The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 65: Chapter 65
You are reading The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving, Chapter 65: Chapter 65. Read more chapters of The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving.
Nadia didn’t wait any longer. She turned to leave but then spotted Valkyrie’s personal tall guard in the distance. His gaze was unreadable as it stayed fixed on Nadia, seeming to communicate something silently through their eyes.
Nadia walked toward him with her head lowered, and then she disappeared from sight.
Arianna’s gaze remained intensely focused on the guard as he turned to leave. She noticed his right wrist was missing—the same hand that bastard used to hit her back then.
The thought of Nadia lingered in her mind as Arianna waited for Nyra to return with her sister.
Soon, they came. A small smile graced Arianna’s lips as her eyes met Lylah’s.
"I’m sorry I sent you away. It wasn’t your fault," Arianna apologized after explaining everything Selene had told her three days ago. She didn’t mention Eryndor or the fact that Selene was an Ouroboros too.
"You were simply doing what our parents said, and you were only ten. I should thank you for not treating me differently, despite knowing we are half-sisters."
"We are sisters. Screw the Ouroboros shit," Lylah corrected, and Arianna chuckled.
"You cannot tell a single soul okay?" Arianna expression was serious.
"I promise." Lylah replied.
They sat in silence, feeling the cool breeze graze their skin as they sat in the garden.
"So you’re not mad at me, right? I was just too emotional that night," Arianna said, breaking the silence.
"I can never be mad at you, Aria. I’m lucky to have you."
Arianna grinned, her mood lightening. "I’m so lucky to have you too."
"So, how’s your training going?"
Sadness flickered across Lylah’s features, but she quickly masked it. "It’s fine."
Arianna’s eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. The training is pretty hard, but I’m getting the hang of it. You don’t need to worry," Lylah lied, not wanting to burden her sister with her own struggles.
"So..." Lylah looked at her sister with concern. "What are you going to do now? I don’t even know if I should be happy or sad that you’re mated to the King. It’s terrifying to think of how he’ll react once he finds out you have the Ouroboros blood. I mean... how are you going to tell him?"
"I don’t know," Arianna sighed, hugging her folded knees. "But I don’t have a choice."
Lylah bit down on her lower lip. "Having mates sucks. I used to think it was wonderful, seeing Mom and Dad so in love... but now, I think mating bonds really suck."
"Don’t say that," Arianna said, glancing at her. "Perhaps this is meant to happen. Perhaps this is where I belong—and all I need to do is write my own story."
Lylah gave her sister a comforting smile. "And I’ll be here whenever you need me. I’ll be your warrior."
Arianna’s eyes welled up with tears. "Come here, Cherry," she said, spreading her arms and hugging Lylah.
"It’s been a long time since you called me that," Lylah mumbled, and they both chuckled—soft sounds filled with love.
•••••••••
As Duncan stepped into the council meeting the Lord stood up and bow their heads in respect.
With regal steps Duncan head for his seat. A crafted wooden chair, shipped in a way it command power and regal bearing.
It's armrest was like a shape of the head of a wolf with an aura of menace.
Only when he sat did other Lords did the same.
Duncan's dress was a simple tunic comfortable fine dress, he doesn't like wearing those heavy cloaks anyway.
Duncan's sharp gaze studied males in the room--The fake facade on most of them's expression. He knew what most of them want, the ranting they were about to spill, but he was just going to listen to them.
The Grand festival was close, they were bound to be restless.
A heavy silent settled in the room the Lord exchanging hesitating glance, wondering who to speak first.
One of them did, of course it was no other than vakyrie’s father. Alpha Magnus.
“Your Majesty,” he began, bowing slightly before straightening, “there is a matter of great concern among your people that we feel obligated to bring to your attention.”
“Go on.” Duncan commanded rigidly.
“The kingdom is… anxious, my King. There are whispers spreading like wildfire—words about your recent… rut. We had tried to suppress the words in, but such a thing cannot be hidden forever. Words are spreading out my King.” Alpha Magnus, spoke calmly, his dark eyes meeting King Duncan’s without fear.
Duncan propped his chin with one arm, waiting for them to finish. His fingers drumming on the arm of his chair, calmly.
“They say the kingdom is at risk without a Luna,” Lord Pericles continued, his voice full of caution “The people are questioning the stability of your rule, Your Majesty. They worry that your rut is a sign of… imbalance.”
Alpha Magnus quickly added. “We only bring this up because we care for the well-being of the kingdom. A king without a Luna is like a wolf without a pack. Your people need to see stability, a future. An heir. They need to know their king is not at the mercy of his instincts.”
Duncan aura shifted, but he kept listening.
Lord Silas, another supporter added. "And your Grace, since you have a betrothed already... We suggest you officially announce and mark Lady Valkyrie as your Luna at the Grand Festival, the royal banquet. A formal declaration will silence the rumors and restore the people's faith in your leadership."
Lord Fredrick cleared his throat, casting his glance at the other Lords and great alphas. "I think it would be moving too fast. It's barely a year since Lady Valkyrie had been courting the king"
“But we must consider the kingdom’s stability." Alpha Magnus almost shot a glare at Lord Frederick. "The festival is the perfect moment to solidify his majesty reign. A Luna at his side will end all doubts.”
"Is that what you all believe?" King Duncan finally spoke.
The room fell into silence again, thick with tension. Some Lords hesitated to meet Duncan's eyes, but others—Alpha Magnus, Lord Pericles—held their ground.
Finally, Magnus spoke again. "It is not merely our belief, Your Majesty. It is the belief of the kingdom."
With a subtle smirk, Duncan sat forward, resting both arms on the table. "And tell me, Alpha Magnus, is this truly about the kingdom’s well-being… or about your daughter’s position?"
Duncan could tell Magnus was trying his best to hide his true intention, intimidated stated, and the restlessness, but Duncan could see through him as clear as the sky.
"My King, Lady Valkyrie is of noble blood, strong, and more than capable of leading at your side. Whether she is my daughter or not, she is the most suitable choice. You chose her yourself, your Grace. You mentioned you had a connection with her during the selection."
"Did I?" Duncan inquired, his voice sounded more like a deadly play, than a question.
"Your Grace, I am... We..." Magnus' strong facade broke.
"I've understand you Magnus, I've noted every word," Duncan cut in then rose from his seat with slow, deliberate movements, and immediately, the Lords followed, standing and inclincing their heads in respect.
"The Grand Festival will proceed as planned. Until then, I expect every Lord and Alphas in this room to maintain order and not fuel unnecessary speculation among the people." His gaze swept over them, sharp as a blade. "That is all."
Nadia walked toward him with her head lowered, and then she disappeared from sight.
Arianna’s gaze remained intensely focused on the guard as he turned to leave. She noticed his right wrist was missing—the same hand that bastard used to hit her back then.
The thought of Nadia lingered in her mind as Arianna waited for Nyra to return with her sister.
Soon, they came. A small smile graced Arianna’s lips as her eyes met Lylah’s.
"I’m sorry I sent you away. It wasn’t your fault," Arianna apologized after explaining everything Selene had told her three days ago. She didn’t mention Eryndor or the fact that Selene was an Ouroboros too.
"You were simply doing what our parents said, and you were only ten. I should thank you for not treating me differently, despite knowing we are half-sisters."
"We are sisters. Screw the Ouroboros shit," Lylah corrected, and Arianna chuckled.
"You cannot tell a single soul okay?" Arianna expression was serious.
"I promise." Lylah replied.
They sat in silence, feeling the cool breeze graze their skin as they sat in the garden.
"So you’re not mad at me, right? I was just too emotional that night," Arianna said, breaking the silence.
"I can never be mad at you, Aria. I’m lucky to have you."
Arianna grinned, her mood lightening. "I’m so lucky to have you too."
"So, how’s your training going?"
Sadness flickered across Lylah’s features, but she quickly masked it. "It’s fine."
Arianna’s eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. The training is pretty hard, but I’m getting the hang of it. You don’t need to worry," Lylah lied, not wanting to burden her sister with her own struggles.
"So..." Lylah looked at her sister with concern. "What are you going to do now? I don’t even know if I should be happy or sad that you’re mated to the King. It’s terrifying to think of how he’ll react once he finds out you have the Ouroboros blood. I mean... how are you going to tell him?"
"I don’t know," Arianna sighed, hugging her folded knees. "But I don’t have a choice."
Lylah bit down on her lower lip. "Having mates sucks. I used to think it was wonderful, seeing Mom and Dad so in love... but now, I think mating bonds really suck."
"Don’t say that," Arianna said, glancing at her. "Perhaps this is meant to happen. Perhaps this is where I belong—and all I need to do is write my own story."
Lylah gave her sister a comforting smile. "And I’ll be here whenever you need me. I’ll be your warrior."
Arianna’s eyes welled up with tears. "Come here, Cherry," she said, spreading her arms and hugging Lylah.
"It’s been a long time since you called me that," Lylah mumbled, and they both chuckled—soft sounds filled with love.
•••••••••
As Duncan stepped into the council meeting the Lord stood up and bow their heads in respect.
With regal steps Duncan head for his seat. A crafted wooden chair, shipped in a way it command power and regal bearing.
It's armrest was like a shape of the head of a wolf with an aura of menace.
Only when he sat did other Lords did the same.
Duncan's dress was a simple tunic comfortable fine dress, he doesn't like wearing those heavy cloaks anyway.
Duncan's sharp gaze studied males in the room--The fake facade on most of them's expression. He knew what most of them want, the ranting they were about to spill, but he was just going to listen to them.
The Grand festival was close, they were bound to be restless.
A heavy silent settled in the room the Lord exchanging hesitating glance, wondering who to speak first.
One of them did, of course it was no other than vakyrie’s father. Alpha Magnus.
“Your Majesty,” he began, bowing slightly before straightening, “there is a matter of great concern among your people that we feel obligated to bring to your attention.”
“Go on.” Duncan commanded rigidly.
“The kingdom is… anxious, my King. There are whispers spreading like wildfire—words about your recent… rut. We had tried to suppress the words in, but such a thing cannot be hidden forever. Words are spreading out my King.” Alpha Magnus, spoke calmly, his dark eyes meeting King Duncan’s without fear.
Duncan propped his chin with one arm, waiting for them to finish. His fingers drumming on the arm of his chair, calmly.
“They say the kingdom is at risk without a Luna,” Lord Pericles continued, his voice full of caution “The people are questioning the stability of your rule, Your Majesty. They worry that your rut is a sign of… imbalance.”
Alpha Magnus quickly added. “We only bring this up because we care for the well-being of the kingdom. A king without a Luna is like a wolf without a pack. Your people need to see stability, a future. An heir. They need to know their king is not at the mercy of his instincts.”
Duncan aura shifted, but he kept listening.
Lord Silas, another supporter added. "And your Grace, since you have a betrothed already... We suggest you officially announce and mark Lady Valkyrie as your Luna at the Grand Festival, the royal banquet. A formal declaration will silence the rumors and restore the people's faith in your leadership."
Lord Fredrick cleared his throat, casting his glance at the other Lords and great alphas. "I think it would be moving too fast. It's barely a year since Lady Valkyrie had been courting the king"
“But we must consider the kingdom’s stability." Alpha Magnus almost shot a glare at Lord Frederick. "The festival is the perfect moment to solidify his majesty reign. A Luna at his side will end all doubts.”
"Is that what you all believe?" King Duncan finally spoke.
The room fell into silence again, thick with tension. Some Lords hesitated to meet Duncan's eyes, but others—Alpha Magnus, Lord Pericles—held their ground.
Finally, Magnus spoke again. "It is not merely our belief, Your Majesty. It is the belief of the kingdom."
With a subtle smirk, Duncan sat forward, resting both arms on the table. "And tell me, Alpha Magnus, is this truly about the kingdom’s well-being… or about your daughter’s position?"
Duncan could tell Magnus was trying his best to hide his true intention, intimidated stated, and the restlessness, but Duncan could see through him as clear as the sky.
"My King, Lady Valkyrie is of noble blood, strong, and more than capable of leading at your side. Whether she is my daughter or not, she is the most suitable choice. You chose her yourself, your Grace. You mentioned you had a connection with her during the selection."
"Did I?" Duncan inquired, his voice sounded more like a deadly play, than a question.
"Your Grace, I am... We..." Magnus' strong facade broke.
"I've understand you Magnus, I've noted every word," Duncan cut in then rose from his seat with slow, deliberate movements, and immediately, the Lords followed, standing and inclincing their heads in respect.
"The Grand Festival will proceed as planned. Until then, I expect every Lord and Alphas in this room to maintain order and not fuel unnecessary speculation among the people." His gaze swept over them, sharp as a blade. "That is all."
End of The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving Chapter 65. Continue reading Chapter 66 or return to The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving book page.