The Lycan King’s Hybrid Queen
Chapter 39

Lyric

"I can't believe this." Harmony's eyes are darting all over the room.

Harmony was awake and waiting with Ronan and Moira when we got back. She'd woken up, couldn't replace Theo, and panicked. She was in Theo's arms the moment he strode through the door. Once Theo held Harmony, she calmed down.

I realized at that moment, as I looked at my sister, her head against Theo's chest, eyes closed, that she was safe. Well, as safe as she could be with Astro still around. But I could see how much Harmony and Theo love each other, and something settled within me. Theo will take care of my sister now, keeping her and their child safe from harm. It made me smile and my heart lighter. I can finally take a step back without feeling guilty.

Thane brought everyone into his office, including everyone at the cabin, minus Tyler and Emori. It's late, and all I want to do is sleep, but no such luck.

Thane explained everything that happened at the cabin to his parents and my sister. He told them about Emori and all that she did to protect us. Moira gasped upon hearing of Tyler's mate, how long he'd waited for her, and that he'd changed her to save her life. Ronan shook his head in disbelief, saying no one should take that step unless they're one hundred percent sure. Of course, Theo said Tyler asked Emori's permission, and she'd said yes. I hope she said yes because no one heard her say so. Harmony held her head in her hands. She was struggling to grasp everything our aunt had done for us.

I kneel down in front of my sister and take her hands in mine. She looks at me, her body is shaking as if she were cold, but it could be the shock. All our lives, even in our attic prison, we wondered about Emori. Harmony and I would make up stories about what it would be like if she turned up and took us away from Lennix.

We'd talk about how Emori would turn up at the packhouse and use her fairy magic to free us from our binds. She'd tell us how precious we were and how much she loved us. Emori would embrace us with a warmth no one else could offer but a mother. Emori would have been the closest thing we'd have to one, our mother's baby sister.

Emori would then take us far away. Not to Valnor because Emori would never subject us to Astro, but we wouldn't stay in this realm either. No, Emori would take us to Elyim, the realm of the Elves. We'd be safe there, and no one could hurt us.

I told Harmony that story every night. Each time Lennix and his minions hurt us, Harmony, in her weakened state, would ask me to tell her that story. It soothed her to sleep, though it would always leave me in tears because I knew it would never come true. But, in a way, it did come true. Emori, through her sacrifice and suffering, is here with us.

The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways. She brought Thane to me, Theo to Harmony, and Tyler to Emori. She did that so we could all be together again, and I will be forever thankful.

"Harm, I'm sorry this has been a lot to take in."

"It has, and I'm overwhelmed. I guess I'm replaceing it hard to believe. She really did all those things?"

I nod and smile. "Emori loves us, Harmony, just as Mom said she would. Emori loves us so much that she led a double life and sacrificed one hundred and twenty years with Tyler, all to keep the three of us safe.

"She gave you and me part of herself. Then, after being ordered to kill Thane, she gave him the other half of her fairy magic to protect him. She locked away her memory of Tyler's face when they met so Astro could never use him against her. Emori is the most selfless person there is, and she's finally here with us."

"She's not a fairy anymore?" The emotion in Harmony's voice makes my heart ache. I smile sadly and nod at Harmony. "Tyler really changed Emori into a Lycan? She can really stay with us?"

"Yes," I whisper with a smile.

Harmony wraps her arms around my neck and sobs. I sit on my knees, wrap my arms around her back, and sigh.

"Everything will be okay, Harm. Emori is here with us now; no one can hurt her again. We'll deal with Astro; then we'll live peacefully."

I hope anyway.

However, I know peace doesn't last long when you're Royalty. There is always drama just around the corner, someone ready to attack. But we'll be prepared.

The door knocks, and I get to my feet as Thane yells for whoever it is to enter. I smile as Tyler walks in, hand in hand, with Emori. It looks as though they've showered; they're dressed differently. Emori is wearing gray sweatpants that look too big for her and an oversized T-shirt - Tyler's clothes. I can tell from the scent coming off them. Her brown hair is still wet but braided down her back, and her face is clean and fresh. I don't see a mate mark, so they haven't completed the process yet. Not that it matters; they've waited over a century; a while longer won't hurt.

Tyler is also wearing sweatpants and a white muscle-hugging T-shirt. His long wet hair is tied in a man-bun at the base of his neck. His eyes are brighter than I've ever seen them, and the smile he's sporting tells of how happy he is.

Tyler tips his head to Thane and me, respecting his King and Queen. He then turns to Moira and Ronan. "Mother, Father, I'd like to introduce my mate, Emori."

"Hi," Emori offers in a whisper.

"It's nice to meet you, Emori. I'm Moira, Tyler's mother. This is Ronan, Tyler's dad." "Emori, is it?"

"Yes, Sir."

"No, child," Ronan smiles. "Just Ronan. You two have a special bond; anyone can see that. Not many would have waited so long for each other. Know that you are welcome here, Emori; you're family now." Emori bites her lower lip while looking at Tyler with tears in her eyes. He smiles while pulling her into his arms.

"I didn't mean to upset her, Ty."

"You didn't, Dad. Emori never had anyone who cared about her after her sisters left Valnor. What you just said meant a lot to my mate." Ronan strokes the back of Emori's head with a smile.

It hit me just how lonely my aunt has been all these years. I don't know how old she is exactly, but even one day of loneliness is too much for anyone.

'She looks like Mom,' I hear Harmony in my head, and I turn to look at her. 'But with dark hair. How does she have dark hair when everyone else in their family had white or blonde hair.

I chuckle. 'I don't know, Harm. I've got black hair; you have white hair, and we're identical twins. It happens.' I shrug. "Harmony?"

Harmony gasps while looking up at Emori. Harmony struggles to get to her feet. Theo smiles while helping her stand. Thane's arm comes around my shoulder. I smile while leaning my head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent. Harmony's eyes are filled with wonder as she looks at our aunt.

"You look just like Elena."

"So do you. Apart from the hair color." Harmony chuckles. "Lyric told me everything. Thank you, and I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Emori furrows her brow in confusion.

Harmony nods. "For everything you had to do."

Emori smiles while standing directly in front of my sister. "No, my darling. You have nothing to apologize for because everything I did led me here. Finally, I am with Tyler, Lyric, and you. Everything I did is because I love the three of you more than anything in this world. I wish I could have gotten to you sooner, saving you all the pain Lennix put you through."

Emori couldn't have saved us from all of that. In her memories, I heard Astro tell Emori how he manipulated Lennix into doing what he did. There was nothing our aunt could have done to protect us from that.

"I don't care about that." Harmony reaches out and takes Emori's hand. "Everything happens for a reason. All I care about is..."

"What?" Emori asks softly.

"Is that you stay here with us. Don't leave us." Harmony sobs and Emori sighs while wrapping her arms around my sister.

Harmony is overwhelmed and doubly emotional, thanks to being pregnant. I don't know what my excuse was, but I cried just as hard. I even hugged Emori without thinking about it, cringing, or shying away as I usually would.

I was so lost in thought I didn't hear everyone leave the room. I shake my head and follow Thane as he leads me toward his desk. I sit beside him, and Tyler and Emori, the only people left in the room, sit in the chairs in front of the desk.

"I take it things are okay between you two?"

Tyler nods while entwining his fingers with Emori's. "Everything is fine between us, Thane. I want to thank you for what you did; it meant everything."

Thane grunts and tips his head. "Luckily for you, you won't be able to put me on the spot like that again. Anyway, I called you here because I want to talk to you about Emori's first shift. On the next full moon, the urge will take her, and she won't be able to stop it." Emori's eyes lock with mine, and I give her a small smile of support. I can see how scared she is right now. Shifting for the first time is challenging for everyone. But at least we all knew what to expect being born shifters. This is utterly new to Emori, and it will be even more challenging for her if she fights the transformation.

"You're going to need to be there, Tyler. You above all people because..."

"Because what?" Emori probes while shifting in her seat.

"This first shift for a changeling could kill them if they fight it. However, having your mate by your side to coach and comfort you will help immensely. Also, the family will be there to help. The more support you have, the better. I know it's easy for me to say, but try not to panic when the time comes."

'Really?' Thane looks at me and raises his eyebrow. 'Don't panic? That's your kingly advice? Of course, she's going to panic!' I scream through the mind link.

Goddess knows what I look like to Emori and Tyler, animatedly moving my hands to emphasize what I'm saying without speaking. But what Thane said was stupid!

'You know, you're fu.cking se.xy when you're angry!

'For fu.cks sake!'