The Lycan King’s Hybrid Queen
Chapter 32

Blaze

"Well, that's all of them." Thane scrubs his hands over his face with a sigh.

My cousin looks exhausted. It's been a long day, and Lyric's breakdown when Thane told her The Witch had escaped didn't help. The whole castle shook with her screams of anger. Goddess knows we all heard it on the training ground. I don't know what Thane said to calm her down, but he was here when he said he would be, so I assume Lyric is okay now. Maybe that's wishful thinking, but she's calm, at least.

It seems the fifteen dungeon guards left alive are all innocent. We interrogated them, pushing them for truthful answers, and not one person hesitated. None participated in the s.exual assault of prisoners, nor were they aware of anyone else doing so. None saw the masked, cloaked, and all-in-black person break in and take The Witch.

It makes no sense how they saw nothing. The guards stationed outside the building are one thing, they walk the perimeter, and the person could have kept to the shadows. But the guards inside? That is what doesn't make sense to me. They should have seen something, anything! Thane scanned them all for lies, but none were found. That both pleased and frustrated Thane. The guards were telling the truth, meaning we had no leads to go on at all.

Whoever took that woman got past every guard undetected. They had to be someone with the power to manipulate the mind. There are only two people I know with that power, and I'm going to kill them!

Of course, I need to make sure it definitely was them. I can't go accusing people of things without proof. Hence, why I haven't mentioned anything to Thane. I'm not sure he could take it, but if I am right, Thane will have to know the truth. I'm not looking forward to telling him, let me tell you. The man can be volatile at the best of times. Throw Lyric being upset into the mix, and sh.it will definitely hit the fan. Goddess, help us.

When I saw the person move into the room, I knew who I was looking at. It didn't matter that they were covered head to toe in black. I waited for Thane and Theo to notice and say something, but they didn't. How they didn't see what I did, I'll never know. But as I said, I kept it to myself because I had to be sure. However, I'm never wrong; that's why I'm so good at my job. Observation and tracking are my specialties. I notice every little thing, crime scene or otherwise.

When Thane replaces out who did this, I'm not sure he won't kill the two involved. It won't matter that he loves them, all he'll see is betrayal, and that is something Thane will not forgive.

Then there's Lyric; that girl is a ticking timebomb. What happened to Thane put Lyric even more on edge, and no one will be safe once she replaces out the truth. Goddess knows why those idiots did what they did, nor where they took The Witch, but I'm going to replace out, and when I do...

"At least we know there are no more rapists in our midst."

"I don't think I could have handled it if there were," Thane confesses. "The families of those killed didn't take the news well."

"What did you tell them regarding how they died?"

Thane rolls his neck, and I hear the crack before he answers Theo.

"I told them their loved ones had been caught redhanded se.xually as.saulting a prisoner, and were put to death immediately."

That's not how we do things here; they're always a trial for something like this. Unless the person or persons involved are caught in the act, which is what Thane told the families about those men. Of course, the King has the right to do as he wishes. If Thane wants you dead, he need not tell anyone his reasons.

"Of course, they don't believe those men did the things they were accused of."

"Plus, they're not here to defend themselves." I shrug. "Think we'll have any trouble from them?"

"I hope not. We still have to deal with the Morris' and replace The Witch. I don't think I have the energy for anything else right now. I could sleep for a week." Sadly, Thane looks as though he needs it.

Theo stands from his chair. "Well, if there's nothing else? Harmony has an appointment with the baby doctor, and I'd like to be there." "Of course," Thane waves him off. "Let me know how it goes."

"Will do." Theo nods to Thane and then me before leaving the room.

"This is a mess, Blaze. I don't know where to start in replaceing whoever took The Witch. The elders are gonna be breathing down my neck."

"Fuck them. You're the King; you outrank the old ba.stards." I sit forward in my seat. "We will replace who did this, and they will lead us to The Witch."

Thane smiles at me. "I can always count on you, cousin. But I don't know where to start."

Thane would never admit such a thing to anyone else, not even his brothers. But with me, Thane confides the tough stuff.

"I need you and Tyler on this, Blaze. You're the only ones I can trust."

"You know you don't have to ask, Thane. Whatever you need from me, I'll do it, but I haven't seen Tyler since the day you were poisoned."

Thane nods. "I sent him on an errand. I wanted him to investigate any clues as to where The Witch came from. I'll get in contact with him later and let him know you need his help with this. I'll replace someone else to search for clues. "She can't have appeared from nowhere; someone has to know something. The coven should know if they're missing one of theirs. But I think a woman should contact them. You know what witches are like with men." Thane rolls his eyes.

I do know what witches are like with men - nymphomaniacs and praying mantises all at the same time. Witches only want men for one thing, and once they're done with them, they kill the poor ba.stards.

"I agree. Anyway, I'll leave you to that while I get on with the job at hand. You get some sleep." I get out of my seat and head to the door.

"Blaze?" I look at my cousin over my shoulder. "Thank you."

"Don't need thanks, bud. You're my brother as well as my cousin."

"He smiles gratefully. "Same."

I make my way out of the castle and, under cover of darkness, follow the path into the woods. There's only one place those two morons would go. They have a secret hideaway about two miles from the castle and a five-minute walk from Tyler's cabin.

The cabin those two occupy has been empty for around ten years. My father owns the place; it used to be his and Mom's secret cabin. He'd take Mom there whenever they wanted to be alone before he built her the home of her dreams, a three-story house on castle grounds. They lived inside the castle before then, and I grew up there. But Mom wanted a place of her own, just her and Dad.

Mom and Dad visit their cabin now and again, but less often in the last few years. Dad would never notice if anyone had been there, but that's because everything is always put back in its rightful place.

I don't know what led me to Dad's cabin, but I doubt there's anywhere else they'd take The Witch. The cabin was always the place they'd run to when they were kids, hiding from punishments for being brats. They may know that no one will come here, but those two are not as smart as they think they are.

I get to the door and take a deep breath. If I've got this wrong...

'You haven't. My Lycan, Ace, tells me. 'I can sense them in there. They have a human with them, but I don't sense the girl!'

'Me either. Even if The Witch isn't there, I'm going to kill them for bringing a human here! When did they get so stupid?' 'Since they were born?'

'Touche.'

'You do realize 'The Witch,' as you all call her, isn't one, right? And when did the castle staff become so dumb? The woman masqueraded as a Lycan, and not one person questioned where she came from. No witch is powerful enough to pull that kind of stunt and fool the Royals. There are only three species older than Lycans who may have pulled it off.

'Dragons, Elves, and... My eyes widen. 'Fairies. Sh.it!'

'My thoughts exactly. Get to the girl before Thane and Lyric do. Find out what the hell her end game was, and beat some sense into those two while you're at it.'

I open the door using the handle when all I want is to kick the damn thing off its hinges. All eyes turn to me, shock evident in the way they're looking at me.

My eyes land on The Witch - Fairy, lying on the old brown couch, a blanket covering her shaking body.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"

"Blaze..."