The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 62: Chapter 62

Arianna yanked her arm away when Selene tried to hold her. "If you're being clear, you want me to leave everything behind and go beyond the moon realm to meet Drakora?"
"Yes, to meet your mother and stay with her. And you must do it now."
"Why should I trust you?" Arianna's eyes squinted, then she turned her head to a particular painting. It was Drakora yelling at Selene, who was holding a baby-her.
"You said Drakora wanted me to stay with my father. But this painting shows she was disgusted, angry, and regretful." She returned her gaze to Selene. "She doesn't want me."
Selene shook her head. "That is not true..."
"You said you'll tell me everything." Arianna took one step closer. "If you don't, I won't trust you."
'Something is missing. Something is missing in me, Selene, and it's because of her! I shouldn't have given birth. Why? How could I have a child with one of the Moon Realm?! Why?!'
'Take her away, Selene. I don't want to see her! She has her father's eyes; she looks nothing like me! Take her away. I don't want to see her!'
Selene recalled Drakora's first words after birthing.
"She was just frustrated, Arianna. Ever since she gave birth to you, she has been growing weaker for the past twenty-one years. But she loves you, and that is why she wants me to protect you."
Arianna shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Arianna..."
"Look! I do not wish to be born like this. Whatever is happening right now should stop. Why do I have to have such a complicated life? Why is everything just a mystery, only to keep driving me crazy..."
"Arianna, I know how overwhelming this is. But I promise to explain how the Ouroboros works..."
Tears fell from Arianna's eyes. "I don't want this. I'm Alpha Thane and Ramona Greystone's daughter, and I will not leave the moon realm just to meet a woman who abandoned me for twenty one years!"
"Arianna..."
"I do not care about all of this, because the more I think of it, the more I go crazy," her voice rose, voice cracking and heavy with emotions. "There is a dragon in me that scares the shit out of me, and it screams 'Mine' whenever I am with the King... Same thing the King said to me, that his Lycan screams 'Mine' whenever it is with me..."
"Screams 'Mine'?" The color drained from Selene's face.
"What is that?"
"You're mated to King Duncan. Wolves scream 'Mate' at the sight of their destined partner while dragons scream 'Mine'. It was like that with the Crown Prince; his Lycan screamed 'Mine' at the sight of the Ouroboros princess." Selene paused seeming to digest the revelation herself.
"You are the King's mate." Selene muttered in total shock as she dropped another bombshell, making Arianna's heart sank further.
"I need to leave." She couldn't take it anymore; she needed air. She needed fresh air. This was too much.
Too soffocating.
"Arianna, you cannot go back!" Selene's voice trailed behind her.
"You have no right to stop me!" Arianna snapped, hastening her steps and walking pass Eryndor which screeched worriedly.
"Do you understand that soon enough your true identity will reveal itself? Your hair will turn silver; the crescent mark on your neck will reveal itself completely. Do you have any idea what will happen, especially when the King sees it? He will kill you!"
Arianna swiftly turned to her. "He knows already!" Tears fell from her face. "He knows I have the Ouroboros blood in me."
"What?" Selene panicked, her eyes widened further. "That is all the more reason you should leave. He will kill you. Duncan will never accept that mating bond, no matter what. He was the last prince who lost his family in a whim. He swore to kill every last one of us. If he is mated to you, then you should run. He'll never let history repeat itself!"
"You don't know him!" Arianna yelled, her breath heaving and head reeling from the overwhelming revelation.
"You don't know him," she whispered, taking a step backward and shaking her head.
"But I have seen King Duncan's deadly side." Selene urged. "The way he strikes his enemies-trust me, the word 'Ruthless' attached to his name is not for show. Don't let his good treatment deceive you."
Even though Selene's words felt true and advisable, Arianna still couldn't wrap her head around the thought of leaving to meet Drakora and what...
Hide and never return?
It felt like something that will never be branded to her being.
Selene pressed on. "If it's about your revenge on Kael, then I will help you. If it's about your sister, I will go back and take her back to you home." She gestured at Eryndor. "My beast is only meant to carry messages across the world, but it can carry just one person... Just you. Though it will slow it down, it will take days before you get out of the Moon Realm. I'll bring enough food that will sustain you, and while you're gone, I'll take care of your sister."
A tempting offer. Too tempting and hard to resist, but still... It doesn't feel right.
"I'm not leaving." Arianna turned, but just as she reached the stairs, the fire at her side blazed, making her halt. Gently, she glanced over her shoulder to see Selene, whose hand aimed at one of the flames.
"I swore to my goddess that I will protect you, Arianna."
Arianna's gaze turned cold. "Then you'll have to burn me alive, I guess. And don't you forget, Selene," her voice dropped cold, a strange energy emanating from her. "I'm your goddess' daughter after all."
Selene slowly dropped her hand in concern.
Arianna continued, "If the heavens mated me and King Duncan, then there must be a reason. The same reason I got betrayed and forced to be here." Her voice softened but her gaze didn't. "I belong here, Selene. I am not the type to hide from fate, because whatever way... It's still going to happen. And if this is going to cost my life to fulfill my purpose, then so be it."
Those words struck Selene; her lips parted in disbelief as she watched Arianna leave.
She stood in her spot, Arianna's words echoing in her ear.
Eryndor screeched slightly beside her.
"I need you to deliver another message to Drakora," Selene muttered.
••••••••
Now, back at the palace with the help of Selene, they didn't utter a word to each other throughout.
'He will kill you!'
Arianna tried her best to steady her breathing as those words rang over and over in her head. Her trembling hands clutched the fabric as she weaved her way back to the Sacred Wings.
Reaching the king's chamber, she saw it was still locked. The king wasn't back-great. That was a relief.
Though she had washed away the tears on her face, she couldn't face the king right now.
She opened the door to her chamber slightly, not wanting to make noise, then shut it with a light thud.
She went to the fireplace and lit a fire to provide warmth. Then she stood up straight to undress for a bath, but her eyes caught a figure lounging in the chair beside the window.
King Duncan.
Arianna's face turned pale. How long had he been here? In her room. Why?
"Your Grace," she whispered so low that even the crackling fire beside her sounded louder.
King Duncan sat in silence, his dark, piercing golden amber eyes fixed on hers. The dim glow of the fire cast a light on his face, making him look even more intimidating.
He didn't look like the carefree man who had kissed her and taken her to the library. He looked quite-dangerous.
She still hadn't recovered from the fact that she was mated to the most dangerous man in the realm, who harbored hatred toward the bloodline that ran through her veins.
"Where are you coming from?" His deep voice cut through the silence between them.
There was no warmth in his gaze, no amusement, no teasing smirk-just quiet intensity, sharp and unwavering.
Arianna swallowed hard, suddenly hyperaware of how small the room felt with him in it.
"Nowhere important, Your Grace. I was just out for some fresh air,"
"Bullshit," he cursed under his breath, stood, and approached her.
It took all of Arianna's will not to step back, knowing that would anger him even more.
"What did I tell you about lying to me, Ari?" he asked in a low voice that sent a shiver down her spine. He reached to touch her face. "You remember?"
The bile in Arianna's throat tensed.
Could she possibly tell him about all she had found out?
Would he... kill her?
Duncan cupped her face gently; warmth prickled her skin at his touch, but this time it did nothing to ease her anxiety.
"I'll ask again, Ari." The gentleness in his low voice didn't match the emotions in his eyes.
"Where were you?"