The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation

 I knew that bastard Aldric was strong, but the damn mutt had me on the brink of death more than once.

And to make things worse, he and his little defective Selenia dared to attack me togetherpathetic.

That damn failure couldnt even complete asimple task properly.

They were wearing me down.

The blood of Gabrielle, which had nourished my powers slowly over the years, was keeping me alivebut even that power wasnt limitless! Thad used a great deal of it to heal rapidly, and the blood loss was significant.

I needed to end this fight once and for all.

The idiots I brought with me were all deadthis was a disaster! Isuddenly attacked the Lycan King, using the proximity he himself had created, hoping to injure him enough to fly over to Valeria and take her hostage.

She was my ticket out of heremy chance to take the immense power that must still be in her hands.

I believed I could still fix things.

Something unsettled memy instincts screamed that I needed to escape immediately.

So when that idiot of a Lycan King threw me through the air, Isaw my chance to turn into mist and flow toward Valeria to capture her.

But when I summoned Gabrielle's power within me, trying to make her lifeblood blend with mine...

nothing happened.

I tried again and againno response.

---- If Ihad been worried before, now I was terrified.

I landed crouching, one hand pressed against the cold ground, ready to spring into action and finish my plan quicklybut then my eyes locked onto a pair of bare feminine feet.

My gaze slowly traveled upward, tracing her exposed legs as a shiver ran down my entire body.

Thad only felt this kind of fear once before, in the presence of a single person in my lifeand it couldnt be her.

It couldnt be...

This had to be an illusion...

"Hello, Kael.

Long time no see.

Did you miss your Queen?" It was...

it was her.

That beautiful face I had secretly loved, now wearing a cynical, cruel expression.

Her lips curled into a smile, but that murderous grin only made my heart tremble even more.

Ga...

Gabrielle...

How? The words stuck in my throat, my eyes darting wildly, searching for a way to escape.

"That's what I'd like to know, Kael.

How could you do this to me? How could you do this to my daughter?" She took a step toward me, her words dripping with the hatred she held forme.

She knew the truth.

My every action had been discovered.

"I trusted you, and you betrayed me in the vilest way.

HOW COULD YOU ALMOST KILL MY BABY AND STEAL HER THRONE?!" She roared with that terrifying voicethe one that sounded like hundreds of women screaming at once.

The entire place trembled, the wind howled around us like it always did when she was furious, as if she herself commanded the storms.

Her fangs extended fully, massive claws growing from her fingertips, the dark red veins spreading around her almost-white blue eyes.

Shit.

[had to run now or shed rip my head off.

I couldnt defeat Gabrielle! That damn daughter of hersshe knew! She knew Gabrielle was alive, and she had led me here on purpose! Gabrielle, I dont know how you came back, but I owe you no explanations.

I earned my place on the throne through loyal service.

Your daughter could never bear that burden.

Istood tall with dignity, but my eyes never stopped searching for an escape route.

"Look at the bright sidethere she is, alive and kicking.

If she had been queen, they probably would have taken her head already." For amoment, she just stared at me.

I swear my legs were about to give out.

Damn it.

That murderous aura crushed me as if a thousand tons were pressing down on my body.

Alow, raspy laugh escaped those crimson lipsthe ones I had once longed to kiss, to lose myself in.

She never gave me a chance.

"Take her head? What a fitting phrase.

I like it.

You've grown a pair over the years, Kael.

A snake slithering by my side...

how did I never see it?" She sneered, then snarled, "Go ahead, use it! Dare to wield the blood I ---- left for my daughter, right in front of me!" She didnt need to tell me twice.

Thad already scanned the area and spotted a crack I could slip through, though I had no idea if it led to the exit.

Icommanded her own blood, forcing the power to ignite in my veins, burning through my final reserves, and turned into fine mist, speeding through the air, hoping to disappear.

Apparently, not as hidden as I thought.

Something seized my throat with crushing force, shocking me so deeply that I lost control of my transformation.

My lungs couldnt pull in a single breath.

Icrashed to the ground a few meters away, clutching at my neck, struggling against the invisible claws strangling me.

Steady footsteps echoed behind me.

Cold sweat drenched my clothes.

Icouldn't die.

I wouldnt surrender to her without a fight.