Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 94

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**Fireflies in Winter Rain — Neil A. Varma**

**Chapter 94**

Carolyn,

In the stillness of the night, the kitchen buzzed with a tension that made the air thick.

“Your Grace, please, you needn’t concern yourself with the cooking tonight. His Majesty has yet to inform us if he will be dining with us,” the head chef insisted, his tone bordering on exasperation as I meticulously laid out the ingredients for the meal I longed to prepare for Cassian. He had always relished my signature dish, the Garlic Pasta with meatballs, a recipe that had become a staple of our shared moments.

Yet, I knew he would turn his nose up at the tomato sauce. Such a finicky eater, he was.

A small smile crept onto my lips as I envisioned his face when he took that first bite. That satisfied grin, the way his eyes sparkled with delight—it was a sight I had grown to cherish.

But lately, the kitchen had been devoid of his presence, and he hadn’t even asked me to cook for him. It had been days since we had a proper conversation, and all I wanted was to create something warm and inviting, something that felt like home.

But of course, those insufferable fools had no intention of allowing me to work in peace.

“My Lady, you don’t seem well. Perhaps you should—”

“Enough!” I barked, my voice echoing through the kitchen like a clap of thunder. “Have I solicited your opinion on my actions? Mind your own business!”

The sudden silence that followed was deafening. I could feel the weight of my frustration pressing down on me. My grip on Cassian felt as if it was slipping through my fingers like sand. Even my attempts to manipulate Elle had failed to sway him. I needed to reclaim my influence over him, but how? Roana had become an unapproachable specter in my life, and Lorenzo had made it abundantly clear that pursuing her was off-limits.

But what was I to do? For so long, I had kept Cassian in the palm of my hand, and now it felt as though my entire existence had been turned upside down the moment she had entered our lives.

“My Lady, you’re cracking the eggs incorrectly!” My servant’s voice jolted me back to the present.

I glanced down at my hands, now coated in raw egg, the sticky substance slipping through my fingers like my waning control over Cassian. A tremor coursed through my fingertips, and I quickly concealed my hand behind the mixing bowl, desperate to hide my moment of weakness.

In a fit of rage, I slammed my palm against the counter, my body trembling with fury. No longer would I heed Lorenzo’s counsel. He had overstepped his boundaries far too often.

“My Lady, would you care to return to your chambers? There is a guest who is quite eager to meet you!”

The voice of my shadow guard echoed in my mind, and my gaze shot toward the staircase leading to the second floor. A flicker of apprehension tugged at the corners of my lips, but I quickly masked it with indifference.

A guest? At this hour? No one had informed me of any visitors.

“Who?” I thought, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

“It’s a surprise. Please, come to your room!”

With a swift motion, I discarded the remnants of my failed culinary endeavor—the beef, the cream—into the trash before making my way upstairs.

I could hear the servants exhaling in relief, some even whispering amongst themselves. But I had no time to waste on their trivialities.

Yet, as I ascended toward my room, the atmosphere grew heavier, a palpable weight pressing down on me. A chill crept down my spine, and I instinctively recognized the presence waiting for me inside.

**Chapter 94**

My heart plummeted. I scanned my surroundings, searching for anyone who might sense the change in the air, before hastily stepping into my room, ensuring the door was securely closed behind me.