Never Love Her

Chapter 9

Hybrid's Secret: Protecting the Crowned Enemy

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The tension was suffocating as the three of them stood frozen in a deadly standoff. Cater tightened his grip on his flaming sword, his gaze locked on his aunt, who stood in her humanoid form, exuding an aura of raw power. Beside him, Jane's eyes glowed an icy blue, her voice rising in a low chant. The ancient spell she whispered crackled in the air, the energy rippling outward and slamming the doors shut with a deafening thud.

"No one leaves," Jane hissed, her hands forming a glowing orb of energy that pulsed with power. Without hesitation, she hurled it at Cater's aunt. The energy crackled like lightning, illuminating the dim room.

But the demon smirked, raising a hand lazily. With a flick of her wrist, the orb was swatted aside like a fly, ricocheting off the stone walls. It sped back toward Jane, but before it could strike, Cater lunged forward. His blade flashed as he deflected the energy into the ground, where it fizzled out with a sharp crack.

"How dare you think you can challenge a god?" his aunt sneered, her voice reverberating with a dark, otherworldly echo. "Do you even comprehend what I could do to you in a single second?"

Cater stepped forward, his fangs extending as his eyes turned black as midnight. His voice was low, brimming with fury. "If you're a god, then you've forgotten one thing—I'm a god too. And I'll make sure you never set foot in the human world again."

Her smile twisted into a snarl. In a blur of motion, she lunged at him, her claws wrapping around his neck as she slammed him into the wall. The impact cracked the stone, sending dust and debris falling to the floor.

"I've been alive for over two thousand years," she spat, her grip tightening. "Do you really think a child like you can stop me?"

Cater gasped, clawing at her iron-like grip. Summoning all his strength, he pried her hands off his throat and twisted free, landing behind her. With a swift motion, he swung his flaming sword toward her back. But before the blade could connect, she vanished into thin air, reappearing on the other side of the room with a mocking laugh.

Jane, who had been chanting furiously, raised her hands just as the demon materialized. Chains of light erupted from the ground, snaking around Cater's aunt and binding her in place.

"I've got her!" Jane shouted, her voice triumphant.

But the victory was short-lived.

"You foolish witch," the demon snarled, her voice dripping with venom. Her body began to twist and contort, her limbs elongating and her skin darkening. Claws sprouted from her hands, her eyes glowing like molten lava. With a guttural growl, she flexed her arms, and the chains snapped like paper, falling uselessly to the ground.

In a blur, she lunged toward Jane, claws outstretched. But Cater intercepted her mid-air, his sword colliding with her with a burst of flame. The force sent her crashing into the far wall.

"Jane, get out of here!" Cater barked, positioning himself between her and the demon.

"No!" Jane shouted back, her eyes blazing. "I'm not leaving you!"

Cater turned to her, his expression fierce. "If you stay, she'll kill you. Trust me. Leave—now."

Jane hesitated, her heart twisting at the thought of leaving him alone. But the determination in his voice left no room for argument. With a reluctant nod, she turned and sprinted toward the sealed doors. Chanting quickly, she broke the magical seal and slipped through, glancing back one last time before disappearing into the corridor.

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As soon as Jane was gone, Cater turned back to his aunt, who had reverted to her humanoid form. She stood calmly, brushing a trail of black ichor from her lip.

"You're a disgrace to the demon realm," she said coldly, her voice sharp and cutting. "You betrayed our family, your father's legacy, and everything you were meant to be. How could you stoop so low?"

Cater's jaw tightened as he raised his blade. "The only thing I betrayed was the cruelty and hatred that defines our bloodline."

"You're pathetic," she shot back, her tone dripping with contempt. "Do you really think you can stop me? You're just a hybrid—a mistake, a blight on our bloodline."

Her words stung, but Cater pushed the pain aside. Fueled by anger, he moved with inhuman speed, dodging her claws and slamming her into the ground. She roared, her body convulsing as flames began to erupt from her skin.

"My father might be the Dark Lord," Cater said, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. "But I'm nothing like him. And I'll make sure you never harm the man I care about."

Flames surged along the length of his sword as he struck her again, the force of the blow sending her crashing through the wall and into the grand ballroom where the reception was being held.

Screams erupted as guests scattered, their joyful celebration turning into chaos as they caught sight of the monstrous figure.

Cater quickly reverted to his human guise and slipped into the panicked crowd. "That's a demon!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos. "She's been pretending to be Princess Ava all this time!"

King Authur rose from his throne, his face a mask of fury. "Guards! Seize her!"

But the demon only laughed, her voice echoing through the hall. "You should count yourselves lucky tonight," she sneered. "This isn't over. The next time we meet, you won't be so fortunate."

With a final smirk, she vanished in a swirl of black smoke, leaving the room in stunned silence.

The king turned to his guards, his voice sharp and commanding. "Find my son! Ensure he's unharmed!"

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Hours Later

Alric groaned as he stirred awake, his body aching from head to toe. He blinked a few times, his vision adjusting to the dim light. The first thing he saw was Cater sitting by his bedside, his expression calm but unreadable.

"Cater!" Alric exclaimed, startled. "You scared me. What are you doing here?"

Cater gave him a small smile, leaning forward slightly. "Are you alright, Your Highness?"

Alric sat up slowly, wincing as he stretched. "I think so… What happened? Did the wedding go as planned?"

Cater hesitated, his gaze dropping briefly before he replied. "Your prayers were answered, Your Highness. It turns out Princess Ava wasn't who she claimed to be."

Alric frowned, confusion clouding his features. "What do you mean?"

Cater took a deep breath. "She was a demon. The real Princess Ava is… gone."

Alric's eyes widened in shock, the weight of the revelation sinking in. "I don't believe it," he whispered, though Cater's steady expression left no doubt.

The prince stood and walked to the window, staring out into the quiet night. After a long pause, he spoke softly. "Do you think my father will try to find another wife for me to marry?"

Cater joined him by the window, standing close but keeping his tone light. "If you ask me, Your Highness, maybe the right person for you is already closer than you think."

Alric turned to look at him, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, the silence between them felt charged. But Cater said no more, and they allowed the quiet to fill the space, leaving words unspoken.

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