The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 1

Queen Lydia

Unwelcome and motive-driven, humans force their way into my kingdom and my home and capture my darling husband, King Pyrus. He is a hydrokinetic sprite, a creature among many, with the ability to manipulate water.

Crouching down on an imperial rug on the ground, in a designated safe room behind a false wall, I quietly hide with our violet-eyed, eight-month-old-daughter, Princess Maia. This room is connected to an underground tunnel that leads me away from the castle.

Looking up in the direction of the moon and the stars, I know my husband's life will not end well. In spite of this, I pray to the Moon Goddess that no harm should come to him, and I shed tears for him, our marriage and beautiful life together as I quietly flee through the hidden passage toward the forest border. I run as fast as possible, using all my energy while holding Maia.

Leaves and branches whip my face and tear my dress as I hastily rush past them.

Panic rises in my chest because I can hear running and shouting, they're not far behind me, and they're gradually getting closer. After all the horror stories about what these humans have done to other sprites, I'm desperate to avoid captivity.

"Queen Lydia!" Someone shouts, from behind a tree, not too far from me. I stop in my tracks. Witches I do not know wave at me, motioning for me to go to them.

"Queen Lydia. Over here! Quickly!" One yells, her face and body camouflaged by the giant tree she hides behind. I hide behind the tree next to them, and they give me an empathetic smile.

"I'm Lou. This is my sister Prunella. We're relieved we have found you, Queen Lydia. I fear we're the only witches left. The humans have burned everyone we know on stakes in the most horrific, barbaric fashion. We only just escaped, and there are not enough of us left to open the portal and escape to the human world. I fear it's only a matter of time until we're captured. The werewolves haven't had as many casualties as the humans. They're putting up a good fight against them. They may even be strong enough to defeat them," Lou says, hopeful in her voice.

Maia coos from inside her swaddle and sucks her thumb.

"My dear baby Maia. My princess. They will kill her if they find her," I say, falling onto my knees and crying into Maia's blanket.

Lou and Prunella look at each other with sympathetic glances, and Lou places her hand on my shoulder.

"We can save Princess Maia, but we have to be quick. The humans are getting closer, and our power is depleting," Lou says.

"How can you save her? Please tell me," I beg her. They share a quick, knowing glance before looking back at me.

"We have enough power to save only her." Lou explains.

Accepting Lou's offer means I will never see Maia again after this, but if it saves her life and allows her a chance to live, then I have no other choice. I kiss her forehead and tell her how much I love her before handing her to Lou.

"Okay, if it saves her life, we must do it," I sob.

Lou and Prunella kneel in front of a big, beautiful oak tree and place Maia in her swaddle, inside an opening in