The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 197: Chapter 197

Indeed, the Moon Realm had already discovered traces that Lylah had been taken by the Ouroborous.
Letters had been sent across, to gather soldiers. There is a war coming.
“Isn’t this delightful? Shocking? Magnificent?” Valoreth laughed darkly. “Those fools think they can step into our territory, take what belongs to us, and escape? No. I will crush them beneath my feet, end Lylah, end Arianna, and erase the word Ouroborous from existence.”
He grabbed his wine and took a slow sip before shooting a cold glare at Rodaric.
“Tell me you’ve found those stinking little worthless pieces of shit.”
“My Lord, we are close. Very close. Men and the weapons had been set. In three days, we will soak their realm in blood and bring Arianna and Lylah’s heads to your throne,” Rodaric assured him.
It wasn’t exactly the answer Valoreth wanted, but it was something. Three days.
Quite a long fucking time to wait.
His pair of russet eyes burned with the desire to see the sisters’ heads hanging on spikes.
What a glorious sight that would be.
Arianna was probably already dead… no, she was dead.
No one could survive a womb-destroying poison, an arrow through the heart, and a great fall. She wasn’t even that powerful yet—said to still be unconnected with her pathetic inner dragon.
But still, he wanted to see her ashes, her bones—something—to confirm the damn death.
As for Lylah… if it wasn’t for her combat skills and her attack wolf which brought in money at the arena fights, he would have beheaded her the very first day he saw her.
Now she had signed her death sentence by escaping.
“If you pull this off, Rodaric, the King shall reward you by naming you his Beta,” Valoreth promised, and Rodaric’s eyes lit up with greedy joy.
“But remember,” Damaris added, “kill their goddess first. She must still be weak, just as the ancient texts described. Kill her, and they’ll lose all hope. Pull this off, and I shall reward you myself.”
“Very well, My Lord,” Rodaric bowed and left.
Toran had been quiet the entire time. Everything they were discussing should have concerned him, but it didn’t.
Brigid.
Her name haunted his mind. It had been almost a month, and yet she still refused his offer to help her.
Of course, that offer was nothing more than letting him impregnate her again willingly—or rot in the dungeon.
Day after day, her answer remained the same.
She didn’t want him anymore.
And there was no way he’d accept that.
“Have you found out who helped Lylah escape? I still don’t believe it was my wife.”
“It wasn’t her,” Valoreth replied, and Toran shot him a sharp look, rising to his feet.
“Not her?”
“I’m still narrowing down the culprit. I’m close. But I have a strong feeling it was Lord Merek’s doing.”
“Merek never had access to the king’s seal,” Damaris countered. “You examined the seal again, remember? It was real. Someone stole it from the king, used it, then returned it. It could’ve been anyone.”
“Only if the King had been more careful, none of this would’ve happened,” Valoreth added.
“So you’re telling me my wife isn’t the one—and she’s been rotting in a cell for nothing?” Toran snapped.
“She could be the one. She’s the closest to you, and that night, her injury might’ve been a distraction,” Damaris said, his tone edged with cold logic. “Or she might just be pretending she didn’t do it.”
“Don’t worry about her, Your Grace,” Valoreth placed a hand on Toran’s shoulder. “She’s not fit to be your queen anyway. Always giving you trouble and sleepless nights.”
Toran yanked his arm away and glared at him. “You know nothing about her. So keep your damn mouth shut.”
Valoreth didn’t take offense. He simply chuckled.
“How about I give you new queens who’ll make you forget all about her?”
Toran frowned, his eyes narrowing.
“I have twin, richly beautiful daughters. And you are going to marry them.”
••••••••••••
{Dragon realm}
Lylah hissed as Zav and Sylra tended to her wounds. It was a burn she had gotten from surging into the cave stubbornly, trying to dodge the fire pouring out from the dragon. When it got too intense, she had no choice but to run out.
“Don’t tell Drakora,” Lylah said to Zav, who simply shook his head.
“Don’t go in with force. No one is forcing you to do anything here,” Zav said.
“So please, don’t get yourself injured or killed,” Sylra added, finishing the dressing on her wound.
Zav kind of sounded like her father, scolding her whenever she pulled a dangerous stunt.
“I’ve always been like this. Dragon fire is nothing.”
“The dragon hurt you?”
Lylah’s heart almost jumped out of her chest at the sound of Rheal’s voice at the entrance. She quickly covered the wound with a blanket and smiled.
“It’s nothing serious. My wolf will heal it in a few seconds,” she said.
*It’s going to take a while, Lylah. We almost got roasted.* Nyx chimed in her head.
Of course, Rheal didn’t believe her. The boy stepped closer, but Zav stood to hold him back.
“Your aunt will be fine. Let her rest for a while.”
When Rheal’s gaze met Lylah’s again, she saw something unexpected—concern and… anger?
Anger not at her, but for Arianna?
She immediately knew what he was thinking, and it shattered her heart.
She couldn’t let Rheal have weird, uncomfortable thoughts about his mother.
“Goodnight, Aunt,” he forced a small smile and left before she could speak.
While Sylra took Rheal away, Zav turned back to her.
“You’ve done your best, Lylah, and we’re glad to have you in our midst,” he said, trying to hide his worry.
Just as he made to step out, a male rushed toward him.
“The wolves are coming,” he panted.
Zav’s jaw clenched. He glanced at Lylah, whose eyes narrowed.
“Don’t go anywhere. Stay and rest,” Zav said quickly, then left in haste.
He joined the others, a worried look clouding his face. A crow had been sent by their scouts, and the message it brought made their hearts drop.
“The Moon Realm army is coming. They’re close,” one of them said.
Drakora’s gaze was calm, but concern simmered beneath the surface.
“They’ll be here by sunrise.”