The Lycan King’s Hybrid Queen
Chapter 24

Harmony

"It's been three days, Theo." I bite my lower lip while pacing the floor.

Lyric died three days ago, and Thane hasn't left her side. Lyric hasn't been moved from the infirmary, and no one is allowed near her. Thane hasn't heeded Dale's warning about decomposition, and he won't let the nurses clean and ready her body for burning. No funeral has been organized, and the death of the Queen hasn't been made public knowledge. No one outside the family and a few trusted members of staff know what's happened. Moria said that Thane's mate dying has weakened him, and all sorts of enemies would come out of the woodwork if they found out. No one wants that. Even though Theo and Tyler would fight to the death, keeping the enemies at bay wouldn't be easy without Thane.

Thane hasn't once thought about anyone else but himself during all of this. He won't allow me to say Goodbye to my sister, and I'm fast losing patience. All I need is a moment with Lyric's body, and I can bring her back. The arrowhead hasn't been removed. I know it hasn't because Lyric would have woken by now if it had.

I can't even tell anybody what I know because no one is ever around. I've barely seen Theo because he's taken on Thane's royal duties. I have explained to my mate about Lyric's curse. Theo believed me because he had no reason not to, though he was skeptical at first. Theo tried to speak with Thane, but he said Thane didn't seem to hear him. The King is lost, and no one can get through to him.

Goddess, I don't know what to do. Every time I go to the infirmary, I'm marched away by a guard or even Tyler. I tried to tell Tyler what I knew, but he thought grief had sent me crazy. Theo spoke with Tyler, and finally, he was on our side. Tyler said he'd see what he could do to get me into Lyric's room. But with Thane not budging from her side, who knows if I'll ever get to bring her back.

What the hell will happen to my sister if I don't bring her out of this?

Okay, she'll come back eventually - if that damn arrow is removed.

But what if it isn't?

What if Thane goes insane and buries himself somewhere with Lyric's body?

That's extreme, but one never knows what a grieving Lycan will do to be with the mate he thinks is dead. The way Thane is going, I'm scared that thought could become very real.

I'm so stressed that I can't think straight. I can't eat, but I think that has more to do with my pregnancy. I had thought that being a werewolf, I'd be pregnant for four months, but Anna, the baby Doctor here, said that as I'm pregnant with a Royal Lycan, I'll be carrying no more than ten weeks.

I wasn't expecting such a short pregnancy. I'm already a week pregnant, and nine weeks will fly by. Goddess, Anna said I could even have the baby by six weeks gestation. I could have my baby within the next five weeks!

Sh.it, I haven't got anything ready. There's so much to sort, and I don't have time to deal with it all. I can't even think about the baby's birth until I bring my sister back. I have to save Lyric because I'm terrified of what could happen to her the longer this goes on. Lyric has never been dead three days before, and I grow more fearful with every second.

I have to tell myself there won't be a funeral; it won't get that far. Once Thane allows the nurses to clean Lyric's body, the arrow will be removed, and Lyric will awaken. That might scare the nurses to death, though. However, I don't know what, if any, damage Lyric might be left with.

"I know," Theo sighs.

Theo has been working so hard the past few days. Stepping in for the King, trying to help me get to Lyric, and making sure his family is okay, he's barely slept. I can see how badly all of this is affecting him.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I'm doing my best."

My face softens. I stop pacing and reach for my mate, and he rests his forehead against mine.

"Theo, I know you are, but you're doing too much. You're running around after everyone, making sure they're okay, but who's looking after you?"

Theo lifts his head, smiles, and cups my face in his large hand. "My baby, you don't need to worry about me."

"Of course, I worry about you, Theo; you hardly sleep."

"What about you? You don't sleep or eat, Harmony. I can't have you getting sick." He lays his hand on my tiny baby bump. I can't believe I have one already! "We have to keep you healthy for this little one. But I know that won't happen until Lyric is awake." Theo pulls me into his arms. I rest my head on his chest and breathe in the scent that is all Theo's.

"This will all be over soon, Theo; then we can get back to normal. We just need to get into the infirmary."

I narrow my eyes as Theo pulls away from me and grabs my hand. "Tyler just mind linked. Mom managed to get Thane to leave Lyric, but he won't be gone long. He went to shower and change; then he'd be back."

"Is he letting Dale and the others clean the body?"

Theo shakes his head. "Tyler said Thane wouldn't let anyone in the room. He left Tyler guarding Lyric on the order that no one goes near her. We have no more than fifteen minutes, Harmony."

"I only need one."

Theo and I make our way to the infirmary through the secret passageways. We do so because we don't want to bump into Thane or anyone else, for that matter. I can't afford to have anyone stop me this time. I won't leave my sister locked in a death sleep. 'What if this doesn't work, Harmony?' Myla whimpers inside my mind.

My wolf is missing Aspen as much as I'm missing Lyric. We've never been away from them for this long before.

'It will work, Myla. Have faith, my darling best friend. Our sisters will be home with us very soon.

'I trust you, Harmony. Thank you!

Theo pulls me behind him at the side of the infirmary building. The infirmary is located to the south of the castle, so through the secret passageways, we have to cross a courtyard to reach it. Theo doesn't want us to be seen, which is why we're plastered to the wall like ninjas in the night. Even though Theo is in charge in Thane's sted, every warrior, guard, and staff member will inform Thane if they see us here. Goddess knows what Thane would do to us, but it wouldn't be anything good.

I hope Tyler has a plan to get us in, or all of this was a big fat waste of time. Goddess, it can't go wrong because I don't think I could take any more stress.

"How are we going to get past those two?" I tip my head at the two massive warriors guarding the infirmary entrance. There is no way either of us will get past the two of them.

"Just give it a minute, Harm. Tyler will sort something out."

The seconds ticking by are like hours to my mind. I drop my head back against the wall in hope and frustration. I look up to the sky and take a deep, shaky breath.

Goddess, please, help me get to my sister. Please, I beg you.

"They're leaving."

I look past Theo. He's right, they're walking away, and I wonder what Tyler said to make that happen. My heart is hammering with anxiety and excitement.

With my hand in his, Theo pulls me across the courtyard as fast as possible. His head swings side to side, back and forth, making sure no one is watching or even around to stop us. I'm so nervous; my stomach feels like it's falling out of my a*s! Finally, we make our way through the front doors, where Tyler is waiting for us. I take a much-needed breath and will my heart to calm down.

"Hurry up; we don't have long." Tyler leads us to Lyric's room, stopping outside the doors. "No one is permitted to enter the room, not even the medical staff. Thane has threatened everyone with death if they defy him."

I know all of this!

"I just need to see Lyric for one moment." My voice is like a plea to my own ears. Tyler sighs. "Tyler, what would you do if that was your sister in there? Would you listen to everyone else and walk away? Or would you do whatever it took to bring her back, even if that meant defying her mate's wishes?"

He looks at me for a moment. "I'd do exactly what you're doing."

"Thank you."

Tyler looks at Theo. "You're positive, without any doubt, that what you told me is possible? Because if I let Harmony do this and it doesn't work, Thane will kill us all, Theo, and you know that."

My eyes move between Theo and Tyler, and I pray Theo doesn't doubt me.

"I believe my mate one hundred percent, Tyler."

Thank Goddess!

Tyler smiles. "Then let's get this over with."

Tyler opens the doors, and I take a deep breath before making my way inside. I clasp my hand over my mouth and swallow back a sob. I can't stop the tear from falling from my eye, though.

Lyric is lying in a bed, a sheet covering her body but tucked under her naked arms. I can see where the arrow is stuck in her chest above her heart. She's so white, and there are bluish veins across her body, showing signs of decomposition. Lyric's once-vibrant hair is limp, her eyes are closed, and her lips are blue.

I make my way over to my sister. Reaching out, I take her cold hand in mine. I don't have time to stand here and cry, but the thought that this could have been very real hurts so much. If Lyric had actually died and Thane kept her from me, I never would have got to say Goodbye to the other half of me - my identical twin.

How could he be so cruel?

Doesn't Thane care what this would have done to me?

I can't think about that now, so I don't. I place a kiss on Lyric's cold forehead, and with my free hand, I reach over, wrap my fingers around the wooden stump, take a deep breath, and pull with all my might.

"Sh.it," Someone hisses behind me while I jump back just in time for Lyric to bolt upright, gasping for air.

"Lyric," I whisper right before she looks at me.

"Thank f.uck!"