The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 144: Chapter 144

The two Lords glared at each other as if a deadly storm was about to break out. None spoke until a minute passed.
Finally Valeroreth broke the silence.
“A woman who bears their blood cannot be our future Queen. You and the King knew this fact, yet you allowed it—kept it a secret,” Valoreth said, lifting a brow. “How will the realm react when they find out? We both discovered weeks ago that the Ouroboros was behind the rogue attacks that took the lives of our people…”
“Step. Away. From. The King's woman,” Lucas bit out, each word striking cold not wanting to hear more words.
Valoreth fully turned in Lucas’ direction and started toward him. “Alright, Lucas,” he said, his hands still clasped behind him.
Arianna spotted the book, and her eyes widened.
That was Selene's book—the one she had read with Brigid. How in the world did it end up in his hands? This was bad.
“The book,” she muttered, catching Lylah's attention. Lylah fixed her eyes on it and immediately realized that was the book Selene must have been looking for.
“I hate to admit it, but I knew you wouldn't be fooled by my trick,” Valoreth said, halting right before Lucas and sighing. “But at least I got what I was looking for—the proof.”
Lucas’ gaze didn’t waver.
“Unlike you, I would never forget the terror this bloodline brought to our people centuries ago—the screams, blood, and ashes of those we loved. Though it happened long ago, the wound still runs deep, and you of all people know that, Grand Lord Lucas.” Valoreth stepped closer to his side, voice low, almost a whisper. “I might not have my hands on her now, but that doesn't mean she’ll escape her trial.”
Lucas side-glanced at him, shooting a glare. He already understood what the bastard meant.
Smirking, Valoreth glanced over his shoulder, meeting Arianna’s gaze.
“We’ll see each other again, Arianna Greystone.”
••••••••••••••
After Lord Valoreth left, Lucas went to check if anyone had gotten hurt. He was shocked by Lylah’s bloody face and the lost look in her eyes as she stared at her sister.
“What does he mean she’ll appear in court, my Lord?” Worried Nyra, who was seated beside Arianna, asked Lucas.
“It seems he’s begun spreading the news among the Emissaries. From my perspective, before coming here, he must have already delivered the news on every wing. Only the packs are left now,” Lucas explained, his eyes fixed on Arianna, whose gaze remained on the floor.
She sat at the edge of the bed, elbows resting on her knees, eyes lost in an empty space.
“Soon, they’ll decide to hold a trial,” he added.
Arianna’s fists clenched, her shoulders tensing as if holding a scream.
“I still don’t understand how they found out,” Lucas muttered, shutting his eyes. He was troubled too—especially with Duncan gone and no word on when he would return. “This might be hard to fix, Arianna, but I’ll try my best to suppress the news.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Arianna murmured without looking up.
“Aria—” Lylah took a step forward. “I can explain—”
“I’d like to be alone, please,” Arianna requested.
Lucas nodded, then glanced at Lylah, wondering what she had been about to say. But that would have to wait—he had Lord Valoreth to deal with.
“Rest well, my Lady,” he said and left first.
“I can’t leave you like this—”
“You all should leave, please,” Arianna whispered. “My head is reeling, and I’m so tired.”
Understanding, Nyra swallowed, while Lylah felt her heart sink like a stone thrown into a well.
Nyra stood to leave, but Lylah couldn’t.
“Including you, Lylah. Leave.”
“Please, let me explain—” Lylah sobbed.
Arianna seethed, but before she could speak, Nyra intervened, holding Lylah by the shoulder.
“She needs rest. You can talk to her later,” Nyra said, and finally, with a heavy heart, Lylah agreed and left with her.
Now left alone in the room, Arianna lifted her gaze to the door. The headache she had from the journey had worsened; her head felt like it would split in two any moment.
Sighing, she collapsed on her bed, lying on her back. “What a day, huh?”
A soft chuckle left her lips as she draped an arm over her face, shut her eyes, and muttered,
“I’m so tired…”
•••••••••
Selene's jaw dropped, her face paling as Nyra explained the situation to her. The head maid looked as if her soul had just left her body.
Lylah, who sat quietly in the corner, said nothing, just stared into space, her arms wrapped around her folded knees.
Dry blood still stain her head—she had refused treatment from the healer sent by Lord Lucas. She wanted the pain.
“How did they find out?” Selene's voice trembled.
“Well, that’s not the point right now. We just need to keep them away from Lady Arianna—and from you.”
“Wait, they know about me too?” Selene's eyes narrowed as Nyra nodded. “Could they have taken the book? Did you see him holding a book?”
“Yes, he was. A brown leather book with silver ink.”
Selene literally stopped breathing. Her trembling hand slowly moved to her face, eyes wide. “That’s impossible. How could things suddenly turn out like this?”
“Brigid took it,” Lylah finally spoke, her voice hoarse and weak. “And they got to know about everything through the coward—me.”
Selene and Nyra’s gazes snapped toward her.
“There’s no way in hell you’d spill that in your right senses. What did they do to you?”
Lylah sighed, looking up to meet Selene’s gaze. “I don’t know. All I remember is Brigid and another maid, Hilda, asking me some weird questions about my sister—which I answered. You’re right, I wasn’t in my right senses. But I was the one who told them. After that, I couldn’t remember anything until this morning.”
“You were drugged,” Nyra muttered, drawing Lylah’s attention. “There’s this rare, special drug called Thornshade,” she said, her voice low and laced with disdain. “It’s derived from a plant that grows deep within the mist regions of the north. Almost invisible to the eye, odorless and tasteless. It doesn’t knock you out like most herbs—it keeps you awake, talking… but unaware. It only affects those without wolves.”
Lylah’s eyes widened—so she was indeed drugged. And wouldn't have remembered if she hadn't triggered her wolf.
"So you remembered? Does that mean your wolf had come?" Nyra asked.
"I only triggered it by hurting myself," Lylah muttered.
Selene felt her chest tighten. She shut her eyes, trying to suppress the urge to scream.
She didn’t know what troubled her most—
That the realm was about to learn of their existence,
That Arianna was about to face grave danger, or that the girl she had taken as her daughter had become the key to it all.
It had to be Toran’s manipulation.
“How’s Arianna?” Selene could not imagine what state she could be at the moment.
“My lady refuses to see anyone for now,” Nyra said, glancing at the door. Several soldiers stood behind it to protect them. “All we can do is wait—for now—and await Lord Lucas’ orders.”
Silence settled in the room, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
'This is all my fault. If only I had been more careful…' Lylah thought.
'...If only I had paid a little more attention to Brigid…' Selene thought.
'So this is the chaos the Seer warned about…' Nyra thought with a sigh.