The Hybrid King’s Secret Mate Chapter 04

The Hybrid King’s Secret Mate Chapter 04

Standing against the light, Camden’s face looked blurred and distant.

They finally let me out of the basement.

The wedding preparations were rushed through almost overnight.

The night before the bonding ceremony, Mother sat elegantly in the castle living room and spoke as casually as if she were discussing the weather.

“Your foolish father still cared about you in the end.” She took a sip of tea calmly, “He changed his mind and approved your marriage to Camden.”

“Since you’ve finally come to your senses, behave yourself and prepare properly.”

Then her expression cooled slightly.

“Veda’s been emotionally unstable lately. Find time to apologize to her.”

Across from her, my brother swirled whiskey in his glass lazily.

“Paisley, be obedient for once.”

“Don’t ruin the family’s reputation and affect our rule.”

“If you behave, we can at least leave you with some dignity.”

I wanted to laugh.

But I didn’t even have the strength to move my lips anymore.

The weeks of confinement and torture had drained every ounce of life out of me.

Seeing me stay silent, Camden’s tone turned stiff.

“The marriage approval already came through. What exactly are you unhappy about now?”

I looked up suddenly.

“Why did Father suddenly change his mind?”

“I want to see him.”

“You can’t,” Ryker said while slowly swirling his whiskey, “Not yet.”

His lips curled faintly.

“At least not until he finishes that Bloody Mary cake.”

My brows immediately furrowed.

That cake was my specialty.

In the entire vampire world, I was the only person who knew how to make it.

“What are you talking about?”

My heartbeat suddenly sped up.

“I never made any cake.”

Before Ryker could answer, Camden suddenly grabbed my wrist tightly, pressing down as if silently telling me to keep quiet.

“You did.”

His voice was calm.

“You just forgot.”

He stared straight into my eyes.

“You traded that cake to your vampire father in exchange for marrying me.”

“I never did that.”

I tried pulling my hand away, but he interrupted coldly.

“You still don’t understand.”

His grip tightened.

“I needed a rare pureblood wife. I wanted power. I wanted revenge.”

“And marrying your pureblood sister was the fastest way to get both.”

His expression stayed emotionless.

“So I used your cake… to make a deal with your brother.”

I stared at him blankly.

“What deal?”

I genuinely couldn’t understand what he was saying anymore.

Right then, Veda slowly walked into the room carrying a plate of Bloody Mary cake.

Her voice was soft and gentle.

“Paisley, the Bloody Mary cake you make is still the best.”

She smiled sweetly.

“Especially the kind you used to make just for Camden.”

Then she picked up a fork and cut herself a small bite.

But before she could eat it, a dark figure suddenly rushed forward and smacked the fork onto the floor.

“Don’t eat it!”

The voice exploded through the room.

“The cake is poisoned!”

I froze.

Father’s deputy, Luke, slowly looked up from the smashed cake on the ground.

Then he turned toward me.

“Your father,” he said heavily, “our king… died after eating Princess Paisley’s Bloody Mary cake.”

The entire room went silent.

Every eye landed on me instantly.

Luke then turned and walked toward Ryker before dropping to one knee.

“My King.”

His head lowered respectfully.

“What would you like us to do?”

My mind exploded.

I couldn’t hear anything anymore.

I could only stare at the ruined Bloody Mary cake on the floor while Camden’s words replayed over and over inside my head.

A deal.

Power.

Bloody Mary cake.

I suddenly remembered the night Camden found his Lycan family ruins. The night he discovered his entire pack had been slaughtered by the Alpha King.

He burned with fever that whole night, barely conscious. And I stayed beside him baking Bloody Mary cake until sunrise.

After that, it became something that belonged only to us.

I still remembered Camden pinning me against the kitchen counter afterward, forcing me to promise I would never make that cake for anyone else.

But now…

It had become his weapon.

A tool for power.

And me?

I was nothing more than a pawn in the power game between Camden and my brother.

Suddenly, I started laughing.

Years of hatred burst through me all at once.

I laughed so hard my body shook violently.

“No…” I kept shaking my head. “No!”

I grabbed the burning hot coffee pot beside me and hurled it toward Veda.

Glass exploded across the floor.

Hot brown liquid splashed onto her legs.

Veda screamed and threw herself into Mother and Ryker’s arms instantly.

Then the next second…

Camden slapped me hard across the face.

My ears rang violently.

“You poisoned your own father.”

His voice was terrifyingly cold.

“And now you’re trying to hurt your sister too?”

A row of royal guards immediately stepped in front of Veda protectively.

Luke spoke again.

“My King.” He looked toward Ryker respectfully, “What are your orders?”

Ryker…

The moment our Father died, he had instantly become the new Vampire King.

And now, he looked at me like I was nothing.

Then he gave the order calmly.

“Arrest her.”