Thane
“Where the hell did your son take my daughter!?” I growl in Xale’s face.
He sighs. “I don’t know, Thane. I’ve never known a child so young to have a mate, let alone take off with her as soon as she’s born.”
“My daughter wasn’t even ten minutes old! You’re the damn Dragon King and Levi’s father. So track him!”
“I’m trying, Thane.”
“Do you have any idea what this is doing to my mate?”
Lyric went into shock and wouldn’t speak to anyone. Harmony walked Lyric to the bathroom and helped her shower. Dale wanted to check Lyric over, but she had spaced out, and Harmony told Dale to leave.
Emori bathed and dressed Sebastian because I needed to find Xale and have words. My mom and grandmother are with Lyric, Harmony, and Emori. I didn’t want to leave Lyric alone, though I knew I should be with her. She needs me, but I need to find our daughter. I won’t be able to settle until I bring Aurora home.
‘Why do you suddenly care about Lyric? You’ve been a bas.tard to her lately. She needed you, and what did you do? Took the pain you were feeling out on Lyric. I know you were hurting over losing Starr, but that was disgusting, Thane.
‘You promised Lyric you would never hurt her, but you did. Do you think Lyric is just going to forgive you? Because, believe me, you don’t deserve her forgiveness.
‘Jagger, please get off my back. I know what I’ve done, and I’ll fix it. But right now, we need to concentrate on finding Aurora. Our newborn pup is out there, Jagger, and we have to find her.’
‘You’re right. I’m sorry!
“I can only imagine what this is doing to your mate.” Xale scrubs his hands over his face. “This doesn’t make any sense, Thane. My son is three years old. He shouldn’t have been able to do what he did. Dad,”
I try to suppress a growl when Leviathan walks into my office unannounced. Theo and Tyler stand behind me while Blaze stands by the window. I don’t know why the three of them followed me or why they felt the need to be here. They should be with Tristan; he’s only been awake a few hours.
Though Isla informed me that Tristan still has yet to leave Esme’s room. He wouldn’t tell us why he was clinging to our youngest sister. But Tristan kept mumbling that Starr was still alive and he was going to find her.
Dad said Tristan is grieving and to leave him alone; he’ll get the help he needs soon enough. However, Brody said we should listen to Tristan, and there might be some truth in what he’s saying.
I ignored the Bear King. If Starr was still alive, I’d know. I’m the Lycan King and Starr’s big brother. I would feel her life force, but I don’t; she’s really gone.
“I think I know where Levi has taken Aurora.”
I lean forward in my office chair. “Where? Where the hell has that boy taken my baby girl?”
“To Belvore.”
“What the fu.ck?” Blaze moves forward. “Your grandson took my Princess to the equivalent of Dragon heaven?”
With a nod of his head, Leviathan tells me, “He’s trying to protect her from what is to come.”
“I don’t care!” I slam my fist down on the table while getting out of my seat. “Fetch my daughter! She needs to be home with my mate. This is all wrong, Leviathan, and you know it!”
“It is wrong. But Levi’s Dragon will not allow Levi to bring Aurora home until the threat from the Fairy King is dealt with.”
I rake my fingers through my hair and pull. This is fuc.king insane!
“What the hell!?” Theo snaps. “Aurora should be with her mother, bonding, being breastfed. This could send Lyric into depression. Do you know what that could do to a wolf? Who the hell is even looking after the baby? Levi is three years old; he can’t possibly care for a newborn. He can’t even look after himself! You Dragons might be used to this shit, but we are not!”
“He’s right, Dad. This is ridiculous. We must go to Levi and bring Aurora back to her mother.”
Leviathan rolls his neck. “Fine, you and I will go. Let Lia know we’ll be leaving right away.” Leviathan turns to me. “I don’t know how long this is going to take. But I suggest you get your house in order, Lycan King.” “What the hell do you mean by that?”
“A brother recently awoke from Staus Sleep, and his Bear King mate; moping around.”
I pull back a growl. I’m not in the mood for a damn lecture. I know a lot is going on, and I don’t need it pointed out by this Dragon pri.ck!
“Your mate gave birth this evening to twins – one child she wasn’t expecting. You’ve been an as.shole to her since your sister passed away, and instead of comforting and taking comfort from Lyric, you act like she’s the enemy.
“You have the damn Fairy King on his way to take your daughter, which is why Levi disappeared with her. Levi wants to keep his future mate safe. I know you’re grieving, and you’re worried about your daughter. But you have a mate and son up there,” He points to the ceiling as if pointing to my room. “Who need you now more than ever, Thane.
“I will bring your daughter home. But you need to pull your head out of your as.s and sort things before Astro turns up on your doorstep. Believe me; he will not go easy on any of you.”
‘He’s right,’ Jagger sighs in my mind. ‘We need to sort everything while Leviathan and Xale are collecting Aurora, and we need to start with Lyric!
“Don’t worry about what’s happening here,” Tyler clutches my shoulder. “Just bring my niece home!”
Leviathan and Xale disappear in a cloud of blue smoke. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. My baby girl, I didn’t even get to hold her before Levi took off with her. Goddess, I let that crazy little Dragon brat hold Aurora first! My beautiful little princess, who looks so much like my mate.
My mate!
I push Tyler away from m and rush out of my office. It takes me only a short time to get to my chambers. Everyone turns to look at me when I enter the bedroom.
“Everyone out.”
No one says anything as they walk away. Good, because I’m not in the mood for anyone trying to drag me into conversation.
Lyric is sitting in a chair by the open balcony windows, looking out at the city. She looks lost in thought, and I can feel her sadness mingling with my own.
I turn to look at my son asleep in his basket bed beside our bed. He’s wearing a little baby blue sleepsuit with a matching hat on his head. I smile and walk over to him. I stroke my finger down his super-soft cheek. We weren’t expecting this little man, but I am so glad he’s here.
Why didn’t we sense his heartbeat?
Or was it his heartbeat we heard?
Why didn’t Levi know Sebastian was in there, but Aurora, he did?
Okay, Levi sensed Aurora because she’s his mate, but it still confuses me that we didn’t know about little man. I haven’t even heard him cry yet, but I imagine he had when he wanted to feed.
“Everything will be okay, Sebastian; your sister will be home soon. Daddy is going to fix everything.” I press a kiss to my fingertips and then touch Sebastian’s forehead.
I sigh before turning to Lyric and making my way over to her. Leviathan was right when he said I’d been treating Lyric terribly. I don’t even know why I was doing it; all my mate tried to do was be there for me, and I pushed her away. I did the one thing I promised never to do, and that was hurt her.
I sit down in the seat opposite Lyric. She hasn’t looked at me or even acknowledged I’m here.
“Lyric?”
Lyric looks at me while wiping a tear from her cheek. “How did a three-year-old manage to steal our little girl, Thane?”
“I don’t think Levi sees it that way, Lyric. He thinks he’s protecting Aurora by taking her away from here.”
“B-but, I ne-need her he-here, Thane.”
I get out of my seat and lift Lyric from hers. I take her seat, sit Lyric on my lap, and hold her while she cries.
“I’m sorry, baby. I know how much this is hurting you. It’s hurting me too. But Xale and Leviathan have gone after Levi. They’ll bring Aurora home before you know it.”
“I just want my baby back!”
“I know,” I kiss her head and hold her tighter. “I know.”
We sit in silence for a few moments, me rocking Lyric gently and her sniffing back tears.
“I wanted to go look for Aurora. But Lia told me that Levi had taken Aurora out of this realm. How could I follow when I didn’t know how? What kind of mother doesn’t search for her child?”
“Lyric,” I sigh. She lifts her head and looks at me with red eyes and swollen lips. “You are already a wonderful mother. What happened with Levi was not your fault.”
“Just everything else.” Lyric mumbles, loud enough for me to hear.
“No,” I shake my head.
Goddess, this is all my fault. I made my mate think I blamed her for what happened to Starr. Through my grief, I pushed Lyric away. I have hurt her more than I realized. Now all of this with Levi taking Aurora… Fu.ck, I don’t know how Lyric hasn’t thrown herself out of a window!
“I am so sorry, Lyric. I’m sorry I’ve made you feel like this. I pushed you away without realizing what I was doing. I had no right to yell at you, and I wish I could take it back, but I can’t. All I can do is work my as.s off to prove that I love you.
“I don’t deserve you, Lyric. But you are mine, and I am yours. You gave me two beautiful babies, Lyric, not one but two, and I have never loved you more than I do right now.”
Lyric stares at me with a raised eyebrow. “You think that lets you off the hook after what you did?”
I shake my head. “No, but I do love you. More than anything in this world, I love you. I am sorry, and I swear, I will never treat you so appallingly again.”
“I just want you to talk to me, Thane. We’re mates, a partnership, and I love you. If you’re struggling with your emotions, I am the one person you don’t have to shut out – not me.
I press my forehead to Lyric’s and close my eyes. My emotions are threatening to spill over. My sister is dead, and my daughter is missing, and there is nothing I can do about it. I feel helpless for the first time in my life, and I hate it!
“I will never shut you out again, Lyric. I promise.”
“Thank you. Is Leviathan really going to bring Aurora home?”
“Yes. We just have to be patient.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
‘Thane, come quick!’
What the fu.ck now!?