The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 158: Chapter 158

Ever since the King returned, the palace had grown quiet again-though anyone who heard what happened at court knew it wasn't over.
There were whispers, words spreading beneath the shadows, carried carefully by the breeze.
Arianna could feel it in her bones.
It. Wasn't. Over.
She had the King's future growing in her belly. In less than three months, she would be crowned as the Grand Queen. Her training to fully connect with her dragon was progressing well. The King had been so sweet to her-everything with him felt blissful.
However, there was this unsettled feeling that refused to go away.
She recalled her conversation with Elder Varyn before he left the Citadel.
The older male's eyes were filled with worry as he spoke:
'My lady, I know your bond with the King is beyond our imagination, and that you are happy by his side, but... I honestly think you should consider leaving. At least for a while-until the storm clears.
The look on their faces, my lady... those four Lords are ready to go down to hell just to drag you with them. T-they still won't accept it. His Grace only bought time.'
Was leaving really going to solve anything?
"Ari," Duncan's voice brought her back to reality. Right now, she was seated on his lap, one arm around her waist while the other fed her. "Is something bothering you?"
Arianna bit the inside of her cheek, staring deep into his charming eyes.
"You know thinking too much isn't good for your state. Remember, I want to take care of you, and you can help me do that by telling me what's bothering you so I can fix it," he said softly.
She tilted her head with a smile. "How did you know I was pregnant? I never knew that was possible."
"I'm a Lycan, dearest. Lycans can sense when their marked female is pregnant. I first smelled it at court but wasn't sure what it was," he said, caressing her waist. "But when I took you to the chamber and leaned close to your belly, I caught it right there. Your scent had changed, mixing with a new life-especially around that area. That's how I knew... that you're carrying our child."
The way Duncan spoke-like she was a treasure.
She recalled Lord Lucas mentioning how the King had dedicated days to studying pregnancy, just to learn what was right and wrong for her.
"That sounds beautiful, Dun," she whispered, and he smiled.
"I know you too well to believe that's all that's troubling you, dearest. Don't make this male have a heart attack," he said, and she let out a sigh.
"Well, I... I've been wondering," her lips tightened. "What will happen to the realm if they find out about my bloodline? If they learn the truth and everything... do you think they'll accept me?"
Duncan pulled her closer by the waist. "Whatever happens, you just have to trust me."
She slowly nodded, but her heart still ached-for the Ouroboros, and for... Drakora.
Even though she had never seen the female who was her biological mother, there was this pang of worry that refused to go away.
Drakora might die without Arianna ever getting the chance to see her.
Ironic, right?
The same woman who had cast her away at birth.
After dining with the King, Duncan left for his work while she returned to Selene for her studies.
The head maid never stopped checking up on her, reminding her of how her mother, Romana had been.
"What does Drakora look like?" Arianna's question caught the older female off guard.
Selene lowered the book in her hand and straightened up. "Why do you ask, my lady?"
Arianna shrugged, her fingers brushing against her stomach. "Everything is changing so fast, and I couldn't help but wonder... what she looks like." The head maid blinked, stunned.
"Do I... look like her?"
Selene's lips parted, struggling to find her words momentarily.
"Yes... you look a lot like her."
Arianna exhaled, lips tightening. She had looked like her father when she was a child, but as she grew, the resemblance faded-except for the green eyes she once had.
She looked nothing like Romana. It all made sense now.
"Not just your looks but your behavior too," Selene added, but Arianna wasn't taking it well. "She is a great woman, Arianna. She was wrong to cast you away at birth, but she had a reason."
"She was losing her powers," Arianna whispered under her breath.
"She was confused. It's hard to explain, but your mother, Drakora loves you," Selene smiled as if the memories of Drakora brought her warmth.
"She loves you," she repeated.
Glancing at the mirror to the side, Arianna stared at her reflection, imagining older versions of herself as Drakora.
"Selene," she called, breaking the silence between them. "I knew I said I'll help the Ouroboros cross the Moon Realm once I become Queen." She met Selene's gaze. "But... now I-"
"Don't let it burden you. I understand," Selene cut in. "I've spent my whole life serving my realm, my lady. Your existence is enough for my people. Our blood still flows in you... even if we vanish. We still have you."
Those words touched Arianna to the core, snapping something awake inside her. It ran deep into her soul.
That night, Arianna lay on the bed staring at a lit candle's fire while deep in thought.
'...They are no longer a threat, and in two months, their goddess will be demise, along with their people. There will be no bloodshed. This is my command.'
Duncan's declaration at court echoed in her mind, mingling with the image of Jarik giving her a hopeful look.
The question was...
Why?
Why did she badly want to save them?
In the next few days, words spread like wildfire-through the Citadel and among the people. It spread faster than they had expected.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Barack...
"Hey Lylah," Isla approached after training, sitting beside her.
"Hey," Lylah returned the greeting, removing her training attire and groaning lightly at her aching bones.
"You're doing pretty well with training. More than some here who already have a wolf," she complimented, and Lylah thanked her. "Well... uhm... is it true what I heard about your sister?"
It fully caught Lylah's attention. "What?"
"About her bloodline. About her carrying a Dragon blood and stuff."
Lylah knew the words were spreading and soon the realm would send their decision to the King. Honestly, Lylah was so damn nervous about it.
"What do you think, Isla?" Lylah asked, and Isla sighed.
"If she truly is, then things might get really tough. The realm hates what they don't understand, especially when that thing hunted them in the past."
Lylah told Lucas all about it. The Grand Lord was calm but she could sense worry in his eyes. She had known this male well enough to notice that.
Lylah hadn't had that strange dream that haunted her sleep-the one she didn't remember but that drifted her thoughts to Arianna. Perhaps things would go in their favor.
But beneath the whispers, words began to twist. People started adding their own.
'The future Grand Queen is not pure blood.'
'The word Dragon-I thought that was a myth. How in the world does the King's mate have their blood? It's complicated.'
'Cursed. Whatever is not one of us is cursed.'
'I heard she can control fire. I'm having chills right now.'
'I heard the rogues' leader was one of those Dragons. This is insane.'
'Perhaps she bewitched the King. From a slave with a breath away as the Queen sounds impossible.'
As the news spread, fear, confusion, and worry clouded the air.
And just like that people were leaning towards the answer:
ARIANNA GREYSTONE SHOULD FACE DETHRONEMENT.
•
Toran, in his little space, let out a soft laugh on his bed, having one woman straddling his naked chest.
Then he mumbled,
"How does it feel, King Duncan...
How does it feel having the realm slowly turning against you all because you fell for the wrong woman?"