The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 32

VALERIA

At last, he released me from the pressure of his power, and I could finally breathe again.

Guardian Quinn also stood up, wiping the blood from his bruised cheek despite his rapid healing.

That punch had been brutal.

"Tell me, what did you discover?" he asked, the three of us standing before the Goddess's Altar.

Quinn explained everything he had deciphered.

There were actually quite a few mistakes, but I didn’t think they mattered, so I didn’t correct him.

"It’s clear it speaks of the Moon Goddess descending to earth to mingle with us. It’s part of an ancient legend," Aldric concluded.

"They seem to be searching for altars like this one, as it points to the location of another Lunar Altar," Quinn indicated the final lines.

"They want to take some of the decorative pieces, like here. That idiot Alpha gifted them silver stars that used to hang from the figure of the Moon. His wife told me," Aldric added, making the whole thing feel like some kind of mysterious adventure.

"We need to find the next ancient temple and stop them from taking what they want. It can’t be for anything good. Maybe we still have time to set a trap for them."

"Sir, I think I know where it might be. It mentions a body of water rising almost to the sky, like a bird," Quinn informed him.

"The 'Silver Lake' pack," Aldric immediately pieced it together. He was a very intelligent man.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. He walked around the stone sculpture and crouched down to inspect the cracks closely.

"Here—last night, there was a trace of blood. It’s gone now. It was strange, nothing I’ve ever smelled before," he murmured before standing with a frown.

"Let’s return to the castle. There’s nothing left for us here. I need to summon the Guardian Council. Something very dark is stirring in the shadows, and I don’t like it one bit."

With that, he strode back toward the inn, but not before sliding his hand around my waist, pressing me possessively to his side.

I followed with my head lowered and my cheeks burning.

«Your Majesty, please! At least try to hide our private arrangement a bit! All I’m missing now is a tattoo on my forehead saying: King Lycan’s Mistress!»

*****

NARRATOR

The Vampire King’s trusted general walked through the shadowed corridors of the dark castle.

His posture was not as fierce and confident as usual. He had failed his mission—and it wasn’t the first time.

He pushed open the massive doors of the throne room, fingers trembling slightly before he quickly suppressed it.

His Majesty was many things, but merciful was not one of them. Failure was never tolerated.

"Your Royal Highness," he knelt on one knee before the imposing figure seated on the throne, concealed by shadows.

"Tell me, Darius, did you find the girl?" a guttural voice emerged from the darkness.

"N-no, no, Your Majesty. We thought we had her, but… she wasn’t the right one… Mmm…" He stifled a groan of pain as his cheek was slashed out of nowhere, as if invisible claws had just torn it open.