The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 14: Chapter 14
You are reading The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving, Chapter 14: Chapter 14. Read more chapters of The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving.
My Possession. Mine.
Those words rang over and over in Arianna's head as she sat in her small new chamber. No longer trapped within cold, stone walls, she was now confined in the Sacred Moon wing—her room not far from the King’s own.
She could still feel the King’s touch—the way his thick fingers traced her scalp, neck, collarbone, and back. The fire it sparked within her as she knelt at his feet before the eyes of the Grand Court.
Like a pretty little thing. His pretty little thing.
By his feet, she felt as though that was where she belonged. The shock of the nobles and high lords wasn’t her concern, but she caught sight of Valkyrie's.
The king's bestrothed eyes looked as though they were about to pop out of her skull. Her face had paled like that of the dead, dread, horror, regret, and anger filling her once-prideful features all at once. She remained that way until the trial ended.
At least seven slaves were executed in the court that day. Others were assigned to a noble, warrior, or lord. Some were banished to live as rogues.
But her case was different.
The slave everyone thought would be beheaded before them was instead made the King’s slave.
Arianna didn’t know how to feel about this new title. Being the King’s slave meant he owned her—mind, body, and soul. How could she ever return to her life if it was no longer her own, but his? The most ruthless and powerful man in the realm.
Why had the King claimed her as his slave? Did he perhaps remember her and decide to keep her?
So many thoughts, so many questions swirled within her, messing with her senses.
After the Slave Trial, the King hadn’t said a word to her, only assigning a guard to escort her to this small chamber.
A knock sounded at the door, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“Come in,” she said, and the door opened.
Brigid stepped in with a vial in her hand. She paused, locking gazes with her.
“Hello again,” Arianna muttered.
Brigid flashed her a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Never thought we’d see each other again.”
“I know, right? Fate has its way of playing its games,” Arianna mumbled as Brigid stepped forward, sitting beside her.
“Your back,” she demanded, and when Arianna gave her a questioning look, she added, “Madam Selene sent me to tend to your wounds. She found a potion to prevent scarring.”
Arianna blinked in surprise but then pulled off her clothes, presenting her bare back.
Brigid began to apply the ointment quietly. Arianna winced as the burning contact stung her skin.
“What happened to your wolf?” Brigid asked, breaking the silence.
A familiar pain rose in Arianna’s chest.
“I was rejected and stabbed with a dagger coated with wolfsbane by my mate,” she replied quickly.
Brigid’s movement stopped. Her brow arched. “Your mate?”
When Arianna nodded, Brigid muttered something under her breath.
“What?”
“Nothing. I was just stunned,” Brigid said, then continued applying the ointment.
“What does it mean to be the King’s slave?” Arianna finally voiced the question that had been bothering her.
“And why do you think I would know?” Brigid asked softly. “I’m not a slave; I’m a maid.”
“You said you were the first time we met.”
“I said that?” Brigid asked with a hint of humor.
Arianna almost chuckled. Brigid acted tough, but she knew she was soft inside. Something told her Selene was the same way.
That head maid was impossible to predict.
“My mother works in the Citadel as a maid, and my father is a soldier,” Brigid started. “I was born and raised here. This Citadel is like my home... despite the snakes and thorns you can find at almost every corner.”
A small smile stretched across Arianna’s lips.
Brigid continued, “Being a maid, you’re rewarded for your work and hardships. You have the right to volunteer or even have your own family.” Her voice then dropped. “However, being a slave… you have no rights. No rewards except what your master gives you. Every day of your life, you do as your master commands.”
Arianna took a deep breath. All she had to do was follow the King’s commands.
“Sounds easy, huh?” Brigid’s voice held mild amusement. “When he says sit, you sit. When he says stand, you stand as long as he wants. You follow him mindlessly, ignoring your own desires and thoughts. He owns you—mind, body, and soul.”
“If he asks you to jump off the highest mountain cliff, you do it without hesitation. If he asks you to fly, you grow wings to do it, asking how high you should go.”
Brigid’s fingers lightly traced Arianna’s back. “Every summons from him must not be missed, or he’ll punish you dearly. After that punishment, you must thank him for sparing your life.”
Her voice grew quieter. “If he asks you to spread your legs for him, you’ll spread them as wide as you can and let him take you, mount you for seconds, minutes, hours… for as long as it takes to satisfy him. If he wants to bury his seed in you, you’ll stretch that hole and take every drop.”
“And if he asks other men to have their way with you until dawn comes and goes for his entertainment, so be it.” Brigid paused, then added, “Finally, if he asks you to die, you’ll drive a dagger through your heart, bleed, and die before him.”
Arianna hadn’t realized she had been holding her breath until Brigid finished wrapping her wounds.
“That is the life of a slave, Arianna,” Brigid whispered. “It’s worse than death—especially when your master is the most powerful man in the realm.”
Arianna swallowed hard as each word sank in.
“You speak as if you’ve seen these things before,” Arianna’s voice wavered.
“I have,” Brigid admitted. “Some slaves lived to tell the tale, and some… well, they didn’t.”
Arianna turned slightly to look at her. “Those who lived, do they… find freedom? Eventually?”
“The word ‘freedom’ in the Citadel is a myth,” Brigid replied softly. “The only way out is death or mercy from your master. And for the King… mercy is never associated with him. His mind is dark without a mate.”
Arianna’s heart sank to her feet, her chest tightening at the thought of never being free again. How would she go back home? How would she ever see her sister again if she remained trapped here, stripped of her rights?
“But,” Brigid hesitated, “never have I heard of or seen the King claiming a slave before. Assigning them to his nobles or warriors, yes—but this? A personal slave? A possession?” She shook her head. “It’s unheard of.”
So, she was the first slave the King had ever claimed. No wonder the whole court had been beyond shocked. Even Beta Lucas himself.
“I’ll leave now,” Brigid said, gathering her things as she rose to her feet. “Eat. Your work starts tomorrow. Goodnight, Arianna.”
As the door shut behind Brigid, Arianna’s gaze shifted to her trembling hands, Brigid’s words echoing in her head.
Was being the King’s slave worse than death?
Those words rang over and over in Arianna's head as she sat in her small new chamber. No longer trapped within cold, stone walls, she was now confined in the Sacred Moon wing—her room not far from the King’s own.
She could still feel the King’s touch—the way his thick fingers traced her scalp, neck, collarbone, and back. The fire it sparked within her as she knelt at his feet before the eyes of the Grand Court.
Like a pretty little thing. His pretty little thing.
By his feet, she felt as though that was where she belonged. The shock of the nobles and high lords wasn’t her concern, but she caught sight of Valkyrie's.
The king's bestrothed eyes looked as though they were about to pop out of her skull. Her face had paled like that of the dead, dread, horror, regret, and anger filling her once-prideful features all at once. She remained that way until the trial ended.
At least seven slaves were executed in the court that day. Others were assigned to a noble, warrior, or lord. Some were banished to live as rogues.
But her case was different.
The slave everyone thought would be beheaded before them was instead made the King’s slave.
Arianna didn’t know how to feel about this new title. Being the King’s slave meant he owned her—mind, body, and soul. How could she ever return to her life if it was no longer her own, but his? The most ruthless and powerful man in the realm.
Why had the King claimed her as his slave? Did he perhaps remember her and decide to keep her?
So many thoughts, so many questions swirled within her, messing with her senses.
After the Slave Trial, the King hadn’t said a word to her, only assigning a guard to escort her to this small chamber.
A knock sounded at the door, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“Come in,” she said, and the door opened.
Brigid stepped in with a vial in her hand. She paused, locking gazes with her.
“Hello again,” Arianna muttered.
Brigid flashed her a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Never thought we’d see each other again.”
“I know, right? Fate has its way of playing its games,” Arianna mumbled as Brigid stepped forward, sitting beside her.
“Your back,” she demanded, and when Arianna gave her a questioning look, she added, “Madam Selene sent me to tend to your wounds. She found a potion to prevent scarring.”
Arianna blinked in surprise but then pulled off her clothes, presenting her bare back.
Brigid began to apply the ointment quietly. Arianna winced as the burning contact stung her skin.
“What happened to your wolf?” Brigid asked, breaking the silence.
A familiar pain rose in Arianna’s chest.
“I was rejected and stabbed with a dagger coated with wolfsbane by my mate,” she replied quickly.
Brigid’s movement stopped. Her brow arched. “Your mate?”
When Arianna nodded, Brigid muttered something under her breath.
“What?”
“Nothing. I was just stunned,” Brigid said, then continued applying the ointment.
“What does it mean to be the King’s slave?” Arianna finally voiced the question that had been bothering her.
“And why do you think I would know?” Brigid asked softly. “I’m not a slave; I’m a maid.”
“You said you were the first time we met.”
“I said that?” Brigid asked with a hint of humor.
Arianna almost chuckled. Brigid acted tough, but she knew she was soft inside. Something told her Selene was the same way.
That head maid was impossible to predict.
“My mother works in the Citadel as a maid, and my father is a soldier,” Brigid started. “I was born and raised here. This Citadel is like my home... despite the snakes and thorns you can find at almost every corner.”
A small smile stretched across Arianna’s lips.
Brigid continued, “Being a maid, you’re rewarded for your work and hardships. You have the right to volunteer or even have your own family.” Her voice then dropped. “However, being a slave… you have no rights. No rewards except what your master gives you. Every day of your life, you do as your master commands.”
Arianna took a deep breath. All she had to do was follow the King’s commands.
“Sounds easy, huh?” Brigid’s voice held mild amusement. “When he says sit, you sit. When he says stand, you stand as long as he wants. You follow him mindlessly, ignoring your own desires and thoughts. He owns you—mind, body, and soul.”
“If he asks you to jump off the highest mountain cliff, you do it without hesitation. If he asks you to fly, you grow wings to do it, asking how high you should go.”
Brigid’s fingers lightly traced Arianna’s back. “Every summons from him must not be missed, or he’ll punish you dearly. After that punishment, you must thank him for sparing your life.”
Her voice grew quieter. “If he asks you to spread your legs for him, you’ll spread them as wide as you can and let him take you, mount you for seconds, minutes, hours… for as long as it takes to satisfy him. If he wants to bury his seed in you, you’ll stretch that hole and take every drop.”
“And if he asks other men to have their way with you until dawn comes and goes for his entertainment, so be it.” Brigid paused, then added, “Finally, if he asks you to die, you’ll drive a dagger through your heart, bleed, and die before him.”
Arianna hadn’t realized she had been holding her breath until Brigid finished wrapping her wounds.
“That is the life of a slave, Arianna,” Brigid whispered. “It’s worse than death—especially when your master is the most powerful man in the realm.”
Arianna swallowed hard as each word sank in.
“You speak as if you’ve seen these things before,” Arianna’s voice wavered.
“I have,” Brigid admitted. “Some slaves lived to tell the tale, and some… well, they didn’t.”
Arianna turned slightly to look at her. “Those who lived, do they… find freedom? Eventually?”
“The word ‘freedom’ in the Citadel is a myth,” Brigid replied softly. “The only way out is death or mercy from your master. And for the King… mercy is never associated with him. His mind is dark without a mate.”
Arianna’s heart sank to her feet, her chest tightening at the thought of never being free again. How would she go back home? How would she ever see her sister again if she remained trapped here, stripped of her rights?
“But,” Brigid hesitated, “never have I heard of or seen the King claiming a slave before. Assigning them to his nobles or warriors, yes—but this? A personal slave? A possession?” She shook her head. “It’s unheard of.”
So, she was the first slave the King had ever claimed. No wonder the whole court had been beyond shocked. Even Beta Lucas himself.
“I’ll leave now,” Brigid said, gathering her things as she rose to her feet. “Eat. Your work starts tomorrow. Goodnight, Arianna.”
As the door shut behind Brigid, Arianna’s gaze shifted to her trembling hands, Brigid’s words echoing in her head.
Was being the King’s slave worse than death?
End of The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving Chapter 14. Continue reading Chapter 15 or return to The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving book page.