Vanished Sisters The Lycan King's Slave Island novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Davelina’s POV

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Lucy nodded grimly. “You need to be careful. Both of you. Once they realize what you are-once they understand that you’re true Endurers- you’ll become incredibly valuable. Too valuable to waste on the breeding pens.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean they II keep you for themselves. The lords. Maybe even the King.”ucy met my eyes. “Endurers are rare, Davelina. There might be one in every million women. Maybe fewer. And the lords… they covet rarity. They’ll fight over you. Bargain for you. And whoever wins will never let

you go.”

Never let you go.

A life sentence. Forever trapped as some lord’s personal breeding slave.

Or worse-forever trapped in that den with the King.

“We have to hide it,” I said urgently. “We have to make sure no one knows

“It’s too late for me,” Lucy said quietly. “They already know what you can do. You survived a full night with the King. That alone makes you suspicious. And when you walked out mostly intact-” She shook her head. There’s no hiding it now. They’ll be watching you. Testing you. Trying to confirm what they already suspect.”

No. No, no, no-

“But Nathan-Natasha-” Lucy continued. “She might still have a chance. As long as everyone thinks she’s a boy, as long as the story holds that the King just happened to rape a male slave in a fit of madness-they wont look too closely. They won’t realize what she really is.”

“Unless they examine her,” I said, panic rising in my chest. “If they check the wounds, if they see how fast she’s healing-

“Then we make sure they don’t check,” Lucy said firmly. “We keep her hidden. Tell everyone she’s still too injured to be moved. That she’s barely alive. If anyone asks, we say she’s dying-just clinging to life by a thread.”

“But Lord Fergus said if she dies, we throw her body to the sharks.”

“Then we make sure she doesn’t die.” Lucy’s jaw set stubbornly. “And we make sure no one gets close enough to see that she’s not as badly hurt

as they think.”

I wanted to believe it would work. Wanted to think we could keep Nathan’s secret hidden long enough for her to heal completely. For us to

figure out some kind of escape.

But I’d seen how things worked in this fortress. Secrets didn’t stay hidden for long. And when they came to light-

The consequences were always fatal.

“We’ll try,” I said finally. “That’s all we can do. Try.”

Lucy nodded and went back to wrapping Nathan’s wounds, this time more carefully, making sure the bandages would hide the extent of her

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Chapter 42

healing.

I watched her work and tried to ignore the cold dread settling in my bone

We’re running out of time.

All of us.

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“I need to wash,” I said as the sun climbed higher in the sky. My entire body felt filthy-dried blood cracking on my skin, that horrible gown sticking to me like a second skin. “Is there somewhere I can-”

“The servants’ bathing room,” Lucy said, not looking up from her work. “Down the corridor, third door on the left. There should be clean shifts in the cupboard-take one. You can’t keep wearing that.” She gestured at my bloodstained gown.

I hesitated. “Will she be alright? While I’m gone?”

“She’s unconscious,” Lucy said gently. “She won’t even know you left. Go. Clean up. I’ll watch over her.”

I nodded and stood on shaking legs. Every muscle in my body ached. The bruises on my hips and thighs from the King’s grip throbbed with

each movement.

But I was alive.

Unlike so many others.

I was halfway to the door when Lucy called out, “Davelina?”

I turned back.

“Be careful,” she said seriously. “The fortress is on high alert after last night. There are guards everywhere. And some of the lords- She paused. “Some of them might see you as an opportunity. A prize to claim.

“I’ll be careful,” I promised.

But as I stepped out into the corridor, I couldn’t shake the feeling that careful wouldn’t be enough.

Not anymore.

The servants bathing room was small and cold, lit by a single window that let in weak morning light, A large wooden tub sat in the center,

filled with water that was probably freezing.

I didn’t care.

I stripped off the filthy gown, letting it fall to the floor in a bloody heap. hen I stepped into the tub and gasped as icy water enveloped me.

But I didn’t get out. I just sank down until the water reached my chin and started scrubbing.

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Chapter 42

The blood came off in dark clouds that turned the water pink. I scrubbed my arms, my legs, my hair. Scrubbed until my skin was raw and

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