The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 23

VALERIA

It hurt. It hurt so much, like I had shoved my fingers into a burning oven.

And honestly, they looked just like that—bleeding and scorched.

"She's not the one. That idiot girl messed up again! We shouldn't have trusted her to handle this properly!" the vampire growled in frustration, kicking a chair aside.

Then, as if realizing his outburst, he calmed himself, carefully returning the stone to its box.

"We can’t stay here any longer. The Lycan King was sniffing around that pack, and it’s only a matter of time before he finds us," he declared.

"We still don’t know where this woman came from. She seems insignificant. The Alpha’s daughter died without revealing much. The specter appeared, drawn by the special blood."

I felt a small wave of relief.

They didn’t know I was Aldric’s personal maid—otherwise, I’d have zero chance of survival.

What was this "special blood" they kept mentioning? I had no idea.

"Should we kill her?"

"No. Heal her hand and squeeze some coin out of her. Sell her at the auction with the others," they decided, discussing my fate right in front of me.

I didn’t even resist when they dragged me away.

"And what do we do with the other Alpha’s daughter? The one we’ve been keeping as a hostage?"

"Kill her. She knows too much," I heard just before the door slammed shut.

They hauled me back to the prison, tossing me roughly inside.

The chains rattled as my throbbing hand pulsed with unbearable pain.

Everything hurt like hell.

I already knew what was coming next.

I was going to be sold as a slave.

With my scarred face, I’d probably be used as a servant rather than a sex slave, but there were degenerates out there who wouldn’t care.

"As long as I’m alive, there’s hope," I tried to think positively, even as my heart secretly yearned for Aldric to come and rescue me.

Through the bars, I noticed the silhouette of a woman wearing a white dress.

She spoke briefly with two guards standing nearby, who allowed her to enter the shared cell.

She walked toward me, radiating pure hatred.

"So, you’re the reason my little sister is dead, huh?" she whispered venomously through clenched teeth.

Even in the shadows, her features were clear enough—I realized it had to be Adele's older sister.

The same one she had lied about, claiming she was an only child.

Positioned in the dark corner of the cell, with her back to the guards, no one could see or hear what she was doing—except me.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about. Adele was attacked by a specter," I replied, trying to stay calm but wincing when she suddenly grabbed my burned hand and squeezed it cruelly.

Hot tears spilled from my eyes involuntarily.