The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 222: Chapter 222

That night, Brigid went to visit Yvonne. The baby was asleep while the mother had just finished being treated by the palace’s head healer, who bowed and quietly left the room.
“My Queen,” Yvonne said, attempting to sit up. Her face tightened as though in pain, and even though Brigid knew it was a lie, she still offered comfort.
“Don’t bother. You must still be recovering.”
Yvonne gave a small, awkward smile and laid back down, whispering a thank you.
“I came to congratulate you. You’ve finally borne the king an heir.”
“Yes, Your Highness. It... was worth the trouble.”
“May I hold him?”
Yvonne’s smile faltered. “Uhm... he’s asleep. Cried a lot before we could get him to settle.”
“I’m good with babies,” Brigid said softly, her voice tinged with something deeper. “Even though I never got to hold mine.”
Yvonne stiffened but nodded. “Sure. You can hold him.”
As Brigid walked to the side, she noticed Yvonne stiffened at the corner of her eyes.
Gently lifting the sleeping baby into her arms, she stared at the child for what felt like an eternity. Her thoughts drifting to the five she had lost—ones never given the chance to breathe for even an hour.
“Thank you for visiting, My Queen,” Yvonne’s voice finally broke the silence. But her words felt more like:
Drop my baby and leave.
“She is beautiful,” Brigid said, dragging her gaze to Yvonne slowly—tauntingly.
“It’s a boy.”
“I’m not stupid.”
Yvonne’s face drained of color.
“What do you mean?”
“Stop acting dumb, Yvonne. The gender of a child mostly depends on the male. If I gave the king five girls, it means he has a low chance of having a boy...”
“Well there's a slight probability that he can have a male child." Yvonne countered.
"Not this one."
"You’re just jealous. Stop speaking nonsense and give me my child!”
Brigid chuckled. “How funny that you managed to fool everyone. Well... except the mage. He seem to know from the start.”
Yvonne’s jaw ticked. “Did that bastard tell you this?”
“Does it matter? I could scream it out to the entire Lunaris Citadel and let them know the truth. You’ll die. And so will your baby.”
Yvonne’s face went ghostly pale. She dropped to her knees, tears gathering as if they’d been waiting for their cue.
“Please, My Queen. Please... the child is innocent. I beg of you.”
“Innocent?” Brigid scoffed. “Mine were too. And when they died, you mocked me for it. Did you ever care to know how I felt through all those years?”
“I beg of you!” Yvonne sobbed, lowering her head. “Punish me if you must. But the child is innocent! I’ll do anything. Just don’t expose me... please!”
“It’s quite an intriguing sight watching you beg like this,” Brigid said with a smirk, savoring the way Yvonne’s body trembled.
A satisfying smile spread across her lips.
The child let out a soft coo, snuggling deeper into her arms, drawing Brigid’s attention. Still fast asleep, her face looked peaceful. Hair like Toran’s. Nose and lips like her mother’s. She was adorable.
But it felt like a stab straight through Brigid’s heart.
"Stay away from my sight," Brigid said, returning her gaze to the mother who slowly raised her head. Her voice was softer, but firm. "That's what I want, Yvonne. I never want to see your face again."
Yvonne blinked. "That's all?"
"Hm. That's all. I'm not going to be the cause of the end of an innocent life because of her mother's mistake. She deserves to see the world, and I hope her mother can stop being selfish. Dramatic. And greedy."
Brigid gently placed the child down and sighed.
"I'll take my leave. Have a nice day."
She began approaching the door with a heavy heart, but then felt a chill. When she turned, Yvonne was launching at her with a knife.
Brigid lifted her hand in defense. The knife sank into her arm, making her groaned.
Yvonne yanked the dagger out and made to stab her again, causing Brigid to lose her balance.
Now she lay on the floor, the mistress's glowing eyes above her and a knife pressed to kill.
"You think I am stupid, huh? I know you’ll go out there and spill my secrets. I won’t allow that. I'm going to protect my child even if it means killing you. No one must know about my secret! No one!"
"Snap out of it!" Brigid growled, her wolf surfacing.
"No. You’ll die here. I’ll have the king for myself, and once my child turns five, he will rule the realm. I plan to kill every single person who knows his real gender. Including the headmaid and the others who were there during my labor. But first... I’m starting with you. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time."
The knife drifted closer to Brigid’s neck, piercing her skin just enough to draw a drop of blood that tickled down her skin.
"Don’t worry, Brigid. I’m sending you right where your babies are!"
And that sent Brigid feral.
Yvonne didn’t know what hit her. She was flung into the wall, her back cracking from the impact. Before she could make sense of anything, a sharp blade pierced her chest.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
All at a maddening pace that didn’t give her a chance to breathe. Yvonne was ranked a Gamma like Brigid, but Brigid’s strength was unmatched, honed by her years of combat training back when things was still full of life.
She stabbed Yvonne’s forehead last. The sickening crack of bone and the wet tear of brain echoed, snapping Brigid back into herself.
A gasp escaped her lips as she scrambled back, trembling.
Blood pooled beneath Yvonne’s lifeless body.
"No... No, no, no, no," Brigid shook her head, staring down at her bloodied hands, her chest heaving.
She had just killed someone.
Not just anyone, but a mother who had just birthed a child.
As if sensing the severed connection to its mother, the child began to cry behind her.
It was confirmation. She was deranged. Not just Toran was losing his mind, but her too.
"What a nice scene to watch."
Brigid froze. The hair on the back of her neck stood. That voice.
Was she hallucinating?
"The drama in the palace has been quite helpful for the storm raging in me," the voice was calm, like silent thunder. "Nothing feels greater than seeing you bare beneath that mask, Brigid."
When Brigid finally met those silver eyes, her world flipped upside down.