The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 78: Chapter 78

A little while later, they were soaking in the large bathtub. Arianna, clad only in her thin undergarments, could feel the heat of the king's gaze burning through her skin.
She sat at the edge of the tub, Duncan positioned between her legs, as she lathered his long, dark hair with soap. It flowed like silk through her fingers, soft and smooth.
How could a man have such beautiful hair?
"You have nice hair, your Grace," she whispered, gently scrubbing his scalp with her fingers while the King stared at her.
She cleared her throat. "Your Grace, can you turn around?"
"Call me your Grace again, and you won't be able to walk until tomorrow," he warned. "And I do not want to turn around. I want to stare at you."
Arianna swallowed hard, her heart doing a backflip in her chest. His finger trailed a pattern on her arm, moving up to her collarbone and neck, gently caressing the mark on her neck.
"I can't concentrate," she whispered.
Duncan snorted, then slowly turned his back to her, resting against her thighs, eyes closed...
Gosh, he was too handsome.
"Go on, little flame," he whispered, and she continued, staring at every detail of his features with a smile.
"Uhm, can I visit Selene? I need to check on her."
"Not yet," his voice flat.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed, eyes flicked open, and he sat up
"Is everything alright?"
"You have a visitor," he announced.
After a while, Duncan and Arianna stepped out in bathrobes into Duncan's room. Nyra was already waiting.
"Dress her up. You know what to do," Duncan said, and Nyra nodded.
"My lady, this way," Nyra gestured and led Arianna through the small corridor that led to her room.
After a while, Arianna stared at her reflection—her silver hair now dyed black, even her eyelashes darkened, her crescent mark carefully concealed.
"The dye is strong and will come off after two weeks, before renewal."
Arianna stayed silent. Her disguise didn't change who she was. How perfect would it have been if she were mated to Duncan without any blood of the Ouroboros?
"Nyra," Arianna called softly, meeting Nyra's gaze through the mirror. "I know you know what I am and probably know everything that is going on right now because you once told me you work for the Seer."
"Yes, my lady," Nyra smiled.
"So tell me," Arianna exhaled. "Do you think that the king... will..." She hesitated. "That the king will crown his betrothed as his Luna?"
She had thought of this for a while. Even though she was the King's mate, she felt her bloodline would be a barricade between them.
The king would do what he could to please the realm, and crowning Valkyrie would be a sign of merging the Lycan and Werewolf.
"The king will always do what is best, my lady," she replied, and Arianna gave her a small nod.
Stepping out, Duncan was already gone, perhaps to handle the banquet preparations.
Nyra led her to the yard where the visitors awaited. Her heart skipped a beat at the figure.
“Elder Varyn?” she muttered. The old man who stood with her younger sister turned to face her.
"Arianna!" The old man's face lit up, his eyes immediately filling with tears.
Elder Varyn was the oldest elder in their pack back home, the only true friend of her father, Alpha Thane. His loyalty was beyond measure, and due to his old age, he wasn't able to stop the tragedy of the betrayal she faced.
"You're alive!" The old man approached, spreading his arms and hugging her.
"Yes, I am," she sobbed, then glanced down at Lylah, who was standing behind him.
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you again."
"Me too," Arianna said, breaking the hug.
"Don't worry, my lady. Everything is prepared," he said. "You have no idea how happy I was to know you were alive. I felt like a fool for not being able to protect you, just as I had promised your father."
Arianna sniffed back her tears. "It's alright. You being here is what matters."
"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my lord," he bowed to Lucas, who stood a little distance away.
Arianna, who hadn't noticed him the whole time, bowed respectfully.
"My lord, thank you for your generosity."
Lucas nodded in acknowledgment before disappearing into the shadows.
"How is the pack?" she asked Old Varyn.
The old man sighed. "Not very good, Aria. Keal ignores many important political aspects of the pack, mostly relying on the Black Iron Pack, one your father doesn't support. Practically, our pack is being ruled by them, which is not right."
"Kael will be pinish and the pack will be back to normal."
"What about you, Aria?" Varyn asked, worried. "I heard you were sold as a slave to the king."
"Aria will be fine," Lylah spoke this time. "We need to save the pack first."
Varyn chuckled, patting her head. "Oh, Lylah, I'm so glad you two are alright."
"Let's have a walk, Elder Varyn. We have some things to talk about," Arianna said.
"I'll head back to the barracks. I'll see you tonight," Lylah said and left first.
On her way, she spotted Lucas speaking to one of the guards and waited for them to finish.
After they were done, Lucas shifted his attention to her.
"Thank you, dear Grand Handsome Lord," Lylah gave him a light bow.
"Little wolf?" He warned.
"I'm sorry, I'm just too happy for what you did for my sister," she smiled.
"You asked me, but the king was the one who gave them permission to come. So practically, you should be thanking the king, not me."
Lylah's eyes widened, and she mumbled, "The king..."
"You should find something nice to wear for tonight's banquet. See you soon, little wolf," Lucas said, ruffling her hair gently before leaving, while Lylah stood in a daze, her heart thumping in her chest.
She shook her head as if waking from a trance, her hand reaching to feel the left side of her chest.
"Am I getting sick?" Lylah mumbled to herself. "I better go see a healer."