His Hybrid Queen

Chapter 32

Victor

The blizzard had been blowing full force for the last couple of days. The pack and neighboring towns were under lockdown and schools and businesses were shut down. We kept a few experienced guards in the outpost just in case someone got stranded and needed help.  Though our fur could keep us warm in winter, no one can survive in the open in these subzero temperatures. 

It was suicide to venture out in this unforgiving weather. That’s why I was surprised when the patrol guards brought an errant that was neither a pack member nor a werewolf. Claire and I stood in the great ballroom to welcome our unexpected guest. There was no use in being dramatic and sitting on a throne to impress a human.

The double door opened and the guards walked in with a woman. Their coats were covered in snow and flakes fell on the floor with each step they took. Two of the guard were holding the woman by each arm and rushed her forward. With her petite frame, she seemed to struggle to keep up with their fast stride. I wondered for a moment why they were giving her such a rough treatment until she got close enough for me to have a whiff when they stood a few meters away.

One of them, Jared, pushed at her head and the woman yanked his arm off her and hissed at the man. 

“Careful dog! I’ll turn you into a toad if you do that again!”

“This dog will bite your head off first, witch!” He growled at her. “Now, show some respect and bow to your King and Queen.”

“They’re not my King and Queen! And I bow to no one!”

The guard lifted his hand. “Enough!” I growled to stop him from acting on his words. The situation was escalating quickly before I could get a single word. The guards stood down and took a step backward at my warning. Even the witch seemed to recoil at my powerful outburst.

“What brought you across our border?” I asked without introduction. 

Trespassers have to be dealt with, and not in a lightly matter. Especially after the most recent incident. The battle that ensued left me wary of witches, magic users and any foreign supernatural. The memory was still fresh in my mind and getting subjected to another spell was the last thing I wanted. It was only a couple of days ago and some of the injured were still recovering from their wounds.

“May I have your word that I won’t be harmed?” 

“I won’t unless you give me a reason to,” I said after thinking about it for a moment. 

“I want her tears.” She said pointing at Claire and I almost lost it.

“You’re treading on thin ice!” I warned her. I never backed on my word but threatening my mate gave me a legitimate reason to attack.

“Let her explain,” Claire whispered before she turned to the witch. “Uncover your face. Tell us your name and why you need it.” She asked calmly as if the woman didn’t just ask for her tears.

“My name is Sofia Augustina Ortiz.” She said as she removed her hoodie and revealed her face. “I need your tears to cure my sister.” She explained.

“If I give my tears to every passer-by, I will have to spend my days weeping. Which I’m not very fond of.” Claire replied, and I smiled internally at her witty comeback.

“Neither do I,” I said and nodded at the guards to take her away.

“Please! You’re my last chance!” Sofia pleaded with teary eyes and I lifted my hand to halt the guard’s movement.

“Explain.” I coaxed her to give more information.

Sofia steadied herself before she spoke again.

“My sister was bitten by a vampire. I acted fast enough to cast a spell and stop the venom from progressing. But unfortunately, the spell can’t reverse the venom or neutralize it. She’s been frozen, in a coma state like for the past two years. If something happens to me or the spell is broken, the damage will be irreversible. I tried everything without success until I heard about the Dragon Queen. When I was studying at the covenant I heard of a legend. It said that dragon’s tears are the ultimate elixir of life. It could cure almost everything, except death, of course.” 

I blinked as I let the information settle in. That’s how I survived. It was her tears that brought me back to life. We know it wasn’t because Anya died, since the other wolves were still under the curse. We had to plug them into life support machines to keep them breathing. 

I haven’t seen Claire in her Dragon form, I only heard what the other told me. I didn’t fully grasp the full extent of the implication of this new revelation. She was my mate, my Luna, the woman I loved more than anything and it was difficult to think of her as the most magical being on the face of the earth. 

This witch might be the first of many who would come out after my mate no matter who innocent or wicked their intentions might be. There was a reason why Claire was one of her kind. Ages ago, in the great war, her people were chased and slain. Her existence was a mystery and a miracle at the same time. She’s rare and unique, not only because she was hybrid but also she was a dragon. Which put her at a greater risk to be a target more than any other shifter.

I looked at my mate. She was calm and relaxed. I knew she was putting on a brave face because she was still shaken from everything that happened recently. I didn’t want her to shed any more tears. She deserved to be happy. We deserved to be happy together. I wanted to send Sofia off, but I refrained. Because ultimatelyl, it was Claire’s decision.

“I trust you to make the right choice,” I told her through the mind link, and she nodded in response, her lips tilted slightly upward. I could feel her appreciation through our mate bond, for such a simple yet important validation.

“What can you give me in return?” Claire asked.

“Anything you want!” Sofia seemed almost overjoyed that the negotiations were open. 

A few months ago she was clueless even about werewolves, even though she was one. 

So I was a little surprised that Claire knew about magical contracts. She must have been studying overtime to catch up with the supernatural world. After all, she lived as a human until recently. It could have been the only upside to our break-up. It was a close second to the amazing make-up s*x. 

Maybe I’m partly to blame if not entirely for not bringing her up to speed with everything she needed to know. I wasn’t the best teacher or mentor. I must admit that it was a fault of character that I should work on if I ever wanted to have children in the future. Which I did. I wanted to be more than Alpha or a leader for our future kids. I pushed that thought for another day. 

“Can you break another witch’s spell or a curse?” Claire asked and I caught immediately her line of thoughts. The border patrol guards were still in a magical coma and there was nothing we could do about it. If Sofia placed a similar spell on her sister, she could brake this one.

“It depends.” Sofia responded.

“On what?” 

“What kind of spell or curse it is. Some are harder than others to break I guess.”

“Well, you have to give us more than just a guess if you want the Elixir of life.” Claire deadpanned. 

“I have to examine the person in question first.”

“Four.”

“Excuse me?”

“There are four people under the same curse.”  Claire clarified and the witch’s eyes widened. “Is that a problem?”

“No, not all.” Sofia reassured. Despite her soft tone and still facial expression, she was clearly nervous with the way she clenched her hands. 

I ordered the guard to escort Sofia to the patients so she could examine them. In her absence, Claire and I debated if we could trust her or not. Witches were natural enemies for werewolves as much as vampires or hunters.  But my mate reassured me that she had a clean aura. I thought it was some trick used by fake mediums and charlatans. But apparently, it was a real thing.

“It’s a nasty curse, but I think I can break it. I just need some ingredients.” Sofia gave her diagnosis.

“Just tell us what you need and we will provide it for you.” I told her. The sooner she could get to work the better.

“I don’t think you understand,” Sofia said pointedly. “This is a dangerous curse done with black magic. It’s one of the forbidden spells that mess with life and death. I can’t break it with herbs from your garden.” She retorted, her tone increasing with each word.

I wondered what caused her outburst. My suggestion was meant to help not to offend her. I glanced at the guards and I noticed that Jared was looking away and his face was blushed. Something must happen between them and I didn’t want to know about it.

“I’m sorry.” She said after sighing deeply, seemingly caught up on her bad attitude. “Some of the ingredients are uncommon and not easy to find. I will get them and break the curse as soon as you give me what you promised. If I haven’t been clear before, I need the tears of your dragon form. The more intense the emotions the better it is.” Sofia explained.

“You’ll have to wait. It’s not like I shift and cry on demand.” Claire replied and I couldn’t agree more. 

I didn’t want the witch to think that we were under her beck and call. She needed us more than we needed her. We could find another witch to break the curse, but she can’t find the cure she was looking for anywhere else. Besides, Claire needed time to get used to shifting to her dragon form. It took her a while to learn how to shift seamlessly to her wolf and back, and she still couldn’t do it often. Being a hybrid with two powerful creatures didn’t come without downsides. Her energy was completely drained after the battle and she was still recovering. She wouldn’t be able to shift for another few days at least. 

“Come back after the blizzard has cleared out.” I told the witch. 

“One more thing.” Sofia was about to request something else and I didn’t have to wonder to find out. “I need protection. I killed the vampire that bit my sister and his coven is after me for revenge. They won’t dare come into werewolf territory. Especially if it’s the Royal Pack. I will be forever indebted to you!”

“If we offer you asylum, you will have the same duties and obligations as any other member of the pack. You’ll have to submit to your Alpha and Luna and do everything in your power to protect the pack and its members.” I stated clearly.

Sofia seemed to be giving it a thought. Then she said “Agreed,” before disappearing quickly in a puff of smoke.