A Luna for the Lycan King novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Pain coiled within my body, each twist a new note in a symphony of agony. It sang through me, echoing until even my thoughts were dissonant cries. Everything blurred as my eyes struggled to focus. Was I asleep? Was I dying? The air itself pressed down, and I gasped at its strangeness. Searing images fought through the haze, branding themselves onto my mind. Lyle. His fading heartbeat. I had lost consciousness. But now I was awake,

blinking into the darkness.

“You’ve finally woken up.” The voice stabbed at me with its smug sharpness. Her. Fucking Ivy. I winced and opened my eyes to her face, gleaming and cruel. I felt a growl tearing up my throat, but the world came into focus before I could let it loose. Mossy walls loomed, dark and damp, a haunting green glow surrounding me. I had no idea where I was, but glowing green moss couldn’t be a coincidence. What did this mean? Was Ivy connected with the brainwashing? If she was, how and why?

“Lyle,” I muttered, looking around.

“He isn’t here. We only brought you. I doubt your friend is still alive.” I didn’t want to believe her words. She could just be provoking me. Instead, I focused my anger on her. I tugged at my arms and only then realized I was in chains. “Didn’t expect to see me, did you?” Ivy’s voice dripped with cockiness, each word a barb. She leaned against the wall, relaxed and relishing in my

suffering.

Chains… my life began with chains. And now I was adorned with them once again. Around my neck to my wrist. “What do you

want with me?”

…

“Oh, tut tut tut, you’re a clever girl, right? Why do you think I want you? Well, it isn’t like I want you at all, but I was told to grab you. Let’s think about this, hmm? If I wanted to win a war what would I do? Hmmm?” I wanted to punch the damn smirk right off of her face. I felt my chest constrict as realization took me. “Oh I know!” I wish I was blessed with laser eyes! I could slit her throat right now! “I would take out the strongest players. Grab the Lycan King’s mate, and we lure him away from the battlefield. Once away from all his allies, well … you understand where this is going.”

“He won’t know I’m missing for quite some time, and-“I watched as Ivy threw her head back, laughing at me. I pulled against the chains, letting the metal bite into my skin. I wished I could break free and slam the air right out of her chest.

“Oh, he’s going to know right away.” Ivy lifted her hand, holding the crystal I was given to contact Darren. “After seeing the little light on, he’ll try to contact you. And when he does… surprise! I wonder how feral he’ll become once he hears his brother’s dead and his mate has been taken.”

The words should have crushed me, but they sparked some ing

else a blazing defiance. I needed to stay calm. This had to be the trial Fury talked about. If it was, there was a way out. I glared at lvy, every bit of anger turning into a weapon. I needed to get

information out of her while she had diarrhea of the mouth. She

was the type who loved to gloat.

“You’re underestimating me,” I growled, forcing strength into my

voice.

She leaned back, eyes glittering. “Am I?”

“Like you said, I’m clever,” I shot back, letting anger sharpen

each word. “If this is the best you’ve got, it’s not going to work.”

I needed to twist the knife, see what she’d reveal. Ivy was all

arrogance, and I hoped it would be her downfall. “So, you’re behind the brainwashing?”

“I’m not that old.” She clicked her tongue. “Want to know

something, princess? Oh, I guess it’s queen now.” She scoffed,

but I saw the flicker of bitterness beneath it. “It was your ancestor

who started the brainwashing. They were using it to mold the

nobles and fake royal heirs so they would become allies to the

rightful ones. But when they were killed, the process continued

without a real leader. Nobles brainwashed nobles because

they were programmed to do it. That is, until my father found

the operation and hijacked it. Oh, Allissa, there is so much you just don’t know. Well, I have the time.” She grabbed a chair and scooted it in front of me. Her face was lit with excitement, and it

was obvious she was relishing this moment.

“Milo had a half–brother, though he had no idea. My father,

Jimmy, was a product of the king’s secret affair with his fated

mate. He promised to take care of her, and he kept them just outside of the lycan kingdom border. My father saw Milo and your

mother, Evette, kill the king. Milo secured the throne for himself,

and your mother ran away. I didn’t really get the details on that

one, but I know she ended up at the Lume Pack. Oh, look at me,

getting ahead of myself.”

“How did you know about—”

“Shh, don’t interrupt.” Ivy’s hand slapped across my cheek,

leaving a burning sensation on my skin. “You must mind those

manners. Now, as I was saying, after Milo succeeded the throne,

there was no one there to take care of my grandmother and father. They scraped by, hungry and cold for years. Then my father and

mother stumbled upon this place and caught one of the nobles

brainwashing the other. My father, mother, and grandmother,

with help from a witch doctor, hijacked the process, using the

brainwashing to have nobles report to them. That is how we found

out about the horrible temper and curse of the lycan king. They

were able to get the financial support owed to them by the noble

families.” She waved her hand in excitement. “Oh, this is where it

gets good. The witch doctor reported the lycan king’s condition

to the demons, and they ended up forming an alliance with my

father. He would give them news and information in exchange for