The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving novel Chapter 230

Brigid stumbled back, paled.

This is bad.

This is really bad.

She froze at the sound of footsteps. Shit. Didn’t that damn mage stop the soldiers?

She looked at Arianna’s pale face. The news had been so much to take it, she was worried how devastating Arianna must be right

now.

They couldn’t let those soldiers see her like this. Brigid quickly turned to distract them.

They had just passed the second gate when they saw her approaching

“Stop right there.”

The soldiers obeyed but frowned.

“You’re not going in there.”

Silence.

They scoffed. “We are high ranked soldiers. Ones who solely follow Lord Valoreth’s orders. Just because you’re the Queen

doesn’t mean you can stop us.”

Brigid glanced down at their yellow badges. They were indeed Valoreth’s men. Strong scent. Lycans.

“The coffin is… shaking. Whatever is inside it is dangerous. The king’s beast.”

“That’s why we’re heading there. We are Lycan soldiers, Your Majesty.”

Brigid swallowed. Arianna needed more time in there.

Arianna was breaking.

Shred by shred, including her sanity.

Her trembling fists clenched at her sides, tears building in her silver eyes, burning against her lashes.

She didn’t want to believe it.

This can’t be…

Him…

It can’t be.

What was she going to tell Rheal? The promise to save his father, no matter what…

This… this isn’t real.

Not real.

Not fucking real!

After every hope. Every battle… All she met was…

His bones?

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230. Beneath the bones

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A terrifying, ear–splitting cry bursted out of her lips. Powerful enough to flung the coffin across the room. Crashing, with the skeleton sprawling across the room.

Outside, Valoreth froze mid–step beside Sahrak. The mage as well frowned with concern look.

Elsewhere, Gatha, Amy, and the two Lords looked up, confusion tightening their brows.

“What was that?” one of the Lycan soldiers before Brigid asked, his grip tightening on his sword.

Brigid’s mind raced. She knew that was Arianna. Things are about to go really wrong.

“Uh…” She forced a laugh, heart hammering. “Just a female slave. Meant to satisfy the king’s rut. She must be terrified.”

The soldiers narrowed their eyes at her, golden irises glowing faintly.

They didn’t believe her.

Fuck. Fuck.

They both drew out their swords and demanded. “Move.”

Arianna’s knees slammed against the floor, fists clenched tight against the floor. This wasn’t what she expected.

Her insides twisted so hard it became difficult to breathe.

Was this really how it would end?

She couldn’t lose him.

Even though a small part of her feared this might happen, she had ignored it. Silent it and buried them at the back of her mind.

Now, it was right in front of her.

They killed him. She had lost Duncan forever.

Was never going to get to see, hold and hear him again? This war had been because of her, he never give up and now it had been him who took the ultimate fall.

He died and she was the cause of it.

Rheal… Will never get to meet his father.

Tears fell uncontrollably, hitting the floor with a soft, dreadful whisper.

“I’m so sorry, Dun,” she croaked, eyes squeezed shut.

“I couldn’t save you. I… it’s all my fault. It’s all my fault… I lost you”

But then-

A sharp sensation shot through her veins, making her eyes snap open.

Her heart pounded in her ears, loud and fast.

She knew that feeling.

It was coming from beneath her… right where her tears had fallen

Faint, but real. Her brows pulled together. Duncan?

Was that you?

She slowly looked up at the bones again. The feeling didn’t come from them. It came from below.

230 Beneath the bones

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Then the realization struck.

There was only one place in the Lunaris Citadel she had never gone near.

The pets.

Duncan had told her about his dire hounds–three of them. Rare. Massive. Monsters from myth. The same beasts he claimed had tore her ex mate Kael Fangton apart.

Arianna had always been too afraid to see them. She never dared.

But what if the signal, this presence was coming from there?

From him… Right beneath this room.

The soldiers shoved Brigid aside, storming toward the dungeon.

“I command you to stop!” Brigid barked after them.

They didn’t. Swords glitteing, their pace quickened.

Brigid tensed, ready to shift if she had to. But before she could move, they reached the dungeon door, and froze.

Brows furrowed. She rushed to their side, heart pounding, expecting the worst.

But Arianna was gone.

‘And where are these scary pets of yours?‘

“The deepest part of the palace. It’s hard and tricky to find. No one ever goes there without me. I can take you there if you want.‘

‘Nope. Hard pass Dun.‘

Arianna let her senses guide her.

The corridor was eerily dark and quiet, like the dead of night, save for the whisper of wind.

A small flame floated in her palm. She took several turns until… she found an imposing gate that screamed. ‘Run for your life.‘

It was locked. Strong. But with three hard pulls, she broke it open and stepped through.

Arianna paused at the edge. Heart pounding. Throat dry.

What if she was wrong?

Three beastly dire hounds were beneath. She could already hear the low, distant growls.

They were awake.

She let her robe fall, revealing the silver simple dress beneath that clad her curves. More free for her movement.

Not knowing how powerful these beasts were, she needed to be ready for a fight.

She jumped, landing softly on the ground. A shallow puddle creaked beneath her feet. Flame still danced in her palm.

It wasn’t just a sensation anymore. It was his scent–calling her. Faint.

He was here.

Then, Pairs of yellow eyes flickered in the darkness like lanterns.

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230: Beneath the bones

+25 BONUS

One pair. Two. Then three.

Three hounds.

Large and terrifying. They approached, growling like the hideous beasts decribed in the books she had read. More devious even…

Arianna stepped on a bone, then noticed several more around her. People had really died here.

People like Kael.

They bared their hideous fangs at her, ready to pounce. Their sliky saliva trailing down their jaws.

Arianna was just as alert, ready to kill them if they strike. But then, a faint whistle echoed from deep within the shadows.

The hounds paused, growling stopped, then slowly retreated.

A whistle?

Arianna’s feet hastened as she rushed deeper inside, forgetting the hounds.

Her mind foggy. Disoriented.

She halted at the sight before her–a crafted bed, a chair, and a table with books lazily resting on it. A cup filled with tea…

It looked like a room. Not heavily furnished, but still…

Arianna’s lips parted in disbelief.

Don’t tell me he’s been…

Her breath seized. Brain froze. The hair on her neck stood as she sensed a presence.

A hard–built frame towered behind her, his chest brushing against her back. The wild scent, faint but unmistakably his, filled her nostrils. A suppressant, maybe.

The fire in her palm slowly flickered out as her nerves turned rigid.

His jaw rested gently on her head. A hand trailed down to her waist right where there was a slight opening for her bare skin.

The tingle. The electricity. Only one person could do that to her.

Then came the soft whisper.

“Ari.”

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