Vanished Sisters The Lycan King's Slave Island novel Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Natasha’s POV

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We finally reached the stairway and started climbing. It was steep and narrow, barely wide enough for two people side by side. The stone steps were worn smooth from centuries of use.

Up and up we climbed, while below us the crowd roared and chanted and called out obscenities.

Finally, we reached the top-the viewing platform.

It was a large rectangular space, maybe forty feet by twenty feet, with a waist-high stone railing along the front that overlooked the entire arena. Behind the railing was an open area with several long tables laden with food and wine. And behind the tables, arranged in a

semicircle, were the seats of power.

The Wolf King’s throne sat in the center-massive and ornate, carved from black wood and decorated with silver. It was empty.

Because the King can’t leave his den. Because he’s still too feral, too dangerous.

Flanking the throne were three smaller seats-still impressive, but clearly subordinate. The seats of the three wolf lords.

Lord Fergus sat in the left seat-the North Lord. He wore a fur-lined cloak despite the warm morning, and his amber eyes gleamed with

anticipation.

Lord Gregor occupied the right seat-the East Lord. He dressed more elegantly than Fergus-fine fabrics and polished leather. He looked like a predator that preferred to think before striking.

And in the center seat, just below the empty throne, sat Lord Sebastian-the South Lord. Handsome, if you could ignore the cruelty in his ice-blue eyes. He lounged in his seat like a bored prince, swirling wine in a goblet.

Behind and around the three lords stood dozens of other high-ranking Lycans-knights, officers, nobles. All male. All powerful. All looking

at us with varying degrees of hunger.

God help us.

The female slaves spread out around the platform, taking positions near the tables and along the railing. I found myself near the close to one of the tables. A good position-I could see everything but wasn’t directly in front of the lords.

I glanced around, looking for Lucy.

There on the far side of the platform, near Lord Fergus. She stood with her head down, her hands clasped in front of her. She looked

small and fragile among all these predators.

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Chapter 65

But we weren’t together. We were separated by twenty feet and a crowd of Lycans.

Still, no sight of my sister.

A horn sounded-long and low and mournful.

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The crowd roared in response.

Then a figure stepped forward to the edge of the platform-a Lycan in formal attire, carrying a long staff. The Herald.

“LORDS AND SUBJECTS OF THE WOLF TERRITORIES!” His voice boomed across the arena, magically amplified somehow. “WELCOME TO

THE BLOOD FANG ARENA!”

The crowd roared again, louder this time. Deafening.

“TODAY WE GATHER TO WITNESS THE ANCIENT RITES OF COMBAT! TO WATCH THE WEAK FALL AND THE STRONG RISE! TO HONOR

THE WOLF KING-MAY HIS REIGN BE ETERNAL!”

More roaring. Stamping feet. The entire arena seemed to shake.

I looked down at the arena floor far below. It was a circle of packed earth, maybe a hundred feet across. Completely empty except for

weapons scattered around the edges-swords, spears, axes, clubs. Crude but effective.

The Herald continued. “FIRST-LET US WELCOME OUR HONORED ATTENDANTS!”

He gestured toward us-the female slaves and pretty male slaves standing around the platform.

ONE HUNDRED MAIDENS, CHOSEN FROM ACROSS THE TERRITORIES! THEY WILL SERVE OUR NOBLE LORDS AND THEIR

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS!”

The crowd below erupted in jeers and catcalls.

“Show us your tits!”

“I want to fuck that one!”

“Bring them down here!”

The Herald ignored them. “THESE ATTENDANTS BEAR THE SERVICE MARK! THEY ARE NOT TO BE TOUCHED UNTIL THE LORDS GI

PERMISSION! ANY WHO VIOLATE THIS COMMAND WILL BE EXECUTED!”

Some of the jeering subsided, but not much.

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Chapter 65

I touched the collar around my neck. This is the only thing keeping them from tearing us apart right now.

The Herald turned toward the lords and bowed deeply. “My Lords, the stage is set. The attendants are in place. Shall we proceed?”

Lord Sebastian stood. His massive frame seemed to fill the entire platform.

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“SUBJECTS!” His voice was like thunder, even without magical amplification. “You honor us with your presence today! You come from all corners of our territories-from the forests of the North, from the stone peaks of the East, from the swamps of the South!”

He raised his arms wide. “Today, we celebrate our strength! Our dominance! Our superiority over the weak human race that once sought

to destroy us!”

Cheers. Howls. The crowd was working itself into a frenzy.

“One hundred and twenty human males have been selected for today’s games! Fergus continued. “They will fight! They will bleed! They

will die! And through their deaths, we will be reminded of why WE are the apex predators of this world!*

More howling. I could see some Lycans in the crowd beginning to shift-their eyes glowing, their teeth lengthening. The bloodlust was

spreading.

“But remember-” Sabastian’s voice dropped, becoming more menacing. -these games are not just entertainment. They are a lesson. A

reminder. Humans are NOTHING before us. They exist to serve. To work. To bleed for our amusement!”

He slammed his fist on the armrest of his seat. “Let the games BEGIN!”

The crowd exploded. The roar was so loud I had to cover my ears.

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