. She was happy to let her mother think whatever she needed to think about this marriage because at the end of the day, it didn't matter. It would be over almost as quickly as it started.