The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 169: Chapter 169

Cor Triantha—the name might sound appealing, but it was anything but. It was created to mask the horror behind it.
Centuries ago, a powerful dark mage discovered the ritual. At the time, male Ancient Lycans who had survived the Ouroboros War were known, invincible. Their bond with the moon, with their mates, and their very blood made them a force no ordinary weapon could destroy.
Cor Triantha was crafted as a means to threaten that very race.
The poison required three hearts. Not just any hearts, but hearts willingly given by those the caster loved most. Family, friends, anyone whose love for the caster was true.
The pain of the caster, combined with the sacrifice of those hearts, was bound into the poison, making it deadly beyond mortal comprehension.
It became a forbidden weapon capable of killing a male Ancient Lycan.
But only if delivered by his fated mate.
Her willingness wasn’t needed.
If Valoreth truly planned to kill the other two Lords and frame the captured Ouroboros, then he only needed to trick their mates into delivering the poison.
And kill them.
The poison would first send the male into a death-like sleep, rendering him vulnerable. Then, to ensure the death was permanent, his mate would have to die as well.
It was nearly impossible to pull off, but someone like Valoreth would find a way.
Lord Merek’s loyalty to the King was unshakable. And that was something Valoreth couldn’t stand.
Ever since he lost his position as Beta after the war, Valoreth had stayed quiet in the South, building his army and waiting for a single chance to rise again.
Now the opportunity had arrived. He would stop at nothing.
Killing the other Lords, framing the Ouroboros, and staining Arianna’s name.
And yet—
Something about it didn’t sit right. Lucas couldn’t quite place it.
He needed to investigate it himself, expose Valoreth’s plan, and bring him down.
After some research, Lucas received a message from one of his trackers. Valoreth had been sneaking away to meet someone in the dark forest. It confirmed what the maid had claimed.
“Gather the elite warriors and send them to help Lady Mearina,” Lucas ordered Falcon.
“You’re not going with them, my Lord?” Oren asked. “Only you can save her. The southern soldiers won’t allow our guards in.”
“They’ll have my sealed word. I can’t leave the Citadel right now.”
“My Lord, Valoreth doesn’t care. He’s been guarding his stronghold closely. Lady Mearina believes the dark mage is hiding there, preparing for the ritual tomorrow,” she said, dropping to her knees, hands clasped. “Only someone with real power can stop them. He’s using the current chaos to build trust. Please, my Lord. Please reconsider.”
In his study, Lucas paced, the maid’s words haunting him.
He cursed under his breath, furious that Valoreth had become such a monster.
“My Lord… I think we should go,” Falcon said. “The King will return tonight. He’ll finalize Valoreth’s arrest. By then, we’ll have evidence, we’ll have saved Mearina and her children, and we’ll be ready to expose every one of Valoreth’s crimes.”
Lucas drew a sharp breath, gripping his desk.
“I thought he loved her... how could he do this?”
If this was true, had Valoreth forced Mearina to reject him that night? What had he done to her?
He needed answers. Mearina had promised to tell him everything once they met.
This mission was too sensitive to hand over to a squad, no matter how skilled. Lucas would go himself.
He pulled out a clean scroll and began writing a detailed message to the King.
“We leave in secret,” he finally said.
In her letter, Mearina mentioned she’d found a way to leave the East before sunset. She wanted Lucas to meet her at the old watchtower near the southern woods—a former war outpost used for secret communications.
It was quiet. Remote enough to go unnoticed. Perfect for a discreet meeting.
Lucas folded the letter carefully, his mind already racing through plans and contingencies.
“Falcon, alert the warriors. Valen, Isla, and Jaren. They’ll ride with us. But keep everything quiet. No one must know.”
Falcon bowed. “It will be done, my Lord.”
•
While Falcon prepared the mission, Lucas headed to the barracks to speak with the head warrior. The security around the King’s woman needed to be tight once she returns.
He halted at the sight of Lylah smiling and laughing with a young male warrior.
He blinked, recognizing the same young male as one of those who used to bully her when she wasn’t yet a warrior.
When did they become close?
Lucas clicked his tongue, staring intently at the two until the head warrior approached.
He tore his gaze away momentarily, then shifted it back, just in time to see the young male ruffle Lylah's hair.
It lasted just a second, Lylah immediately pulled away but still smiled at the gesture.
Lucas tsked under his breath, only then realizing how tightly he was clenching his fists. He snapped out of it and followed the head warrior.
An hour later, it was noon, and Lylah was feeling sleepy. There was no training today since Arianna’s gathering was scheduled for tomorrow.
As she lay on her bed, a knock sounded at her door. She shut her eyes and gave permission for the person to come in.
The door creaked open, and footsteps echoed across the room.
“What do you want?” Lylah asked tiredly, but was met with silence.
She opened her eyes and gasped.
“My Lord!” she exclaimed, jumping out of bed.
Lucas stood there with his hands clasped behind him.
She hadn’t really seen him since the day she confessed. He had been busy, or perhaps avoiding her.
But she knew their paths would cross again. Just not like this. Not him, standing in her room.
“M-May I help you?” she stuttered, heart pounding.
“I’ll be leaving the Citadel,” he said calmly.
“Huh? Why? Did something happen?” Questions rolled off her tongue.
“Kinda, but it won’t be for long. And judging from an hour ago, I guess you won’t miss me that much.”
Lylah blinked, confused.
“But where are you going? Why is everyone suddenly leaving?”
“To bring down Lord Valoreth,” he replied, and her shoulders slumped, worry etching across her face.
He stepped closer and stopped right in front of her. Her brown eyes locked with his crimson ones. His scent, his presence, all made her heart pound frantically.
He remained quiet for a long, torturous moment. But she didn’t mind waiting.
Gods, she couldn’t breathe. That gaze alone made her knees weak.
A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, but all she could do was swallow hard.
Then he lifted a hand to her face. The moment his thumb brushed her cheek, her brain shut down.
“You don’t mind if I do something before I go, do you?”
Lylah swallowed again, her eyes lost in his.
“No,” she whispered, barely hearing herself.
Before she could blink, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.
Shock rippled through her entire body. Her eyes flew wide open, frozen in place.
His lips were soft, yet firm, prompting her eye lids to slip shut.
Lylah forgot she even existed.
When he finally pulled away, her eyes fluttered open and met his again.
“This might sound greedy,” he said, his thumb still caressing her cheek, “but I want you to keep thinking of me.”
He smiled softly and turned to leave the room.
Lylah inhaled sharply, as if remembering how to breathe.
Her cheeks turned crimson as she stood in stunned silence, replaying what had just happened again and again.
Finally finding her voice, she stammered,
“The Grand Lord just... k—”